LSU left-hander Gage Jump was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week on Monday after throwing seven solid innings and striking out a career-high 14 hitters in a series opening win over Missouri.
But sophomore left-hander Griffin Herring is the Tigers’ most important pitcher. LSU has won five SEC games and he’s pitched in four of them, including Sunday’s six to two victory over Missouri.
Herring entered in the fifth inning and pitched five shutout innings and tied a season-high with eight strikeouts.
Coach Jay Johnson appreciates Herring’s ability to take the ball in any given situation.
“It hasn’t be even one time where he’s worried about where we have him, he’s been a team guy in that element and then competitiveness, I’ve always believed a pitcher that starts you off in a series and the guy in that’s role, you have the win as they long as they go their job they have to have tremendous make and competitive and Griffin has that,” Johnson said.
Herring is LSU’s best weapon out of the bullpen and Johnson has settled on Jump, Luke Holman and Nate Ackenhausen as his weekend starters.
In the last two weeks, Jump has started the series opener, followed by Holman.
Johnson says Jump’s pitching arsenal is Friday night worthy and that was certainly on display last Friday with the 14 strikeouts in seven innings. And Johnson likes Holman on Saturday, because of his ability to go deeper into games.
He says having a starter on Saturday that’s capable of eating up more innings makes it easier on the bullpen, it creates the possibility of throw his better relievers on both Friday and Sunday, instead of having them go back-to-back days.
Former Friday night starter Thatcher Hurd has not pitched during the last two weekends, but he’ll likely pitch tonight against Nicholls.
Johnson says they are working with Hurd to get him back on track.
“Care level is extremely high, talent is high so eventually there is a breakthrough, last year we saw a breakthrough, back half of the SEC schedule and all the way through the national championship game and I still believe he has good pitching here and some day he’ll pitch in the major leagues and I have zero hesitation saying that,” Johnson said.
LSU begins a nine-game homestand tonight against Nicholls.