Da Boot Sports
3/31/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: Bill Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – Auburn erased a 2-0 deficit with a six-run fifth inning Thursday night and held on for a 6-5 win over No. 12 LSU in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
Auburn improved to 18-8 overall, 4-3 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 18-8 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
 
The teams meet in Game 2 of the series at 6:30 p.m. CT Friday in a contest that will be broadcast on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network +.
 
LSU starting pitcher Blake Money (2-2) was charged with the loss as he allowed six runs – five earned – on six hits in five innings with three walks and five strikeouts.
 
Auburn reliever Carson Skipper (2-0) earned the win, as he limited LSU to two runs on four hits in 3.1 innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
 
Blake Burkhalter picked up his fifth save of the season, working the final 1.2 innings and allowing one run on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
 
“Our team has responded well to adversity all season, and we expect our players to respond to this setback in a positive way,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “We have to keep working on fundamentals; these are good kids, we just have to get them better at baseball.”
 
LSU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a leadoff homer by shortstop Cade Doughty, his seventh of the season. Catcher Hayden Travinski launched his third homer of the year – all in the past five games – to give LSU a 2-0 advantage through four innings.
 
However, Auburn struck for six runs in the top of the fifth in a rally that was highlighted by a three-run homer from shortstop Brody Moore, who hit his second dinger of the year.
 
Skipper blanked LSU over the next three innings before designated hitter Brayden Jobert blasted a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth, narrowing the gap to 6-4.
 
Doughty led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, and he moved to third on first baseman Tre’ Morgan’s single. Centerfielder Dylan Crews followed with a sacrifice fly to score Doughty, but Burhalter retired the next two hitters to end the game.
 
LSU received a strong relief effort from right-hander Bryce Collins, who replaced Money after the fifth inning and fired 3.2 shutout frames with five strikeouts.
 
“There’s no problem with the effort that’s being put forth by our players,” Johnson said. “We just have to keep working hard, make good decisions and improve each day.”
 

Da Boot Sports
3/29/2022
By: David Penn


   BATON ROUGE, LA - Brayden Jobert has been on fire since the Saturday's game in Gainesville. On Tuesday night, he followed up his three home runs against Florida with another pair against ULM as the Tigers defeated the Warhawks, 15-4.
   In #12 LSU’s last three games, Jobert has gone yard five times brining in 16 runs. The Tigers as a team have put up 42 runs in their last three contests. Jobert now leads the team in both homeruns and RBIs.
   
   Devin Fontenot started for the Tigers pitching the first inning, allowing one run on a pair of hits, walking one, and striking out two.

   Trent Vietmeier was the first reliever out of the bullpen and earned the win for the Tigers, pitching two scoreless innings, allowing no hits or runs, walking two, and earning four Ks.

   Cale Lansville, Riley Cooper and Eric Reyzelman would draw the other middle relief assignments, combining to allow three runs on five hits, no walks while striking out five. Lansville accounting for three of those hits and all three runs. Ty Floyd would close it for LSU, getting the final inning of work and striking out a pair of batters, allowing no hits or runs.

   Gavin Dugas had a pair of hits for LSU including a two run homer, but the story of the night was Brayden Jobert, who went 3-5 at the plate and hit a three RBI double in the first inning, a two run homer, and followed that up with a three run homer, amassing seven RBIs on the evening.

   “We wanted to see our players carry the momentum from the Florida series into tonight’s game, and they did a good job of that." Jay Johnson said. "Brayden had some great at-bats tonight, and he’s shown the ability to make adjustments that have created more opportunities for him to drive the ball. He is certainly making a big impact on our team.”

   Mikel Howell got the start for the Warhawks but the Tigers chased him from the mound in the first inning as he surrendered six runs on five hits. Seven other pitchers would hit the mound in an attempt to limit the damage. In all the Warhawks would surrender 8 hits and 15 runs.

   Mason Holt provided the majority of the offense for ULM by hitting a pair of homeruns and tallying three RBIs.

   LSU improves to 18-7 with the win. Up next is a weekend series with Auburn, beginning on Thursday March 31, at 6:00pm CT at Alex Box Stadium, the Friday tilt will start at 6:30pm, and Saturday’s game will begin at 1:00pm.

