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GAMETHREAD: LSU @ SLI Bulldogs; 6pm, MyKLAF (Lafayette Area Only)

"Roll Out The Fancy Carpet, Boys! LSU's Coming To Town!"

By PodKATT

It's been over a decade since LSU hopped across the Basin Bridge to visit the Bulldogs (a 7-0 SLI win in 2002, followed by a brawl in the LSU Regional that summer) Tonight's game expects to be as hostile as ever.

Southwestern Louisiana Institute Bulldogs

2012 Record: 23-30 (11-19)

2012 Conference Standing: 10th (Last) in the Sunbelt

2012 RPI: 174

2012 ISR: 161

2012 RS/RA: 251/272

2013 Record 7-1 (3-1 over Central Michigan, 1-0 over NW St, 3-0 over UTSA)

2013 RS/RA 59/34

Ancient Logo:

Bulldogmascot_medium

I'll leave the pretentious music video choice to Poseur in the comments.

Starter:

So. LHP Kody Smith (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 APP, 5.0 IP, 0 BB, 4 SO)

Not a lot to find on Mr. Smith. Pitched most of SLI's only loss this season (10-2 to C Michigan) when he came in to start the 3rd after the Bulldogs had already given up 6 runs. He was not on the team last season and will be making his first career start.

LSU will counter with So. LHP Cody Glenn (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 2 BB, 5 SO) to start, but the big story tonight is the return of Nick Rumbelow, who was expected to compete for LSU's closer role, but has been out since the preseason with a strained oblique. A good showing tonight and he'll be expected to join the bullpen for the weekend.

Sluggers:

Blake Trahan 423/464/538

Tyler Griouard 385/429/846

Michael Strentz 414/514/724

Tiger Bait?

It's not impossible. Coming off of last season's surprising last place finish in the Sun Belt, SLI is in a position not familiar under Tony Robicheaux, who's been the Bulldogs coach since '95 and recently recorded his 900th career win. SLI is not predicted to improve much this year by either the media or the Sun Belt coaches, but the early returns are promising. Combine a hungry team with a "little brother" complex that used to be worse than the football team's and a sold out crowd of 3700 crammed into the bandbox of Tigue Moore Field, and it could be a tough outing on the blasphemous carpet.

Game is on TV in the Lafayette area only on MyKLAF. If you're desperate, you can buy a one day pass to SLI's video service here for $7. Otherwise grab your radio for 98.1