LSU sophomore right-hander Casan Evans struck out a career-high 15 hitters in 7.2 innings as the Tigers opened their series with 8th ranked Oklahoma with a 7-1 win over the Sooners.
Evans excellent outing: LSU fans have been asking should Evans be the Friday night starter? After five starts this season, he had an ERA of 6.45 and he walked five in his last start.
But Evans quieted the naysayers with an absolute gem on Thursday. Evans threw 110 pitches, 76 were for strikes on his way to 15 strikeouts.
The 15 strikeouts are the most in an SEC regular season game since Paul Skenes struck out 15 Auburn hitters in 2023. Before that you have to go back to 1999 when Kurt Ainsworth struck out 16.
Evans had his change-up, which is his out pitch, going early, and then got the curveball cranked up. His fastball topped out at 97. Evans said a faster tempo helped him in get in a groove early.
What about the offense: This is the second straight game the Tigers won by the score of 7-1. In each game they had seven hits. Against Grambling on Tuesday, it was a sleepy performance by the bats until they scored four runs in the eighth inning.
On Thursday night, LSU scored five runs on just one hit and benefited from three errors to take a 5-0 lead after two innings.
The Tigers took advantage of Oklahoma starting pitcher Cam Johnson, who could not find the strikeout zone. Johnson walked six of the 13 batters he faced. Johnson, who pitched his freshman season at LSU in 2024, once again showed his command is still a problem.
But there were some highlights when LSU swung the bats. Omar Serna and John Pearson each had two hits and Zach Yorke had a two-run single to complete the scoring.
LSU was just 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
What does it mean: After a 0-2 start in SEC play. LSU is now 2-2 and has won three in a row for the first time since winning three straight from February 27th to March 1st. Still not clicking on all cylinders but showing signs of getting better.
Up Next: LSU goes for the series victory on Friday night when they host Oklahoma at 6:30.
LSU – Jr. RH Cooper Moore (3-2, 3.21 ERA, 28.0 IP, 7 BB, 35 SO)
OU – Jr. RH LJ Mercurius (4-1, 1.59 ERA, 28.1 IP, 8 BB, 41 SO)
