A struggling LSU baseball team faces one of the top pitchers in college baseball tonight when the Tigers begin a series against SEC West foe Mississippi State. The Bayou Bengals have scored just nine runs in the last four games and Coach Paul Mainieri says the challenge is to break out of their hitting slump by facing left-hander Konnor Pilkington…

Cut 16 (23) “…draft choice”

First pitch is at 7 PM.

Louisiana Tech, who is in first place in Conference USA, begins a three-game series against F-I-U tonight. The Bulldogs are 15-3 in March and their team ERA is the second best in the nation. First pitch is at 6 PM.

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Tight end Benjamin Watson is back with the Saints as he’s agreed to a one-year contract with the Black and Gold. Watson last played for the Saints, when he caught 74 passes. Watson spent the last two years with the Baltimore Ravens.

In other NFL news, if a team wants to trade for former LSU star Odell Beckham Junior, it will reportedly cost that team at least two first round draft picks to make a deal with the New York Giants. Beckham will reportedly not take the field this year without a new contract.

The Pelicans are in Cleveland tonight to face LeBron James and the Cavaliers. King James had 41 points last night in a win over Charlotte. New Orleans is looking to snap a two-game losing streak. The Pels are tied for fifth place in the West heading into tonight’s matchup on ESPN.

Today is opening day in Major League Baseball. Former LSU star Aaron Nola gets the opening day start for the Phlliies against the Atlanta Braves. Nola was 12-and-11 last season with a 3-point-five-four E-R-A. First pitch is at 3:10.