Sitting in the grandstand of Lee-Hines Field on Tuesday for LSU’s baseball game against Southern University, LSU mechanical engineering freshman Andrew Mickles is torn.
As a baseball fan and a student at LSU, Mickles naturally pulls for the Tigers. However, Mickles also pulls for Southern because his brother Kyle is a left-handed pitcher for the Jaguars.
So when the Jaguars and Tigers locked horns on the baseball diamond in what ended up a 21-10 LSU victory, it was a double-edged sword for Mickles.
“I’m finding it hard deciding who to root for,” Mickles said. “I want to support my brother, but I go to LSU.”
Mickles’ brother Kyle did not see any action against the Tigers, who ripped 18 hits against Southern pitching. The Jaguars held leads of 2-0 and 5-4 before LSU blew the game open in the middle innings.
Still, Southern made an impression on LSU fans in the game.
“I think it shows that there is other baseball in the city and that LSU is not the only one there,” he said.
Mickles was just one of the thousands of fans who jammed the Southern campus for Tuesday night’s game.
The attendance was the largest in Southern baseball history. Fans were lined up down the overpass, which runs parallel over the right field line of the field.
A significant number of LSU fans made the trek north to the Bluff, but Southern had the majority of fans there.
“I’ve been out to games here before and there weren’t many fans,” Mickles said. “It’s great to see everybody come together. It reminds me of the day at the Capitol.”
Mickles is referring to the championship parade on Jan. 24 in downtown Baton Rouge to celebrate the national championships of both the Southern and LSU football teams.
A “pep band” version of the Human Jukebox, Southern’s marching band, was present for the entire game against the Tigers.
According to Don Shelmire, a supporter of Southern athletics, the atmosphere resembled that of a football game at Mumford Stadium, Southern’s football stadium.
“People here are more family-oriented and very friendly,” Shelmire said. “The relationship between the two schools is so great, it’s like playing on the playground between two friends.”
Southern nursing sophomore Veda Bates said she often attends Southern baseball games, but Tuesday night’s game was her first between LSU and the Jaguars. She liked what she saw.
“It’s real good,” she said. “When I see this, it lets me know that there are fans who care about Southern University. They’re very supportive.”
Bates said both LSU and Southern fans are “very dedicated.”
Tuesday night also made an impression on some LSU fans attending the game.
Chris Guillot, an LSU season ticket holder, goes to almost every LSU game both at Alex Box Stadium and on the road.
While watching the game Tuesday, Guillot said the atmosphere was awesome and complemented Southern baseball coach Roger Cador.
“Roger Cador’s done an excellent job,” Guillot said. “My hat’s off to them.
“This is awesome for the community, nothing but positive. Everybody is pulling for their team. This is the first time I’ve ever seen a band at a baseball game,” Guillot said.
It was also the first time LSU business management junior Tiffany Sweat had ever seen a band at a baseball game.
“It’s something different, but it’s fun,” Sweat said. “It’s exciting. I get a kick out of it.”