For the second time during the opening weekend of the 2024 college baseball season, LSU struggled to score runs against Central Arkansas pitchers, but the Tigers pitchers stepped up to help secure a victory.
Saturday it was a 2-0 win over UCA and on Monday it was a 4-3 victory.
The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The reigning SEC Hitter of the Week, Hayden Travinkski, had an RBI single. Tommy White scored on a wild pitch and Mac Bingham walked with the bases loaded.
Jared Jones third home run in four games made it a 4-1 game in the third inning.
Jones is off to a great start. He’s 5-for-14 at the plate with 7 RBIs, three home runs, two walks and two strikeouts. Johnson says the Bear has really improved over the last month.
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The Tigers also got a good start from Kade Anderson. The freshman left-hander from St. Paul’s High School made his LSU debut and allowed one run in four innings and struck out six.
Coach Jay Johnson said after the game, he expects Anderson will be a future star at LSU and expects him to pitch in the postseason this season.
Christian Little made his LSU debut and allowed one run in 1.1 innings. Gavin Guidry also allowed a run over 1.1 innings.
But the final two LSU pitchers on the afternoon really did a great job.
Left-hander Justin Loer struck out three of the four batters he faced.
And for the second outing Fidel Ulloa was outstanding as he pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first save.
There was not much talk about Ulloa in the preseason, but Johnson says there was competition from other schools to sign the transfer from San Joaquin Delta College in California.
Johnson said his connections out West helped get Ulloa, who committed to LSU while visiting another school.
“Stuff is great, he has a chance to have a great season, he’s in command of himself and just out there executing pitches,” said Johnson.
LSU will have a few days off and then they’ll play four games in four days again, starting on Thursday against Northern Illinois. Old friend Stony Brook will also be an opponent this weekend.