After a seemingly easy first three games in regional play against Lehigh and UNC-Wilmington, the Tigers will host a super regional at Alex Box stadium against in-state opponent UL-Lafayette for a chance to advance to the College World Series.

Game one of the best two-out-of-three series will begin Saturday at 7 p.m. at Alex Box stadium. Game one will be televised on ESPN2 and game two on Sunday will be on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.

After the 10-3 win over Lehigh to open up NCAA Tournament play, the Tigers won two consecutive 2-0 games over UNC-Wilmington for their 21st Regional championship in school history.

Head coach Paul Mainieri praised his team after the victory not just for their offense, but also for the excellent pitching performance from his staff.

“I think that’s a natural thing for us,” Mainieri said after the clinching victory against UNC-Wilmington. “We have such a good offensive team, so much attention is given to that, but really the whole team and the whole staff have known that we have an outstanding pitching staff.”

Mainieri’s comments about his pitching staff reflected perfectly how his starter performed in the clinching win. Sophomore left-hander Jared Poche’ pitched a gem, going 8.2 shutout innings giving up six hits and one walk and adding on a career-best eight strikeouts to advance the Tigers to the Super Regionals.

The Tigers will need the great pitching to continue as they face a strong offensive team in the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. This is the second straight year that the Ragin’ Cajuns have advanced to the Super Regionals, but this time they’re on the road instead of hosting a Super Regional in what looks to be a Bayou showdown in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana-Lafayette currently stands at 42-21 overall on the season and winners of the Sun Belt conference for the second year in a row.

The Ragin’ Cajuns were on the road at Houston for Regional play and knocked out the host team Houston 2-1 and won two games against Rice to advance to their second consecutive Super Regional.

If there is any team that can keep up with LSU offensively, it’s the Ragin’ Cajuns. ULL ranks 42nd in the country in hits, 20th in home runs and 38th in runs scored.

Along with a great pitching staff, Mainieri continues to build another great offensive club with LSU. The Tigers rank second in the country in hits, 39th in home runs and 11th in the country in runs scored.

Another opportunity to host a Super Regional at Alex Box Stadium provides another great opportunity for the Tigers to advance to the place where the highest goal is set, Omaha.

“To have another team with 51 wins in our back pocket and trying to make it 53 so we can get another trip to Omaha is gong to be another exciting week,” Mainieri said. “I know if the opponent is from an hour away, it’ll even ratchet up the intensity a little bit more, which would be really exciting.”