No. 2 LSU hosts Cougars in first-ever meeting

No. 2 LSU hosts BYU baseball in two of four Cougar games this week in Baton Rouge, La., starting Thursday.

The second-ranked Tigers (3-0) play Tuesday evening against Lamar before hosting the Cougars (2-2), concluding with a game on Saturday evening. Sandwiched between those games are Friday and Saturday afternoon contests against Southeastern Louisiana (3-0),  also at heralded Alex Box Stadium (10,326).

“The whole team is excited to be playing in this venue and atmosphere,” said BYU coach Mike Littlewood. “We have told them to enjoy the experience, but that it’s still just baseball and not to be overwhelmed.”

Leading the way for the Cougars are three of their team that were named last week to the Brooks Wallace Classic all-tournament team, Desmond Poulson, Adam Law and Jaycob Brugman.  Poulson was also named West Coast Conference pitcher of the week by the College Sports Madness website for his nine-inning, 10-strikeout, 119-pitch shutout against Northern Colorado in the season opener.

Poulson (1-0, 0.00) will start on the mound on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., CST.  On Friday, Adam Miller (0-1, 7.20) will be BYU’s starting pitcher against Southeastern Louisiana at 1 p.m.  Jeff Barker (1-0, 1.50) gets the nod for Saturday afternoon’s tilt and lefty Mark Anderson (0-0, 4.50) faces LSU in the rematch that evening at 6 p.m.

Cougars Brennon Anderson and Hayden Nielsen were other bright spots last weekend at second base and shortstop.  That freshmen infield tandem turned most of BYU’s six double plays, combining for 26 assists.  Anderson had one of BYU’s game-winning RBI from his two-run double and a triple in a 5-3 victory over Northern Illinois.

Following the trip to Louisiana, the Cougars next play at Seattle University Feb. 26-27.