LSU baseball faces Georgia in a crucial three-game series that could determine their postseason fate. With a recent five-game winning streak, LSU aims to improve their RPI and secure a spot in the tournament.
LSU baseball faces Georgia with the Tigers' postseason fate hanging in the balance this weekend. This is a pivotal three-game series as LSU only has a few more chances to improve its resume before the end of the regular season.
LSU won its last five games to put itself back in the bubble conversation. LSU earned a much-needed sweep of South Carolina and avoided faltering in the midweek vs. Tulane. LSU sits at 29-21 overall and 9-15 in conference play. The RPI, ranking No. 55 nationally, still needs work.
The South Carolina series offered a reprieve from the brutal SEC schedule, but the heat returns with LSU facing the team atop the SEC standings.
If LSU can find a way to win this series, LSU's postseason position will skyrocket. The Tigers were out of the tournament in the latest bracket projections, but a series win puts LSU right back in the thick of it.
Even if LSU loses the series, but wins a game, LSU will still have a chance. But if the Tigers are swept, the road gets murky.
Here's a complete preview of LSU baseball vs Georgia, including schedule, analysis, and predictions.
LSU at #6 Georgia — Weekend Series
Foley Field — Athens, Ga.
| Fri. May 8 | 5:00 PM CT | SEC Network+ |
| Sat. May 9 | 6:00 PM CT | SEC Network |
LSU baseball has a record of 29-21 overall and 9-15 in conference play before the series against Georgia.
LSU needs to win the entire three-game series against Georgia to significantly boost their postseason chances.
The series is pivotal for LSU as it could determine their postseason fate and improve their RPI ranking.
LSU won its last five games, including a sweep of South Carolina, which has put them back in the conversation for the postseason.
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| Sun. May 10 | 2:00 PM CT | SEC Network |
LSU lost starting pitcher Cooper Moore for the season earlier this year. The injury situation grew worse when Casan Evans was scratched from the lineup card just ahead of his scheduled start vs. Ole Miss. Evans missed the last two series and William Schmidt was the only opening weekend starter left in LSU's rotation.
Moore remains out, but there's a chance Evans returns to the rotation this weekend. Jay Johnson said he was optimistic earlier this week, but LSU won't risk it if Evans isn't ready to go.
Even if Evans does make a start, expect Schmidt to get the nod in Game 1. Schmidt pitched six innings of one-run baseball last week, responding after his worst start of the year at Mississippi State. Schmidt is talented and he's enjoying a breakout campaign, but Georgia's lineup is a different beast, and Foley is hitter-friendly. Schmidt will take a few lumps, but he'll have to hang in there and give LSU innings.
After Schmidt, if Evans still can't go, I'd expect Marcos Paz and Zac Cowan to get the remaining starts. Cowan has been one of the SEC's top pitchers in conference play, and while he's valuable out of the bullpen, LSU needs the starting pitching help.
If Paz gets another start, this will be a major test. He got to settle in at home vs. a weak South Carolina lineup last week. This would be the biggest moment of Paz's young collegiate career.
Georgia is led by former LSU pitching coach Wes Johnson. When Johnson took over the program in 2024, UGA's ERA was 5.71. Last year, it was better, but still near the bottom of the SEC.
Georgia's staff ERA still only ranks No. 11 in the SEC, but this pitching staff is much more talented than it used to be, and Georgia has starting pitching it can trust in June.
The UGA staff is led by ace Joey Volchko, who owns a 3.63 ERA. Volcho's arm is dynamic, and MLB scouts are familiar with his name. Still, he's not invincible, as evidenced in his last two SEC starts. Volcho surrendered five runs to Arkansas and four more vs. Ole Miss. Both starts we're on the road -- we'll see if Volchko bounces back on his home field.
Georgia has been boosted by the emergence of Cade Aoki in recent weeks. Aoki owns a 3.33 ERA and pitched six innings of one-run baseball at Ole Miss last week.
The path of least resistance for LSU is preventing this series from becoming a shootout. Georgia's lineup can score. And when the Dawgs get rolling, they're hard to stop. LSU's pitching will do its best to limit the damage, but if Georgia is feeling it, can LSU's lineup keep up?
Georgia's Ryan Lujo leads the conference with a .393 batting average in SEC play. Daniel Jackson's 1.254 overall OPS is also best in the conference. Georgia leads the SEC in batting average, home runs, on-base percentage, and slugging. This is the best lineup LSU has faced all year. Last time LSU faced a lineup with this firepower, Texas A&M, it didn't go well. The Aggies made life difficult for the LSU pitching staff.
Omar Serna, one of LSU's top hitters, is questionable after missing Tuesday's game with a back injury. If Serna is out, that makes the task that much harder for the LSU bats. The Tigers will lean on Cade Arrambide, whose 1.231 OPS in SEC play leads the conference. LSU also needs big hits from Derek Curiel and Steven Milam.
LSU hasn't fared well against quality SEC competition this year. Before LSU bounced back vs. South Carolina, the Tigers were swept in three straight SEC series. However, I don't think we see LSU return to that level of play this weekend. LSU will play well, but I think Georgia wins the series. LSU will win a game, enough to keep LSU's postseason hopes alive.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU baseball vs Georgia: Complete preview, schedule, prediction