Baton Rouge, La.  – The Wildcats leave the state of Florida for the first time this season to take on #16 LSU in Baton Rouge for a three-game series this weekend. First pitch is scheduled for Friday, March 10, at 1 p.m. EST.
 
Game Information

Friday – Sunday March 11-13
Opponent: #16 LSU (10-3, 0-0 SEC)
Time: 1 p.m. | 3 p.m. | 2 p.m.
Location: Baton Rouge, La. | Alex Box Stadium
Live Stats:  http://statb.us/b/394585
Listen: https://lsusports.net/live/
Watch: SECN+
 
Last Time Out
 
The Wildcats saw a four-game winning streak snapped Tuesday night against UCF. The Wildcats scored the first run of the evening on a RBI triple from Matthew Garcia in the bottom of the third. Marcos Gamboa provided a strong start to the bullpen day, allowing no runs on two hits with three strikeouts through three innings. UCF took the lead in the sixth, and the Wildcats were within a run entering the ninth, but UCF shut the door with three runs in the top of the ninth to take the 6-2 victory.
 
Scouting the Tigers

#16 LSU is 10-3 to start the season. The Tigers were ranked as high as #8 nationally, but back-to-back losses against #1 Texas and unranked Baylor dropped them into the #16 spot. Most recently, the Tigers took down McNeese on Wednesday night, 6-3.
 
The Tigers have outscored opponents 127-54 thus far this season. They are batting .321 as a team with a .995 OPS. They have hit 19 homers as a team. Four Tigers have 19 or more hits through 13 games – Infielder Cade Doughty leads LSU with a 1.221 OPS, 20 RBI, and 4 homers.
 
The LSU pitching staff has combined for a 3.13 ERA this season and a 1.11 WHIP. The Tigers have 26 errors as a team.
 
The Starters
 
The Wildcats will turn to Louis Lipthratt Friday afternoon to set the tone for the weekend. The right-hander has put up a 3.06 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP in three starts this season. Last time out, Lipthratt tossed 7.2 innings against Sacred Heart, allowing 9 hits but only three earned runs with no walks and five strikeouts.
 
Reigning SWAC Pitcher of the Week Nolan Santos gets another start Saturday after his electrifying 8 innings at Stetson where he allowed no runs on two hits with no walks and 11 punchouts. Opponents are batting only .161 against him.
 
Righty Hector Vazquez takes the ball Sunday for his third start of the season. Vazquez has rebounded from a rocky start against FIU to put up seven innings over two appearances at Jacksonville and UCF in which he allowed only two runs with four hits and seven strikeouts.
 
LSU will throw right-hander Blake Money on Friday.  In three starts this season, Money has put up impressive numbers, with a 0.43 ERA and .79 WHIP – he has allowed only three runs and four walks to 24 strikeouts through 20.2 IP.
 
LSU's rotation for Saturday and Sunday is TBA.
 
All-Time Series
 
This weekend will mark the first time LSU and B-CU have met on the diamond in the history of the two programs.
 
Notes

• The Wildcats pitching staff ranks third in the SWAC with 109 strikeouts.
• B-CU Pitchers have walked the third-fewest batters in the SWAC this season at 42.
• Christopher Patterson ranks fourth in the SWAC in batting average at .429.
• Matthew Garcia has three triples this season – only five players in the conference have more than one.

 
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