The Baton Rougue sub-regional will start Friday at 2:00 as game 1 features #1 seed LSU (52-9) against #4 seed Jackson State (34-20).  LSU junior right-hander Ryan Eades (8-1, 2.69) will face Jackson State’s sophomore right-hander Alexander Juday (7-4, 3.14).

The tigers of Jackson State will rely on good pitching and speed on the base paths to get past the tigers from Baton Rouge and perhaps even farther. Jackson State has 125 stolen bases on the season and has six players who have at least 12 stolen bases.   Jackson State has an 0-8 postseason record in the NCAA tournament.

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#2 LSU (52-9) won its fourth SEC Tournament Title in the last six years. Its 10th SEC Tournament Championship.  The tigers earned the #4 national seed when the NCAA tournament was announced on Monday.  

The tigers are the 1 seed and will begin their quest for a seventh National Championship on Friday at 2:00 vs 4th-seeded Jackson State (34-20).  The other game in the Baton Rouge Sub-Regional will be 3rd-seeded Sam Houston (37-20) vs 2nd-seeded University of Louisiana-Lafayette (41-17)  at 7:00.  The sub-regional is double-elimination.

More information about this matchup will be posted later in the week.

LSU (50-9) got timely hitting in the top of the 9th inning to beat Alabama 3-2 in Friday’s elimination game.  The tigers move on to face Arkansas (37-19) who beat LSU on Thursday 4-1.  In the rematch Saturday the tigers will probably face Arkansas senior lefty Randall Fant (5-1, 2.08 ERA).   LSU will counter with right-hander Hunter Newman (2-0, 2.18 ERA) or senior right-hander Brett Bonvillain (2-0, 2.97 ERA).  The game will be televised by ESPN News and Cox Sports Television.

Arkansas (34-25) executed a squeeze play in the top of the 8th inning Thursday night.  Hog right-fielder Tyler Spoon pushed the ball to right side to allow the winning run.  With only six outs remaining the tigers (49-9) were unable to tie the score late.  Both starting pitchers were as good as advertised.  Both pitchers ran into occasional jams but both were able to get out of those situations time and time again. 

Late in the game the tigers went with Joey Bourgeois to relieve starter Aaron Nola while Arkansas stuck with Ryne Staneck.  Arkansas made the right move pitching wise and gets off Friday and are in the semi-final game Saturday while LSU must survive Friday in the losers bracket to have a chance to meet the razorbacks Saturday.  The elimination game Friday between LSU and Alabama will be played at 3:00.

LSU (49-8) generated all the offense they needed in the bottom of the first inning Wednesday in Hoover, Alabama.  The tide (33-25) was kept scoreless for the game thanks mainly to the tigers starting pitcher Cody Glenn (7-2) who went 7 innings and put the tigers in a winner’s bracket contest against Arkansas (36-19) who defeated Ole Miss in 10 innings 2-1  in the early game today.

Tiger ace Aaron Nola (10-0, 1.99 ERA) will meet the razorbacks top pitcher Ryne Staneck (8-2, 1.54).