GAMETHREAD: #14 Auburn (32-18) @ #11 LSU (32-17), GM 1, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2

LSU hopes that this weekend won’t be the last one they spend playing in Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field. In order to help ensure that, they need to beat SEC West rivals Auburn, who are in a similar situation.

The two squads come into the weekend with near identical records, although the polls and RPI seem to favor the Tigers of the bayou variety rather than those of the plains variety.

It may not feel like it thanks to numerous midweek losses but LSU is very much in form, winning four of the last five weekend series in conference play, the latest being a well play narrow series win against South Carolina following a sweep of Alabama.

Auburn ripped off three straight conference victories with the most notable wins coming against Mississippi State. but disaster struck last weekend when they were swept by hapless Alabama, throwing their RPI into much despair.

According to my projections, LSU is in as a regional host and Auburn is not, but that can easily sway with the result of this weekend.

History is on LSU’s side, as the purple and gold Tigers lead the series that dates back to 1907 99-72 and has won 11 of the last 13 against the blue and orange Tigers, taking the last four series from Auburn.

The game will be nationally broadcast on ESPN2. Like on the actual tv but it will also be streamed online.

Starters

AUB: Andrew Mitchell (3.21 ERA, 28 IP, 1.92 K/BB [23/12])

LSU: Alex Lange (3.27 ERA, 74.1 IP, 3.25 [91/28])

@AUPPL