After a three-game sweep at the Houston College Classic this weekend, the LSU baseball team overtook defending-champion Vanderbilt as the No. 1 club in the nation.
Add in a 12-game winning streak, and the Tigers are riding a wave of momentum with Southeastern Conference play beginning this weekend.
But before starting a series against SEC foe Ole Miss on Friday, LSU (15-1) has a date with McNeese State (11-5) at 4 p.m. today in Alex Box Stadium.
With a loss to an in-state foe already on his team’s résumé, LSU coach Paul Mainieri said his club won’t take the Cowboys lightly.
“All the games count on your record and your résumé, so we want to try to win the game,” Mainieri said. “You have a responsibility when you wear an LSU jersey to go out there and play as hard as you can for the fans that are paying good money to come to the games.”
Wednesday’s game was originally slated for 6:30 p.m., but the National Weather Service predicts a 70 percent chance of showers in the Baton Rouge area, forcing Mainieri to alter his schedule for the fourth time this season.
But rain may be the only thing that can stop the Tigers lately.
It’s been three weeks since LSU’s last loss, a 6-3 defeat at the hands of Nicholls State. Since then, the Tigers have reeled off 12 consecutive wins and outscored opponents by 59 runs (90-31).
The recent win streak helped the Tigers overtake Vanderbilt, which lost twice last weekend, as the No. 1 team in the nation. The top ranking is something Mainieri said he always likes.
“Obviously, No. 1 at the end of the year is much more important than No. 1 during the year,” Mainieri said. “But given a choice between being ranked No. 1 or not being ranked No. 1, I’ll take it anytime.”
LSU redshirt sophomore pitcher Russell Reynolds (7.71 ERA) gets the starting nod against McNeese, which is batting .287 as a team with 61 runs on 160 hits this season.
“I was pretty pumped just to get in the routine as a starter again,” Reynolds. “I like coming out of the [bullpen], but as a starter, you can get in the groove. It was easier on me because I’m used to starting, so I was happy when [Mainieri] told me.”
Reynolds has made four appearances this season and given up five runs on five hits and four walks. He’s also struck out four batters in 4 and 2/3 innings of work.
But the Tigers’ bats should be able to help Reynolds, who will be making his first start since 2013. LSU is batting .325 as a team, ranking second in the SEC, with seven players batting better than .320.
LSU senior infielder Conner Hale, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, is tied for the club lead with 22 hits and has at least one in all 16 games this season, though he said he’s not focused on his hitting streak.
“I’m not trying to think of that when I’m up there,” Hale said. “I’m just trying to think about putting a barrel on the ball and trying to drive it.”
Hale and the Tigers will face a McNeese club that has dramatically improved under second-year coach Justin Hill.
McNeese finished 30-28 in Hill’s first season last year — its first winning record since 2009 and the program’s second in the last 10 seasons.
The Cowboys have won seven of their previous eight games entering tonight’s contest against LSU and took two out of three from Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist in their conference-opening series.
Despite the distraction of his team’s upcoming SEC slate, Mainieri said his club will be ready.
“There’s no question they’ve got talented players, and they’re well-coached,” Mainieri said. “It’s going to be a great ball game.”
You can reach David Gray on Twitter @dgray_TDR.