March 26
March 26, 2008
Howard Edward Green
March 28, 2008
A strong performance by starting pitcher Ryan Verdugo helped LSU (14-7, 2-4 SEC) earn a 4-2 victory over Arkansas Sunday in Alex Box Stadium.
The win gave the Tigers a series victory over the Razorbacks and moved LSU into a tie for second place in the SEC Western Division, just one game behind Ole Miss.
Verdugo (4-1) allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts in seven innings for the victory. Michael Hollander had three hits, a run and a run batted in, while D.J. LeMahieu had two hits, a run and an RBI.
The Tigers also won the Friday’s night game, 8-7, with an 11th-inning home run by Matt Gaudet, who finished the game with three RBIs. Blake Dean and Sean Ochinko each had a pair of hits and two RBIs in the contest.
Jared Bradford got the win in relief after not allowing a hit in the final three innings and striking out two.
On Saturday, LSU stormed out to a 9-0 lead after three innings thanks to home runs from Blake Dean (two), Clark and LeMahieu, but could not hold on and fell to Arkansas, 14-13, in 10 innings. Bradford (4-2) got the loss in relief after allowing six hits and three earned runs in the final three innings of the game. The Tigers committed five errors in the contest.
Earlier in the week, LSU defeated Tulane at home, 7-5. A three-run triple by Ryan Schimpf keyed a five-run sixth for the Tigers, who ended a five-game losing streak with the victory.
Jordan Brown (three hits and a run in one inning) got the win in relief and Bradford (one hit in an inning) recorded the save.
LSU will play host to UNO on Wednesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. This weekend, the Tigers will play at Florida (Friday: 5:30 p.m.; Saturday: 3 p.m. and Sunday: noon).
SOFTBALL TEAM SWEEPS AUBURN
The Lady Tigers upped their winning streak to 15 games with a sweep of Auburn in Baton Rouge this weekend. No. 10 LSU (27-4, 6-0) took a doubleheader on Friday, 8-1 and 5-3 (in 10 innings) and posted a 10-0 victory in six innings on Saturday.
In the final game of the series, Quinlan Duhon had a three-run home run allowing the Lady Tigers to win their 18th game in the last 19 contests.
On the mound, Dani Hofer (15-2) won all three games in the series. On Sunday, she allowed three hits and walk and did not allow a base runner past second base. In Friday’s second game, Hofer came in and won the game in relief by allowing a hit and striking out four in the last two innings.
Killian Roessner’s walk-on homer in the 10th gave LSU the victory. Roessner finished the game with three hits and four RBIs.
In the first game of the series, Rachel Mitchell had two hits and three RBIs, while Hofer allowed an earned run, three hits and struck out 15 in the complete-game effort.
The Lady Tigers will play host to Mississippi State in a doubleheader today (first game scheduled for 4 p.m.) and then travel to Florida for a doubleheader on Saturday (starting at noon) and a single game on Saturday at noon.
FOOTBALL SPRING GAME IS APRIL 5
LSU’s annual football spring game has been scheduled for Saturday, April 5, in Tiger Stadium and tickets for the event are available now on LSUsports.net. Kickoff for the LSU spring game is set for 5 p.m.
LSU will offer several different ways for fans to gain free admission to the spring game. Fans have the option of printing a redeemable coupon off the Internet at www.lsusports. net courtesy of the The Advocate. The coupon will then have to redeemed at the LSU ticket office for a free ticket to the spring game.
In order to be free, this coupon must be redeemed prior to game day.
Another option is paying a $1 processing fee to be able to print your spring game ticket from home. By signing up for this option on LSUsports.net, fans will have their spring game ticket emailed to them, which they can then print at home.
Free admission can also be obtained by presenting a baseball ticket from the LSU-Alabama contest, which will be held earlier that day at Alex Box Stadium.
LSU students will be admitted free of charge by having their ID card scanned at the gate.
Those fans who choose not to take advantage of the free ticket also have the option of paying $5 prior to the day of the game for a ticket or paying $10 on game day for admission.
All tickets to the spring game will be general admission with the seating starting on the east and west sidelines.
LSU pitcher Ryan Verdugo earned LSU a 4-2 victory over Arkansas Sunday, giving the Tigers a 14-7 (2-4 SEC) overall record. Verdugo allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts in seven innings for the win. * Photo courtesy of LSU/STEVE FRANZ
