Individual Game-By-Game for LSU (Through June 2)
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NCAA Super Regional: LSU at Rice—June 7-9, Reckling Park, Houston Two wins to go: LSU visits Rice in an NCAA Super Regional with a About the Super Regional... berth in the College World Series at stake. Records ã This marks the second straight year LSU is facing a team with LSU 44-20 (19-10 SEC, 4th overall); Rice 50-12 (28-2 50 wins in a super regional. Tulane was 53-10 prior to last WAC, champions) year’s series. ã LSU is playing in its fourth super regional in as many years since Rankings the format was introduced, one of six schools to achieve the LSU Is #8 in Baseball America, #9 in Collegiate Baseball feat. and #14 in ESPN/Baseball Weekly (May 27 poll) ã The Tigers won three games in just over 24 hours to win the Ba- Rice is #2 all three polls behind Florida State ton Rouge regional after losing their second game to Louisiana- Radio Lafayette. LSU Radio: LSU Sports Network (WDGL-98.1 FM in Baton ã LSU has not won a regional or super regional on an enemy field Rogue)—Jim Hawthorne, Bill Franques, Charles Hanagriff since the 1989 Central Regional at Texas A&M. Rice Radio: KTRU-91.7 FM in Houston Scouting the Owls: Rice has been at or near the top of the polls all Live TV season long, coming in with an impressive 50-12 mark. Jumbo Sports Network in Louisiana and Comcast Sports ã LSU and Rice have two common opponents this season, Hous- Southeast in other SEC markets—Lyn Rollins, Ronnie ton and Louisiana-Lafayette. LSU was 1-2 vs. UH and Rice was Rantz 4-1 against the Cougars, while LSU was 2-3 vs. UL-Lafayette and Rice beat the Cajuns in the teams’ only meeting. Umpires (assigned by the NCAA) ã Rice went 3-1 in winning the Houston regional at Reckling Park, Nick Zibelli (Crew Chief—Carver, Mass.), Kelly Nutt, Dave defeating Harvard, Texas Tech and Washington after losing the Buck, Ron Sebastian first championship game to the Huskies. ã Rice is in its third super regional in four years, but its first on Tournament history campus. The Owls hosted UL-Lafayette in the Astrodome in LSU is 94-32 in NCAA Tournament play and 3-4 in super regional play. The Tigers improved their regional mark to 1999 and visited Nebraska last year. 62-15 last weekend and are 29-13 in the College World ã Rice has won seven consecutive conference championships— Series the last Southwest Conference crown in 1996 and six straight since entering the WAC in 1997. Series History ã Rice did not appear in a regional until 1995, but they have LSU leads, 10-6 (since 1914), but the Tigers haven’t made eight consecutive trips under coach Wayne Graham. played in Houston since splitting two games in 1990. ã The Owls feature three All-WAC pitchers, led by senior left- hander Justin Crowder, a transfer from TCU who is 9-2 with a Last Meeting 2.04 ERA. LSU 5, Rice 4 (5/30/97 at Omaha in first round of Col- ã Rice’s top hitter is WAC Player of the Year and National Fresh- lege World Series) man of the Year candidate Vincent Sinisi, who is batting .438 with 11 home runs and 78 RBI. Last Year LSU lost last year’s super regional 2 games to 1 to Tulane About the Series: LSU holds a 10-6 series edge over the Owls. at Zephyr Field. LSU won 4-3 in 13 innings in the opener ã LSU won the last meeting between the teams, a 5-4 victory in but lost the next two games 9-4 and 7-1. the opening round of the 1997 College World Series. Championships ã The Owls’ first regional visit came in 1995 in Baton Rouge, with LSU has won 14 regional championships (1986-87-89- Rice eliminating LSU by 15-7 and 16-9 scores. That Rice team 90-91-93-94-96-97-98-99-00-01-02), and has reached featured future major leaguers Matt Anderson, Lance Berkman, the CWS 11 times, winning national championships in Jose Cruz Jr. and Mark Quinn. 