How to watch No. 1 LSU baseball in a crucial home series against No. 3 Arkansas
After taking two of three on the road in their opening series against then No. 11 Texas A&M and handling business against Central Arkansas on Tuesday night, LSU has a massive series at Alex Box Stadium this weekend as it welcomes the No. 3 Arkansas Razorbacks to town.
Arkansas enters this one at 19-2 (3-0 SEC) on the season after sweeping Auburn in its SEC opener last weekend. The matchup against the Tigers (19-2, 2-1 SEC) could determine control of the SEC West moving forward.
The weather could potentially be uncooperative this weekend. In preparation, Friday’s Game 1 has been moved to noon CT, and coach Jay Johnson has also said a Saturday doubleheader is a possibility.
“We’re hoping for the best with the weather; we really want to encourage the fans and students to come out this weekend,” Johnson said in a release. “We need that real home field advantage, because Arkansas is one of the teams we have to beat in order to get back to the top of the SEC.
“When I took this job, I knew Arkansas was one of the programs that was among the elite in our league. They’re always going to recruit well, thus they’ve always been one of the most successful programs in the country. We’re excited for the weekend, it’s going to be a great matchup.”
LSU had its 13-game winning streak interrupted last weekend, but it will hope for another series win against one of the league’s top teams. Here’s everything you need to know to follow this weekend’s series.
Update: Game 3 of the series has been moved to 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday night due to inclement weather.
Game 1
Date: Friday, March 24
Location: Skip Bertman Field at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge
Time: Noon CT
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: LSU Radio Network
Live Stream: Watch ESPN (ESPN+ subscription required)
Game 2
Date: Saturday, March 25
Location: Skip Bertman Field at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge
Time: 1 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Radio: LSU Radio Network
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
Game 3
Date: Saturday, March 25
Location: Skip Bertman Field at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: LSU Radio Network
Live Stream: Watch ESPN (ESPN+ subscription required)
Pitching Matchups
Game 1: LSU RH [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] (5-0, 0.59 ERA, 30.1 IP, 4 BB, 59 SO) vs. UA LH Hunter Hollan (4-0, 2.36 ERA, 26.2 IP, 9 BB, 24 SO)
Game 2: LSU RH [autotag]Ty Floyd[/autotag] (3-0, 2.25 ERA, 20.0 IP, 7 BB, 24 SO) vs UA RH Will McEntire (4-0, 3.71 ERA, 26.2 IP, 10 BB, 22 SO)
Game 3: LSU RH [autotag]Thatcher Hurd[/autotag] (2-0, 2.57 ERA, 21.0 IP, 10 BB, 29 SO) vs. UA TBA
Series History
LSU holds the all-time series lead over the Razorbacks by quite a large margin with a 75-39 record, and it has won 13 of the last 17 series against Arkansas. However, the Tigers have lost their last three series against this team, suffering a sweep in Fayetteville last spring.
Injury Report
LSU doesn’t have any new injuries coming into the weekend.
Batting Leader(s)
LSU: [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] (.515)
UA: Jace Bohrofen (.406)
Doubles Leader(s)
LSU: Dylan Crews (10)
UA: Brady Slavens (8)
Home Run Leader(s)
LSU: [autotag]Jared Jones[/autotag] (7)
UA: Jared Wegner (9)
RBI Leader(s)
LSU: [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] (34)
UA: Jared Wegner (35)
Stolen Base Leader(s)
LSU: [autotag]Jordan Thompson[/autotag] (4)
UA: Tavian Josenberger (6)
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