And now for a serious upgrade in competition …
LSU’s baseball team will jump feet first into the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at the Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros.
The Tigers, ranked as high as No. 2 in the polls, will face three ranked teams in as many days, leading off with unanimous No. 1 Texas Christian tonight.
LSU will be making its second appearance in the long-running tournament, which this year amounts to a Big 12-SEC challenge.
“The atmosphere should be tremendous with Houston having such a large population of LSU alumni,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “We’re expecting great crowds and three great ball games this weekend. And it’s great for us to get to play in a major league park.”
All six teams involved are ranked in at least one poll, and none has more than one loss.
The Tigers (8-1) will face Baylor (9-0) on Saturday and wind up the weekend with a 10 a.m. Sunday game against No. 10 Texas Tech (9-1).
In other games today, Ole Miss (7-1) takes on Baylor (9-0) and Texas A&M (8-1) faces Texas Tech (9-1).
“We’re playing three great teams, and I don’t know if we’re going to go 0-3, 3-0 or somewhere in between,” Mainieri said. “If we go 0-3, I’m not going to say our team failed. If we go 3-0, I’m not going to say we’re going to win the national championship.
“It will be similar to the SEC tournament in a way, because you’re playing on consecutive days against different teams.”
Tonight might almost have a College World Series feel to it with No. 1 against No. 2.
In fact, that’s where LSU last saw TCU. The Horned Frogs handed the Tigers both of their losses to eliminate LSU from the 2015 CWS.
TCU (7-1) features one of the nation’s top players in sophomore outfielder Luken Baker, who many predict could be the top pick in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.
The standoff between he and LSU starter Alex Lange (2-0, 0.82 ERA) should attract a lot scouts as Lange is a likely high pick in this year’s draft.
Baker, who has three home runs this season, last year was also a star pitcher for the Horned Frogs and the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. But this year Baker is concentrating solely on his every-day position.
TCU’s pitcher will be right-hander Brian Howard (1-1, 3.17), an imposing figure at 6-foot-9.
Baylor was the late arrival, sneaking in at No. 14 this week in the Collegiate Baseball rankings. But the Bears are also the lone undefeated team in the event.
They’ll face LSU’s Jared Poch? (2-0, 0.00) on Saturday. Poch? has allowed one hit in his 15 innings, throwing a seven-inning no-hitter opening weekend and taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning before giving up his lone base hit last week.
LSU will be the home team for the first two games and the visiting Sunday against Texas Tech.
Pitching Matchups
Shriner’s Classic
Minute Maid Park/Houston
7 p.m. Today, FSN
LSU vs. TCU
LSU, Jr. RH Alex Lange (2-0, 0.82 ERA, 11 IP, 2 BB, 10 K’s) vs. TCU, Sr. RH Brian Howard (1-1, 3.17 ERA, 11 IP, 2 BB, 10 K’s).
3:30 p.m. Saturday
LSU vs. Baylor
LSU, Sr. LH Jared Poch? (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 15 IP, 2 BB, 10 K’s) vs. Baylor, Jr. RH Montana ParK’sns (1-0, 3.38 ERA, 10.2 IP, 7 BB, 9 K’s).
10 a.m. Sunday
LSU vs. Texas Tech
LSU, Fr. RH Eric Walker (1-0, 4.00 ERA, 9 IP, 3 BB, 12 K’s) vs. Texas Tech, K’s. RH Ryan Shetter (1-0, 2.13 ERA, 12.2 IP, 2 BB, 16 K’s).
Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic
Minute Maid Park/Houston
Friday
Ole Miss (7-1) vs. Baylor (9-0), 12:05 p.m., FSN
Texas Tech (9-1) vs. Texas A&M (8-1), 3:35 p.m., FSN
Texas Christian (7-1) vs. LSU (8-1), 7:05 p.m., FSN
Saturday
Texas Tech at Ole Miss, 12:05 p.m., FSN-Plus
Baylor vs. LSU, 3:35 p.m., FSN-Plus
Texas A&M vs. Texas Christian, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday
LSU vs. Texas Tech, 10:05 a.m., FSN
Texas Christian vs. Ole Miss, 1:35 p.m., FSN-Plus
Texas A&M vs. Baylor, 5:05 p.m., FSN-Plus
All games live streamed at FOXSportsGO.com
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