Last year LSU didn’t get its third SEC win until the tenth game of league play. This year, they start off by sweeping Missouri and beginning conference play with a 3-0 record.
It’s exactly the result you would expect from a team ranked either number one or two in the polls, when they are hosting the worst team in the SEC.
Here are some of the highlights.
Offense
The Tigers scored 29 runs and they only hit four home runs. LSU continues to figure out ways to manufacture runs as they are not relying on the home run ball.
The success of the offense starts with freshman left fielder Derek Curiel. Curiel got on base seven times over the three games and snapped a two-two tie on Friday night with a three-run triple in the fourth inning. Curiel’s on base percentage is now .598.
Right fielder Jake Brown continues to have a big season. He didn’t start the SEC opener and still drove in four runs. He had two more RBIs on Saturday and hit his first home run of the season on Sunday. The former Sulphur star is now hitting .393.
Braswell back at the hot corner
Junior college transfer Tanner Reaves started five straight games heading into SEC play. But on Friday night, Michael Braswell was back starting at third base. Coach Jay Johnson went with the senior, the guy who hit .310 in SEC play last year.
Braswell had his best game of the season on Saturday night, as he went two-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Braswell drove in two of the runs on squeeze plays.
After the game, Braswell said he’s more interested in wins than playing time.
Short outings from the starters
Sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson gave the Tigers a strong start on Friday night as he pitched into the seventh inning and struck out 11.
But Anthony Eyanson and Chase Shores failed to pitch past the fourth inning.
Eyanson was taken out in the fourth inning on Saturday after giving up a three-run home run. He has stretches, where he’s not missing bats and gets hit hard.
Shores was also lifted in the fourth inning. The biggest issue for Shores is that he allows a lot of baserunners. The ten walks he’s issued is the most on the staff and he’s also hit two batters.
Opposing teams are also hitting. 286 against Shores. But Johnson is not down on the big right-hander. He says Shores is still maturing as a pitcher and believes he’s one of the top Sunday starters in the country.
Bullpen a mix bag
Left-hander Conner Ware was the first pitcher out of the bullpen on Saturday and Sunday and did a nice job in both outings.
Left-hander D.J. Primeaux pitched in all three games and did not allow a run.
Freshman right-hander William Schmidt had one good inning and then couldn’t record an out in the next inning on Saturday night.
But fellow freshman Casan Evans was really good on Saturday night, preserving a one-run lead for 2.1 innings and earning his fourth save.
Zac Cowan continues to be great out of the bullpen. He pitched on Friday and Sunday and struck out seven in his two appearances.
Up next
LSU will host UNO on Tuesday night. The Privateers are 11-7 on the season and 5-4 in the Southland after sweeping UIW.
The Tigers will then hit the road to face Texas. The Longhorns have won 17 in a row after sweeping a series at Mississippi State.
