Midweek Extra Innings: SEC rivalries, upsets, and standouts
04/08/2025
(Photo by LSU Athletics)
By Chris Marler
As SEC baseball enters the second half of the season, midweek games bring key storylines. From LSU’s Derek Curiel to rivalry matchups and potential upsets, here’s what to watch.
Crispy DC
Pardon the crispy Diet Coke reference. It feels out of place since everyone in their right mind knows the best way to enjoy a DC is ice cold. However, nothing describes DC, Derek Curiel, more incorrectly than “ice cold.”
The freshman outfielder for LSU has been unbelievable this year. He’s hitting .390 with a .535 on-base percentage and has reached base in all 33 games LSU has played this season. Barring a jinx from this write up, that should extend against Nicholls. What’s more impressive than just getting on base in 33 straight games? Curiel’s been on base at least twice in 26 of the 33.
Clutch Curiel 🙌@DerekCuriel | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/sIUY8dIc93
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) April 5, 2025
Former SEC foes on the Flats
Auburn heads to what is essentially their second home, Atlanta. They’ll take on a top 20 Georgia Tech team fighting for a lot more than just a postseason bid. The Jackets are in Danny Hall’s last season as the head coach of the Georgia Tech program. Hall has been the head coach for 31 years in Atlanta.
Every game counts in the second half of the college baseball season, and this matchup could carry significant weight by the time Selection Monday arrives. Hall and the Jackets will be led by one of the best players in America, sophomore CF Drew Burress.
DREW BURRESS!!!!!!!!!!
WALK OFF GRAND SLAM!! pic.twitter.com/w4cub94rLo
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 15, 2025
Rivalry Games Galore
Florida and Florida State will play once again in a midweek clash. It feels like we say this every week, but the Gators really need to win this to get things going. Kevin O’Sullivan’s team is 1-11 in SEC play but has already had some success against the Seminoles this season.
Elsewhere, Kentucky fans take a break from hate watching the NCAA tournament and the transfer portal to watch a midweek showdown against arch rival Louisville. The Cardinals are 24-7 this season and ranked in the top 15 nationally.
The conference doesn’t need either win to save face considering the depth this league has and how many teams will be represented in postseason play. Both programs, however, are in need of a spark to help turn their seasons in the right direction.
Weekly why?
As in: why are these teams on the road? LSU plays at Nicholls, Texas A&M travels to Sam Houston State, and Missouri travels to Southern Illinois. The last one of those three feels a bit like punishment. It also feels deserved considering their 11-20 record.
Who’s on upset alert?
Alabama.
Alabama plays a ranked Southern Miss team in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night. The Tide are coming off a weekend series loss to Auburn that may have taken an emotional toll after several tense, late-inning moments. Alabama needs to get Justin Lebron going again. He started the season with 12 home runs in his first 20 games but has just two in his last 13.