The No.1 LSU baseball team will try to continue its dominance against in-state opponents when they take on the University of New Orleans today at 6:30 p.m. in Alex Box Stadium.
Coming into tonight’s game, the Tigers (15-2) are on a four-game winning streak and have won 13 of their last 14 games. During that same stretch, LSU has gone 5-0 against Louisiana opponents with wins coming against Tulane, Louisiana-Monroe, and Southeastern Louisiana.
Over the weekend the Tigers won their first two games against Southeastern before rain forced the cancellation of Sunday’s game.
UNO (9-11) comes into Baton Rouge following a three-game series over the weekend with ULM. The Privateers dropped the first two games but rallied back to win the third game on the heels of a Mike Nuckles 12th-inning walk-off home run.
The longball has proven to be the heart of UNO’s offense this season. The Privateers have hit 31 home runs this year, compared to 18 for the Tigers.
UNO coach Randy Bush said coming into this season he did not expect the team to display the power at the plate they have shown so far.
“We’ve hit more than I thought we would,” Bush said. “It’s been a pleasant surprise. I thought we would have to manufacture more runs.”
Bush also said the Privateers are ready to deal with the atmosphere of Alex Box Stadium.
“I think it’s something our players look forward to every year,” Bush said. “We have a lot of players from around here, and it’s something they’ve heard about and are excited about.”
Last season LSU split two games against the Privateers, winning 7-2 in Baton Rouge and losing 5-4 at Zephyr Field. The Tigers have won 11 of their last 12 games against UNO.
UNO will start freshman pitcher Marcus McKenzie. McKenzie is 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA in six appearances this season, but has yet to start a game.
The Tigers will counter with freshman pitcher Clay Dirks, who in his last outing on March 9 against ULM allowed just one run on three hits in LSU’s 6-1 victory over the Indians.
Dirks (3-0) has been one of the most consistent pitchers for the Tigers this season. He currently leads all LSU starters in strikeouts (24), ERA (1.42) and runs allowed (5) and was named the National Pitcher of the Week for his shutout victory over Tulane earlier this season.
Bush said Dirks would present the UNO hitters with some problems.
“I’ve seen [Dirks] on tape, and I know he’s very good, and he’s going to be a challenge for us,” Bush said.
LSU coach Smoke Laval said he would try to work some of the Tigers’ relief pitchers into the game behind Dirks.
“Dirks will go, and [Greg Smith] too,” Laval said. [Jason] Determan’s got to go and Jordan Faircloth. The [rainout] didn’t affect anything there.”
When they have gotten to the mound this season, the LSU relief pitchers have pitched well. Smith and Determan currently have ERAs less than 1.00, and Faircloth has held opposing batters to a .194 average.
Laval also said he may make some changes to the Tigers’ lineup against the left-handed McKenzie.