Homely away record won’t help LSU come tournament time
Published 6:17 pm Thursday, May 17, 2018
Scooter Hobbs
It would appear that LSU and Auburn share more than just a conference and a mascot.
The two Tigers open a crucial Southeastern Conference series tonight in Auburn on this, the final weekend of the regular season.
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LSU comes in having won six of its last eight games and its last two conference series.
Auburn was swept last week by Ole Miss and, overall, has lost four in a row.
But whatever momentum that might imply needs as asterisk.
LSU (32-21, 14-13 SEC) completed a six-game homestand before heading to the Plains while Auburn (35-18, 13-14) was on the road for its recent skid.
The Tigers — LSU’s — can sympathize.
Neither team has traveled well.
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LSU hasn’t won an SEC road series (or lost one at home) while going 3-9 in conference away games, 3-12 overall on the road.
Auburn is 27-5 at quirky Plainsman Park — it has a Fenway Park-style Green Monster in left field — but 7-13 away from home.
Auburn is no doubt happy be back on campus, where it has a seven-game home winning streak.
Advantage … who knows?
None of that matters as LSU has its back against the wall in trying to secure a bid to the NCAA Tournament in advance of next week’s SEC Tournament.
And, at some point, LSU is going to have to learn to win away from home — if the Tigers do get in the NCAA Tournament, for a change it certainly won’t be the usual Alex Box Stadium festival.
Head coach Paul Mainieri was as blunt as ever before departing for the road trip.
“It’s like I told our guys yesterday: It’s now or never,” Mainieri said. “It’s time to put the big-boy pants on, go into a tough environment and get the job done. There’s no time for excuses. No time for, ‘Oh, we’re going to keep improving.’ It’s time for us to get the job done.”
It won’t be easy.
Although LSU is a game ahead of Auburn in the SEC West standings, it’s the latter Tigers who seem to have an NCAA bid locked up. In fact, most projections have Auburn hosting a regional due to its national Ratings Percentage Index of No. 12 (LSU is No. 46).
Friday’s second game may be LSU’s biggest challenge as Auburn is holding its ace, right-hander Casey Mize, for that game so he can pitch on normal rest.
Many have Mize (9-3, 2.73 ERA) projected as the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s First-Year Player Draft, and he has some sick numbers — particularly his 124 strike outs in 89 innings against eight walks.
He’ll go against LSU’s Ma’Khail Hilliard (8-4, 3.66) on Friday night while tonight’s opener features LSU’s Zack Hess (6-4, 4.24) against freshman right-hander Tanner Burns (4-4, 3.36).
Mainieri said he is hopeful freshman AJ Labas will be available to start Saturday’s final game after missing his start last week due to shoulder soreness. He said Labas was scheduled to throw today before a decision is made.
Mize is coming off one of his roughest starts of the year last weekend against Ole Miss — he gave up six runs on eight hits in five innings — and LSU has had some success against him in the past.
While sweeping Auburn in Baton Rouge last year, the Tigers scored five runs on six hits against him in four innings. The previous year in Auburn Mize pitched in relief against LSU and gave up three runs on four hits in 21⁄3 innings.
None of that matters this week, but Mainieri sounded optimistic before hitting the road.
“We’ve been playing pretty good baseball over the last few weeks,” he said. “The quality of our play has certainly improved from what it was earlier in the year. It’s been a struggle at times, and it’s been a long, hard year, but if we can finish strong against a good ball club in a tough environment at Auburn, we can take that momentum into the SEC Tournament.
“We always play well in Hoover, and you never know what might happen.”
