LSU sophomore right-hander Anthony Ranaudo will start the Tigers’ first game at this season’s College World Series.The Jackson, N.J., native leads the Tigers (51-16) with 147 strike outs — the seventh most in a single season by any LSU pitcher.He also boasts a 2.95 ERA and 10-3 record in 109 2/3 innings of work.Recently, Ranaudo picked up a victory and tournament Most Outstanding Player honors with a nine-inning, 15-strike out performance against Baylor in the Baton Rouge Regional, followed by nine-strike victory in 7 2/3 innings against Rice in game one of the Baton Rouge Super Regional.A win against Virginia would propel LSU into the winners’ side of its bracket for a Monday contest against the winner between Arkansas and Cal State Fullerton.A loss would push the Tigers into a Monday elimination game against the loser of the Arkansas-Cal State Fullerton matchup.LSU lost its first game of last season’s College World Series to North Carolina before coming from behind to stay alive against Rice and then eventually losing a second game against North Carolina to force the Tigers’ elimination.The last time LSU won its first game at the College World Series was 2000, the Tigers’ last national championship season and the last time LSU won 50 games.The Tigers went to the College World Series in 2003 and 2004, going a combined 0-4 in Omaha, Neb., under then-coach Smoke Laval.In the five season in which LSU has won a national championship, the Tigers have won their first game in Omaha all five times and compiled a total 20-1 record — the only loss coming to Long Beach State in the Tigers’ third game of the 1993 College World Series.LSU MOST STRIKE OUTS IN A SINGLE SEASON1. 202 by Ben McDonald (152 1/3 innings) 19892. 158 by Doug Thompson (124 1/3 innings) 19973. 157 by Kurt Ainsworth (130 1/3 innings) 1999t-4. 156 by Eddie Yarnall (124 2/3 innings) 1996t-4. 156 by Russell Springer (119 innings pitched) 19886. 150 by Scott Schultz (117 innings pitched) 19957. 147 by Anthony Ranaudo (109 2/3 innings pitched) 2009—-Contact The Daily Reveille sports staff at [email protected]