Wake Forest first LSU baseball foe in ’11

Even with the season still 6 months away, the LSU baseball team released its 2011 schedule this past week – a slate that will challenge the Tigers.

LSU will open the season Feb. 18 in Alex Box Stadium against Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The highlight of the Tigers’ non-conference schedule will likely be a March 11-13 weekend series in ‘The Box’ with fellow powerhouse Cal State Fullerton.

Also of interest to Tri-parish Tiger fans is a Mar. 16 date LSU has with Nicholls State in Ray Didier Field in Thibodaux.

The game will mark the first trip to Thibodaux the Tigers have made since the 2005 season. LSU won that game 3-2.

The Colonels will return the trip and play in Baton Rouge April 27.

Listed below is LSU’s complete 2011 schedule:

• Feb. 18-20 vs. Wake Forest

• Feb. 22 vs. New Orleans

• Feb 25-27 vs. Holy Cross

• March 1 vs. Southeastern Louisiana

• March 2 vs. Mississippi Valley State

• March 4-6 vs. Princeton

• March 9 vs. Sacred Heart

• March 11-13 vs. Cal State Fullerton

• March 16 at Nicholls State

• March 18-20 vs. Florida

• March 22 vs. UL-Lafayette

• March 25-27 at Georgia

• March 30 vs. McNeese State

• April 1-3 vs. Ole Miss

• April 5 at Tulane

• April 8-10 at Arkansas

• April 13 vs. Alcorn State

• April 15-17 vs. Auburn

• April 20 vs. Southern Miss (at Zephyr Stadium)

• April 22-24 at Vanderbilt

• April 26 vs. Northwestern State

• April 27 vs. Nicholls State

• April 29-May 1 vs. Kentucky

• May 3 vs. Tulane

• May 6-8 at Alabama

• May 13-15 vs. Tennessee

• May 17 at New Orleans

• May 19-21 at Mississippi State

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri gives instructions to his infielders during a game in Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers released their 2011 schedule this year and a difficult non-conference schedule awaits them. COURTESY PHOTO