LSU lands Kentucky in all

Sep 01, 2023

LSU had to navigate teams from three conferences, differing styles and aggravating weather conditions to win its regional in Baton Rouge.

When they return to Alex Box Stadium for the program's first home regional since 2019, they'll know exactly what to expect. That'll be SEC foe Kentucky and probably more difficult weather conditions.

LSU faced Kentucky earlier in the season, winning two of three games (16-6 and 7-6), but losing the middle game 13-10. The Wildcats will also be facing a significant rest disparity, having to play five games to get out of the Lexington regional, compared to LSU's three games. That was the case because Kentucky lost the 1-0 game to Indiana, but went on to defeat West Virginia, then the Hoosiers in back-to-back games to make the difficult trek out of the loser's bracket.

The series will be among those kicking off on Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN. Game 2 will be played Sunday and the if-necessary Game 3 will be on Monday. Times and networks for the second two games are still to be determined.

The Wildcats' starter for Game 1 will be difficult to project. They turned to Travis Smith in Game 1 against Ball State, but it was Mason Moore who went the final five innings to earn the win. Darren Williams drew the start in the pivotal Game 6, and again Mason Moore had an extended outing (4 innings) to close things out. Zack Lee drew the first start against Indiana, then Austin Strickland was handed the ball in an elimination setting against West Virginia. Logan Martin started the next elimination game against Indiana.

For LSU, things are far less complicated. The decision to start ace Paul Skenes on Friday against Tulane, a somewhat questionable decision given the competition level expected over the weekend, he'll be on full rest going into the opener. From there, it'll likely be Ty Floyd again on Saturday. He'd be working on a day short of rest due to weather delays, but only worked 3 innings before handing the ball off to Thatcher Hurd. It's unclear when Hurd would be available after a long 12-strikeout outing.

The Super Regional series is best of three and LSU will be hoping to close it out in two games if possible to limit the wear on the starters and bullpen. That's what LSU managed the last time they hosted a regional (2019), when they fell to Florida State in two games. They were again on the receiving end of in 2021 when they went down in two games to host Tennessee.

Scroll below for LSU's full super regional history.

1999- REGIONAL (3-1)W, NE Louisiana; L, East Carolina; W, Southern; W, East Carolina; W, East Carolina- SUPERS (0-2)L, at Alabama; L, at Alabama

2000- REGIONAL (3-0)W, Jackson St.; W, UL-Monroe; W, UL-Monroe- SUPERS (2-0)W, UCLA; W, UCLA- CWS (4-0)W, Texas; W, USC; W, Florida St.; W, Stanford

2001- REGIONAL (3-1)W, Minnesota; W, VCU; L, VCU; W, VCU- SUPERS (1-2)W, Tulane; L, Tulane; L, Tulane

2002- REGIONAL (4-1)W, Southern; L, UL-Lafayette; W, Tulane; W, UL-Lafayette; W, UL-Lafayette- SUPERS (0-2)L, at Rice; L at Rice

2003- REGIONAL (3-0)W, Northeastern; W, Tulane; W, UNC-Wilmington- SUPERS (2-1)L, Baylor; W, Baylor; W, Baylor- CWS (0-2)L, CS-Fullerton; L, South Carolina

2004- REGIONAL (3-0)W, Army; W, Southern Miss; W, College of Charleston- SUPERS (2-0)W, Texas A&M; W, Texas A&M- CWS (0-2)L, Miami; L, South Carolina

2008- REGIONAL (3-0)W, Texas Southern; W, Southern Miss; W, Southern Miss- SUPERS (2-1)L, UC-Irvine; W, UC-Irvine; W, UC-Irvine- CWS (1-2)L, North Carolina; W, Rice; L, North Carolina

2009- REGIONAL (3-0)W, Southern; W, Baylor; W, Minnesota- SUPERS (2-0)W, Rice; W, Rice- CWS (3-2)W, Virginia; W, Arkansas; W, Arkansas; W, Texas; L, Texas; L, Texas

2012- REGIONAL (3-0)W, UL-Monroe; W, Oregon State; W, Oregon State- SUPERS (1-2)W, Stony Brook; L, Stony Brook; L, Stony Brook

2013- REGIONAL (3-0)W, Jackson State; W, Sam Houston State; W, UL-Lafayette- SUPERS (2-0)W, Oklahoma; W, Oklahoma- CWS (0-2)L, UCLA; L, North Carolina

2015- REGIONAL (3-0)W, Lehigh; W, UNC-Wilmington; W, UNC-Wilmington- SUPERS (2-0)W, UL-Lafayette; W, UL-Lafayette- CWS (1-2)L, TCU; W, CS-Fullerton; L, TCU

2016- REGIONAL (3-1)W, Utah Valley; W, Rice; L, Rice; W, Rice- SUPERS (0-2)L, Coastal Carolina; L, Coastal Carolina

2018- REGIONAL (3-0)W, Texas Southern; W, SE Louisiana; W, Rice- SUPERS (2-0)W, Miss. State; W, Miss. State- CWS (4-2)W, Florida State; L, Oregon State; W, Florida State; W, Oregon State; W, Oregon State; L, Florida; L, Florida

2019- REGIONAL (3-0)W, Stony Brook; W, Southern Miss; W, Southern Miss- SUPERS (0-2)L, Florida State; L, Florida State

2021- REGIONAL (1-4)L, Gonzaga; W, Central Connecticut; W, Gonzaga; W, Oregon; W, Oregon- SUPERS (June 12-14)L, at Tennessee; L, at Tennessee

2023- REGIONAL (3-0)W, Tulane; W, Oregon State; W, Oregon State- SUPERS (June 9-12vs Kentucky, TBD