LSU, UNO place win streaks on line

• By SCOTT RABALAIS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 13, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:30 a.m.

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They’re the two hottest teams in college baseball, so perhaps it’s fitting that the LSU Tigers and the University of New Orleans Privateers meet on a New Orleans neutral ground.

The Tigers (35-16-1) have surged into the national rankings — now No. 16 — and first place in the SEC Western Division on the impetus of a 12-game winning streak. It’s the best LSU has done since winning 13 straight postseason games to conclude the 2000 season with a national title.

The Privateers (38-13) are No. 22 according to Collegiate Baseball but have the nation’s longest current winning streak at 13 in a row. They’ve ascended to the top of the Sun Belt Conference standings.

They’ll meet tonight at Zephyr Field in Metairie in the fifth annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation Baseball Classic. First pitch is set for 7 p.m., the game to be televised on CST (Cox Cable Ch. 37).

Perhaps the game could be viewed as a distraction for both teams considering what they currently have at stake in their respective conferences.

But LSU slugger Matt Clark begs to differ.

“You couldn’t ask for a better time for both teams considering we’re both hot,” Clark said.

“Somebody’s streak is going to end. “Hopefully, it’s not ours.”

UNO is riding another streak against LSU.

The Privateers have taken three straight from the Tigers dating back to last season, including a pair of victories this year. UNO won 8-6 on March 26 at Alex Box Stadium and 6-5 on April 16 at the Privateers’ Maestri Field.

Another win tonight would give UNO a three-game in-season sweep of LSU for the first time since 1981.

“I’m so proud of the job (coach) Tommy Walter has done with that team,” said second-year LSU coach Paul Mainieri, who played for both programs in the 1970s.

“UNO is the best team that we’ve played this year. We’ve played Georgia, but UNO is a fabulous team. They’re hitting .340 (now .339), there’s not an easy out in their lineup, their pitching is much better than people would give it credit for, they’re extremely well coached, and they beat us twice.