JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Jackson State has waited years for another chance to prove it can compete with the nation’s best baseball teams in the NCAA tournament.
The Tigers will get it in their first trip to the postseason since 2000. No. 4 national seed LSU (52-9) — and its home crowd of 10,000-plus fans at Alex Box Stadium — will be waiting when Jackson State (34-20) takes the field at the double-elimination Baton Rouge regional on Friday.
Seventh-year JSU coach Omar Johnson said Monday he’s had better teams, but this one has continually improved and plays well in big moments.
JSU has an 0-8 record in the NCAA tournament, but hopes a combination of good pitching and speed can make things happen in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have stolen 125 bases this season.
