It was a rough night for much of the South, and our friends in Tuscaloosa got some of the worst of it. We'll echo Roll Bama Roll's sentiments and recommend you give to the Red Cross or stop by a blood bank today.
The pressure continues for the Tigers as every game is a must win until further notice. Hoping to spark some of that '08 magic, Mainieri is sticking with the gold jerseys this weekend. The task ahead is daunting, and we'll need a sweep just to stay alive in competition for the last Hoover spot. The good news is that we are playing the other worst team in the league.
Kentucky (20-22, 4-14 in the SEC), isn't a great hitting team with a BA of .265 and only 4 regulars hitting over .300 in conference play. SS Taylor Black is their leader for the season (.333, 58 H, 34 R, 28 RBIs, 2HR), but the story in conference play has been their platoon catchers Luke Maile (.275, 7 HRs, 8 2Bs, 28 RBIs) and Michael Williams(.274, but .350 in SEC play, 9 2Bs, 4 HRs, 15 RBIs). Based on the stats, they swap C and DH position depending on who's throwing. The big problem with Kentucky is pitching, starting with a genuine Friday Ace in Alex Meyer. They also have a great closer in Trevor Gott (1.82 ERA, 24.2 IP, 2 saves, 15 BB, 31 K).
It's win or stay home time for LSU, the season is, for all intensive purposes, over if we lose this series. So, No Pressure guys.
TV: Thursday night on ESPNU with the Ben McDonald Pregame Show starting at 6pm with 1st pitch at 6:30, Friday is a Cox Sports game and nothing on Saturday afternoon.
Weather: After all that mess, it's clear and barley topping 80 through Friday, just a bit cloudy on Saturday
SEC Slate
ARK @ UGA
BAMA @ MISS. ST (SAT. DH)
TENN @ VANDY
AUB @ SCAR
OLE MISS @ UF
Nationally, there are quite a few ranked conference games in the ACC, PAC-10, and BIG XII, the biggest being Oklahoma @ Texas (of which the Sunday game will be on ESPNU
Medallions for the Anniversary Teams
In Focus: Bradshaw Excels as a Scholar-Athlete
'61 SEC Baseball Champs to Reunite at Alex Box
PITCHING MATCHUPS from LSUSports.net
Game 1- 9-5 LSU
LSU - Fr. RHP Kurt McCune (5-3, 3.39 ERA, 63.2 IP, 19 BB, 47 SO)
UK - Jr. RHP Alex Meyer (4-5, 3.27 ERA, 71.2 IP, 36 BB, 81 SO)
Game 2 - 7pm - Cox Sports
LSU - Fr. RHP Kevin Gausman (2-5, 4.73 ERA, 59.0 IP, 18 BB, 54 SO)
UK - Fr. LHP Corey Littrell (5-3, 5.64 ERA, 52.2 IP, 18 BB, 39 SO)
Game 3 - 1pm - No TV
LSU - Sr. RHP Ben Alsup (5-4, 3.93 ERA, 52.2 IP, 20 BB, 34 SO)
UK - So. LHP Taylor Rogers (2-5, 5.16 ERA, 59.1 IP, 11 BB, 41 SO)