BR Super Regional set

• By GARY LANEY
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jun 2, 2009 - Page: 1C

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LSU is trying to re-create the mentality that it should always get to Omaha, Neb., and the College World Series.

To move back in that direction, the Tigers must first find a way to beat a team they haven’t been able to beat in a regional or a super regional.

Rice, the postseason arch-nemesis of the Tigers over the years, beat Kansas State 13-4 on Monday to win the Houston regional, setting up a Rice at LSU super regional starting Friday at Alex Box Stadium.

Friday’s game will be at 6 p.m. and Saturday’s game at 4 p.m. Sunday’s third game, if necessary will be at 6 p.m.

The first two games will be on ESPN and the third game would be shown on ESPN2.

“I think it’s a great thing,” said Owls coach Wayne Graham of his team coming to Baton Rouge this weekend. “They have a brand-new stadium. I’m looking forward to going there.”

Tickets for the super regional are on sale to season ticket holders through 5 p.m. today.

Rice has been the last team LSU has wanted to see in a regional in recent years. The Owls are 6-0 in regional and super regional games against the Tigers.

The Owls (43-16), who came back through the losers bracket to win their regional, are the only team to get past LSU to win an NCAA postseason tournament at Alex Box Stadium since Cal State Fullerton won in 1992.

In 2005, Rice won a regional hosted by LSU by twice beating the Tigers.

It broke a string of 12 straight NCAA postseason tournaments hosted by the Tigers that LSU won. LSU has won three straight NCAA postseason tournaments at home since Rice’s 2005 win.

The last time LSU failed to win an NCAA tournament at home?

It was to Rice in the 1995 South Regional.