Struggling teams set for battle

Published 11:42 am Tuesday, March 22, 2016

By American Press Staff

The annual Wally Pontiff Classic in New Orleans was supposed to be a showdown between ranked teams when LSU takes on UL-Lafayette tonight at Zephyr Field.

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">But both teams had rough weekends leading up to the event.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">After dropping two of three to Alabama in its SEC opening weekend, LSU (13-5) stayed in the rankings, although the Tigers dropped out of the top 10 to as low No. 16 in the various polls.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Cajuns (12-8) dropped out of the polls entirely after losing two of three to Sun Belt Conference rival Arkansas-Little Rock at home.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Little matter.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“There should be a big crowd and an electric atmosphere, as we’re facing a great opponent in UL-Lafayette,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said of the event, which honors the former Tiger player who died unexpected shortly after his senior year in 2002. “I know we are all looking forward to the experience.”</span>

Email newsletter signup

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The two teams played three times last year — once in New Orleans for this same event and, more notably, twice in Baton Rouge for the NCAA super regional.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">LSU won all three, including a dramatic 4-3 walk-off victory in the opening game of the super regional when ULL tied the score with a home run in the top of the ninth only to have the Tigers’ Chris Sciambra hit one in the bottom of the inning for the win.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">LSU clinched a trip to the College World Series the next day with a 6-3 victory.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">LSU will pitch right-hander Cole McCay (0-0, 5.40), although probably not for long. McCay will be making his first career start, but Mainieri said he plans to use his familiar “mound committee” — using many arms — to get through the game before the Tigers’ open a big SEC series at Texas A&amp;M beginning Thursday.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Cajuns will counter with righty Evan Guillory (1-2, 2.95) from Jennings High School.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Mainieri will tinker with his lineup, however, perhaps with an eye on the weekend.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Greg Deichman, who’s been the designated hitter in the last three games, will get a shot at third base, mainly to open up the DH spot for freshman Brody Wofford, one of the heroes of the Tigers late rally to beat Alabama 7-5 Sunday.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Wofford came off the bench to deliver a 2-run pinch-hit single to drive in the first two runs in LSU’s 6-run, eighth-inning rally.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“I’ve always thought this kid had a chance to hit for us,” Mainieri said of Wofford.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Wofford delivered in his first career SEC at-bat — just as he did in his first collegiate at-bat when he drove in the winning run in the 12th inning in his first collegiate at-bat in the season opener against Cincinnati.</span>

You Might Like