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2000. ã The Tigers last played at Houston in 1990, splitting a two-game set with the Owls (11-12, 13-1). Coaches ã LSU and Rice opened the season in both 1971 and 1972, with Smoke Laval, LSU (44-20 at LSU: 8th year overall, 285- the Owls winning two of three in Houston in ‘71 and LSU sweep- 179) ing three in Baton Rouge the next year. Wayne Graham, Rice (11th year at Rice, 473-210; 22nd year overall, 1,097-341) Super Regional history: LSU is in its fourth super regional, Rice its third. Up Next ã LSU is 3-4 super regionals, but 1-4 away from home. The winner of the super regional advances to the College ã Rice is 3-2 super regionals, winning two of three from UL- World Series and will take on the winner of the Houston- Lafayette in 1999 at the Astrodome and being swept last year Texas super regional in Austin in a first-round CWS by Nebraska in Lincoln. contest. Game 1 Probable Starting Pitcher #46 Soph. LH Lane Mestepey (6-0, 187, Zachary—Central Private) Lane Mestepey pitched 10 strong innings in last year’s super regional opener vs. Tulane at Zephyr Field, and looks to turn in an- other solid outing in the first game of the Super Regional at Rice. The Owls will start junror right-hander Stephen Herce (12-2, 3.07) in the opener. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2002: Is 11-4 with a 2.66 ERA. Third in the SEC in ERA and first in complete games (8) and innings pitched (135.1). ã A repeat first team All-SEC selection, joining Todd Walker as the only LSU players to be named first team All-SEC as a freshman and sophomore. ã A third team All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball for the second consecutive year. ã Is the only LSU pitcher to win 10 games as both a freshman and a sophomore. ã Did not allow a walk over a span of 33.0 innings from Feb. 23 to Mar. 23. ã Giving up a miniscule 1.13 walks per nine innings (17 in 135.1 IP). ã Has 12 career complete games, and his eight this year are more than 10 of the other 11 teams in the SEC. ã Took loss in regional vs. UL-Lafayette (6/1), as the Tigers were shut out by the Cajuns’ Andy Gros. ã Mestepey has received just four runs of support in his four losses this year. ã Pitched Tigers to victory over Auburn in SEC Tournament (5/22) with a complete game six-hitter, allowing Auburn just one run. ã Threw five-hit shutout vs. Alabama (5/18, Game 1), giving up just five singles and allowing only two Crimson Tide runners to reach third base. ã Is now 2-0 with an 0.50 ERA with two complete games lifetime vs. the Crimson Tide. ã Won his 20th game in spectacular fashion vs. Arkansas (4/26), throwing a complete game four-hit shutout for his first career shut- out in 35 outings. Took no-decision at Florida (5/10), giving up eight hits in three runs over 7.0+ innings. ã Despite losing to Tennessee (5/4, Game 1), Mestepey allowed just one hit through the first 7.2 innings and four hits for the game. ã Gave up a career high 12 hits in 8.2 innings at South Carolina (4/19), but still earned the win. ã Pitched third complete game of the season and the seventh of his career to defeat Georgia (4/12). Gave up just two runs and struck out five. ã Earned third straight victory with 6.2 innings at Auburn (4/5), allowing just two earned runs and striking out four. ã Walked none in 6.1 innings to improve to 5-2 with win over Mississippi St. (3/30). ã Picked up second complete game victory at Ole Miss (3/23) despite walking a career-high five batters. ã Gave up five runs (four earned) on nine hits in last outing vs. Vanderbilt (3/16). ã Earned second consecutive LSWA Pitcher of the Week honor for effort vs. UL-Monroe (3/ 9), giving up one run in eight innings. ã Earned complete-game victory at Houston (2/23), giving up just one run on six hits in the final 7.0 innings. ã Followed up Houston game with brilliant 8.0 inning stint vs. Long Beach St. (3/2, Game 2), striking out a career-best eight to im- prove to 2-0 to earn LSWA Pitcher of the Week honors. 2001: Led the SEC in victories (11) and ERA (3.75), going 11-3 in 22 games (19 starts), pitching 139.1 innings. ã Named the national Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball and was a third team All-American by the same publication. ã Named the 2001 SEC Freshman of the Year and was a first team All-SEC selection. ã Allowed two or fewer earned runs in 11 of 19 starts. ã Yielded only 2.39 walks per nine innings. ã Went 7.1 or more innings in his first eight SEC starts. ã Named SEC Pitcher of the Week on Apr. 16 for sterling Easter Sunday effort vs.