The LSU Tigers, now on a two-game winning streak, return to Alex Box Stadium this weekend to host Georgia in a three-game Southeastern Conference series.
The Tigers had been on a four-game losing streak before winning back-to-back 9-3 games over Nicholls State on Tuesday and Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday.
The Tigers, ranked No. 12 by Collegiate Baseball, carry a 26-9 record and a 6-6 mark in the SEC after getting swept at The Box last weekend by first-place Arkansas.
“We’ve got to get some wins, but that’s not as important as playing well,” said LSU coach Smoke Laval. “If we play well and they play a little better, then so be it. If we get right, maybe we’ll be really hard to start.”
LSU is two games behind Arkansas and Ole Miss for first place in the SEC West.
“We definitely need to get back on the right foot,” said left fielder Ryan Patterson. “Any time you lose four games, your confidence level goes down whether you know it or not. We need that confidence back, and I think we got these past two days.”
Georgia (21-13, 5-7 SEC) is coming off a 6-5 win over state-rival Georgia Tech on Wednesday after being swept by SEC overall leading Volunteers of Tennessee.
The Bulldogs feature one of the SEC’s best hitters in first baseman Josh Morris, who leads the SEC with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs.
Sophomore left-hander Jason Determann, who is replacing Justin Meier in the weekend rotation for the series against Georgia, will get the nod for today’s 6:30 p.m. series opener.
Determann (2-2, 2.56 ERA) has been solid out of the LSU bullpen and pitched well as a midweek spot starter in 31 2/3 innings pitched so far this season. He has only walked four batters while striking out 22.
Redshirt freshman left-hander Clay Dirks will look to keep his undefeated streak alive in Saturday’s game, scheduled for 2 p.m.
Dirks had a no-decision in last Saturday’s 11-10 loss to Arkansas and did not suffer his first loss thanks to a late LSU rally.
Dirks is 6-0 with a 2.63 ERA in 51 1/3 innings. He has struck out 47 batters and walked eight.
Senior right-hander Nate Bumstead, who also took a loss in last weekend’s sweep by Arkansas, will take the mound for the Tigers in the Sunday game, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
Bumstead is 5-1 with a 4.27 ERA.
“Georgia’s got a lot of new faces, and they are going to be tough,” Bumstead said. “Everybody says our backs are on the wall, but really we aren’t going to go out there and do anything different. We’re going to get a little better so we can be at our best by the end of the season.”