The ninth-ranked LSU Tigers are back in action on Friday night, when they play host to the 10th-ranked Mississippi St. Bulldogs in the opening game of a three-game, weekend, SEC series at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge

The conference series will mark the fourth of the season for LSU, and will be a top ten showdown.

The Tigers, who beat the McNeese St. Cowboys, 10-3, in non-conference play on Wednesday night, will come in at 21-8-1, overall, and 3-5-1 in SEC play.

Mississippi St., who defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks, 5-1, last Sunday, is currently 20-10, overall, and 6-3 in league play.

LSU is currently hitting a .274 as a team, along with 14 home runs, 163 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases. The Tigers are led, offensively, by Kade Scivicque, who is hitting a .367, and Andrew Stevenson, who is hitting a .341.

Mississippi St., is currently hitting a .270 as a team, along with six home runs, 142 runs batted in, and 45 stolen bases. The Bulldogs are paced by Demarcus Henderson Derrick Armstrong, who are hitting a .333 and a .328, respectively.

Pitching-wise, the Tigers bring in a 2.29 team earned run average into the series, with right-hander Aaron Nola, who will start on Saturday night, leading the way, with a 5-1 record, and an ERA. of 0.55. Jared Poche (5-2, 2.61) is the likely starter on Friday night, with Sunday TBA.

The Bulldogs, who currently have an overall 2.76., are paced by junior left-hander Ross Mitchell, who is 5-1 with a 1.55 ERA. Mitchell will start on Friday night, with junior right-hander Trevor Fitts (2-1, 3.09) getting the start on Saturday night, and TBA on Sunday afternoon.

LSU ranks eight in the SEC in hitting, and fourth in pitching, while Mississippi St. ranks tenth in hitting and seventh in pitching.

Game times are 6:30 pm on Friday night,6:30 pm on Saturday night, and 1 o'clock on Sunday afternoon.

More From 103.3 The GOAT