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State helps LSU close out venerable venue

Tigers saying farewell to Alex Box Stadium

By JIM MASHEK
jwmashek@sunherald.com

No visiting SEC baseball coach has led his team into LSU's Alex Box Stadium more times than Mississippi State's Ron Polk.

So perhaps it's appropriate that Polk and the Bulldogs will be facing LSU this weekend in Baton Rouge, where the tradition-rich Tigers will be saying good-bye to Alex Box, their aging ballpark.

"I think I've played there 65, 70 times," Polk said. "I'm just trying to win some ballgames."

Polk is in his 29th and final season at Mississippi State. LSU (32-16-1, 12-11-1 SEC) has a shot at landing an NCAA regional tournament, while the Bulldogs (20-29, 7-17) will miss the SEC Tournament for the second time in three seasons. State reached the College World Series last season.

"There's going to be a myriad of emotions," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. "It's been a tough task for the players all week, keeping their emotions in check. We've put ourselves in a position where we can get the job done, and put ourselves in the postseason."

Ole Miss has played host to an NCAA regional tournament every year since 2004, but the Rebels (31-19, 12-12) probably need a fast finish to keep that streak intact. Ole Miss plays host to Auburn this weekend. The Tigers are 26-23 overall and 10-14 in the SEC.

Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco points out that his club had a similar record at this time last year, when the Rebels played in an NCAA Super Regional, only to get swept in two games at Arizona State. Ole Miss finished the season 40-25.

"We've lost a couple mid-week games, we're a little short (in wins), nothing dramatic," Bianco said. "I don't know why our RPI is still in the 40s; it's hard for me to figure out. At this point, our RPI is the lowest we've ever had.

"We have to win (to have a shot at hosting). Win this week and the next, and go pretty deep into the tournament."

Ole Miss will start junior right-hander Lance Lynn (6-2, 3.51 ERA) tonight against Auburn.

Meanwhile, at LSU, Mainieri will start junior left-hander Ryan Verdugo (7-2, 2.86) tonight against State. Polk will again go with junior right-hander Chad Crosswhite, who is 2-4 with an astronomical 9.33 ERA.

Polk will participate in some of the ceremonies marking Alex Box's final season. LSU will play in a new Alex Box Stadium next year.

"We've had a tremendous rivalry with LSU," Polk said. "It's always sad to see a stadium go down, but progress is ahead."

Game plan

Who: Miss. State at LSU

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Alex Box Stadium, Baton Rouge

Radio: WTNI-AM (1640); WWL-AM (870)

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Jim Mashek can be reached at 896-2333