How to Watch: LSU Baseball vs. Oklahoma Sooners in Thursday's Game 1 Matchup

The No. 5 ranked LSU Tigers will square off against the Oklahoma Sooners on Thursday night in Dale Mitchell Park for a Top-10 battle at 6 p.m. CT.

Jay Johnson's crew will enter the clash sitting at 27-3 (7-2 SEC) with the No. 9 ranked Sooners looking to slow down the Tigers' hot start.

LSU continues riding the bats of Jared Jones, Derek Curiel, Daniel Dickinson and Co. with the Tigers handing business over halfway through the season.

Now, it'll be another tremendous challenge on Thursday night for Game 1 in Norman (Okla.) between the pair of talented clubs.

The Preview: No. 5 LSU Tigers (27-3, 7-2 SEC) at No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners (23-5, 5-4 SEC)

DATES/TIMES
• Thursday, April 3 at 6 p.m. CT
STADIUM
Dale Mitchell Park in Norman Okla. (3,180)
RANKINGS
• LSU – No. 5 Baseball America; No. 6 USA Today; No. 7 D1 Baseball
• OU – No. 9 Baseball America, No. 9 USA Today; No. 10 D1 Baseball
RADIO
• LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates
• Live audio at www.LSUsports.net/live; Live stats at www.LSUstats.com
TV/ONLINE
• Thursday game will be televised on ESPN2; Friday and Saturday games will be streamed live on SEC Network +

Jay Johnson's Take: Sooners Present Tremendous Challenge

“Oklahoma is a very impressive team, obviously off to a very good start. They present a lot of problems on offense; they play a very aggressive style with the bunting and the running. We’re going to really have to handle the ball in the infield and from the mound," Johnson said of the Sooners.

"They have one of the best pitchers in the country (right-hander Kyson Witherspoon), who we will see on Thursday night. So, it will be a tremendous challenge and we’re looking forward to competing against a really good team.”

Scouting the Sooners: Oklahoma Notes

- The Sooners are 23-5 overall, 5-4 in the SEC … Oklahoma won two of three games at South Carolina (March 14-16) and vs. Mississippi State (March 21-23) before dropping two of three games last weekend at Alabama … earlier this week, the Sooners posted an 8-6 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday at Riders Field in Frisco, Texas.

- Oklahoma is No. 10 in the SEC with a .298 team batting average, and the Sooners have 52 doubles, nine triples, 36 homers and a league-leading 74 stolen bases.

- The OU pitching staff is No. 9 in the SEC with a 4.22 cumulative ERA has a 285 strikeouts in 243.0 innings … the Sooners staff is allowing a .245 cumulative opponent batting average.

- OU right-hander Kyson Witherspoon is No. 2 in the SEC in strikeouts with 64, No. 3 in ERA (2.32), No. 4 in innings pitched (39.0) and No. 6 in opponent batting average (.189).

- The Sooners are led at the plate by infielder Jaxon Willits, who is hitting .312 with three doubles, two triples, a team-high eight homers and 28 RBI … catcher Easton Carmichael is hitting .310 with six doubles, two triples, six homers and a team-best 30 RBI.

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