LSU continues its 14-game season-opening homestand at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, as the Tigers play host to Southern University in Alex Box Stadium.

Tuesday’s game marks the first of five contests this week for the Tigers. LSU plays host to Mississippi Valley State at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday before entertaining Duquesne this weekend in a three-game series.

LSU posted a series victory over Indiana last weekend in Alex Box Stadium as the Tigers opened the 2008 season with two wins in three games. Twelve players made their LSU debuts in the series, including seven true freshmen, four JUCO transfers and one NCAA Division I transfer.

“In evaluating the opening weekend, there are a few concerns that we have as a coaching staff,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “Our left-handed hitters struggled against left-handed pitching, and we also did not execute well at the plate with runners in scoring position. Those are issues we need to address this week as we prepare to face a very talented Southern club.”

Mainieri said junior left-hander Ryan Verdugo, a transfer from Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Wash., would start Tuesday’s game on the mound for LSU.

Southern, which is playing its season opener Tuesday, is scheduled to counter with sophomore right-hander Jarrett Maloy. The Jaguars, coached by Roger Cador, posted a 24-17 mark in 2007, including a 9-7 loss at LSU on May 1.

“There is no one in college baseball I respect more than Roger Cador,” Mainieri said. “He does such an outstanding job with the Southern program. In fact, I once tried to hire him for my staff when I was the head coach at Notre Dame. The LSU-Southern rivalry is great for baseball in Baton Rouge, and we are expecting another very competitive game.”

The teams will meet again on April 1 at Southern’s Lee-Hines Field.

LSU sophomore outfielder Blake Dean enjoyed an exceptional series against Indiana, as the 2007 Freshman All-American batted .500 (6-for-12) in three games with one double, one homer and five RBI. Dean’s three-run homer on Sunday was the Tigers’ first dinger of the season.

Sophomore second baseman Ryan Schimpf hit .571 (4-for-7) in the series with a triple and three runs, and sophomore catcher/first baseman Sean Ochinko batted .462 (6-for-13) with three doubles and two RBI. Sophomore centerfielder Jared Mitchell, also a wide receiver for the LSU football team, hit .455 (5-for-11) against Indiana with one double and one RBI.

LSU’s pitching effort last weekend was paced by preseason All-America right-hander Jared Bradford, who led the Tigers to a 7-1 victory over Indiana on Friday night. Bradford worked six innings, allowing just one run on six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. He threw 95 pitches in the outing and retired the side in the first inning with just four pitches.

Junior right-hander Jordan Brown was outstanding in his first outing for the Tigers, firing six shutout innings in Saturday’s win over Indiana. Brown, a transfer from Meridian (Miss.) Community College, scattered five hits while recording two walks and three strikeouts.

True freshman right-hander Daniel Bradshaw converted the first save opportunity of his career in Saturday’s win over Indiana. Bradshaw, a product of West Monroe, La., pitched a scoreless ninth inning in LSU’s 5-4 victory.

The Tigers hold a 41-2 series advantage over Southern, including the 9-7 victory over the Jaguars last season in Alex Box Stadium. Southern’s wins over LSU have both come in this decade in Alex Box Stadium – the Jaguars defeated the Tigers in 2001 (11-6) and in 2005 (9-5).