LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson has bragged about his team’s depth, and it was on full display in Wednesday night’s seven to three win over Dallas Baptist at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
LSU had two key pinch-hit at-bats in a four-run fifth inning. Ethan Frey’s two strike, two-out double to score Derek Curiel was arguably the biggest hit of the game.
It set up Daniel Dickinson’s two run home run, down the left field line. LSU concluded the scoring in that inning with another pinch-hit RBI by freshman John Pearson.
Frey and Pearson’s pinch-hit opportunities came as Johnson elected to use a right-handed hitter to face a left-hander pitcher and both decisions paid off.
Curiel scored three runs and started every run-scoring inning for LSU. Dickinson finished with three RBIs.
LSU left-hander Conner Ware could be a weekend starter for any other SEC team. But for now, he’s a midweek pitcher for the Tigers and he retired the first 12 hitters he faced.
Zac Cowan gave up a two-run homer, but still provided three quality innings of relief for the win. And Casan Evans pitched out of trouble in the eighth inning and was dominant in the ninth inning for his second save.
The Tigers’ first win over a ranked opponent this season improves LSU’s record to 8-1.
On Thursday, the Tigers will bus over to Frisco, Texas to play Kansas State on Friday afternoon.
LSU will play Nebraska on Saturday and Sam Houston on Sunday.
The Tigers used 15 position players to beat the Patriots, expect to see a lot of different guys get at bats and chances in the field this weekend.
