Last year Paul Skenes would blow hitters away with his 102 mile per hour fastball and his devasting slider. This year Luke Holman is making hitters look silly with his ability to command four pitches and keep hitters off balance with his ability to change speeds.
“Luke is as good a pitcher as I’ve ever coached in terms executing pitches” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I mean Paul (Skenes) is on a different planet as far as what he did last year, but as far as pitch-to-pitch execution. I don’t know how you plan for him, because he can beat you in a lot of different ways. The skill and aptitude and execution are on another level right now.”
Holman’s pitch ability was on full display on Friday night in Houston as the 2nd ranked Tigers took down 14th ranked Texas 6 to 3. Holman threw 5.2 innings, allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out 12.
Holman has yet to give up a run in three starts and he’s walked only two hitters in 18 innings while striking out 30. Johnson said Holman also didn’t give up a run in his final two outings in the preseason.
Holman’s Dad, Craig Holman, is one of the best pitchers to ever pitch at Jacksonville State. He won 32 games with the Gamecocks. He ended up pitching eight seasons with the Phillies minor league system.
Johnson gives credit to Craig Holman for helping him develop into an elite pitcher on the SEC level.
The Alabama transfer has established himself as the Friday night starter.
Shortstop Michael Braswell gave Holeman a two-run lead, with a two-run bases loaded single in the fourth inning. After a slow start, Braswell’s bat is heating up as he’s now hitting .296 on the season.
The Tigers opened the game up in the 7th inning by scoring four runs. Tommy White hit a solo home run and Jared Jones hit a three-run opposite field blast for his 5th home run of the season.
The Tigers bullpen was good too. Nate Ackenhausen gave up three runs, but he struck out six in 2.1 innings. The left-hander has now struck out 18 in nine innings as his slider is tough to hit.
And Fidel Ulloa made his fourth straight appearance without giving up a run. Ulloa struck out two in one inning of work.
The Tigers improve to 9-1 and will face U-L Lafayette on Saturday night in Houston.