Da Boot Sports
3/27/2022
By: David Penn


   GAINESVILLE, FL - # 21 LSU (17-7) brought two freshman pitchers to the mound and Coach Jay Johnson won his first SEC series over #8 Florida (17-7) on Sunday in Gainesville.

   Sam Dutton started for the Tigers throwing 3.2 scoreless innings before Grant Taylor would come on in relief and go the distance.

   In his first start for LSU, Sam Dutton allowed no hits, no runs, walked three batters, and tallied one strikeout. Needing an out to retire the side in the fourth inning, pitching coach Jason Kelly turned to Grant Taylor (2-0) who got the final out of the fourth inning and pitched the rest of the game. Taylor gave up four hits and two runs but stymie the Gators’ momentum and earn the win allowing four hits, two runs, walking two, and striking out six.

   The hot bats on display Saturday kept burning on Sunday with LSU blasting three home runs. LSU also benefited from eight players reaching after being hit by Gator pitching, which would cost Florida throughout the game.
    
   Designated hitter Brayden Jobert blasted two of LSU’s three homeruns and picked up five RBIs in the process. Hayden Travinski added a two run shot of his own to account for the other homerun. In all, the Tigers scored 11 runs on 12 hits and were certainly helped by the Gators pitching staff giving them free base runners.

   “It’s a great accomplishment for our team against a great program,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I thought we attacked at the plate over the last two days, and we had great effort on the mound today and all weekend. We had a bunch of quality at-bats and stuck to our plan against a really good pitching staff.”
    
   Ryan Slater (2-1) took his first loss of the season for Florida, giving up four runs on four hits and came out in the fourth inning, he struck out one batter. The Gators would use five more pitchers in the outing without much success as the Tigers stayed aggressive in the batter’s box.

   Whyatt Langford would get the Gators on the board with a single in the sixth that scored Sterlin Thompson. Kris
Armstrong would ground out to Tre’ Morgan but the Gators plated another run from that at bat when Langford crossed home plate.
    
​   Next up for the Tigers is a midweek battle against Louisiana Monroe at Alex Box Stadium on Tuesday March 30 at 6:30om CT before moving on to host the Tigers of Auburn for a SEC weekend series.

Da Boot Sports
3/26/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Designated hitter Brayden Jobert and centerfielder Dylan Crews each homered and collected four RBI Saturday night as No. 14 LSU posted a 16-4 win over seventh-ranked Florida at Florida Ballpark.
 
With the victory, LSU (16-7, 2-3 SEC) evened the series after the Gators had recorded a 7-2 win in Game 1 on Friday night. Florida dropped to 17-6 overall and 3-2 in the SEC with Saturday’s loss.
 
The teams meet in the series finale at 11 a.m. CT Sunday in a game that will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network +.
 
LSU collected 13 hits Saturday night, including four homers and four doubles. The Tigers’ 16 runs represented their most runs scored in an SEC game since March 17, 2017, when LSU posted a 22-9 win over Georgia in Baton Rouge.
 
“It was just the way you want to draw it up with a bunch of extra-base hits and a bunch of walks,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “
 
LSU starting pitcher Ma’Khail Hilliard (2-0) blanked the Gators through the first five innings and was credited with the win. Hilliard worked a total of 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.
 
Right-hander Paul Gervase relieved Hilliard in the sixth and worked 2.1 scoreless innings with no hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
 
“They didn’t get many good swings off against Ma’Khail,” Johnson said. “He was in-and-out, up-and-down, changing speeds, a great performance. Both Ma’Khail and Paul were incredibly hard to hit tonight.”
 
Florida starter Brandon Sproat (3-2) suffered the loss as he allowed six runs – five earned – on four hits with two walks and one strikeout.
 
The Tigers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run homer by first baseman Tre’ Morgan, his first dinger of the season.
 
LSU erupted for six runs in the third as Crews provided a sacrifice fly and third baseman Jacob Berry contributed a run-scoring grounder before Jobert blasted a three-run dinger – his fifth of the season – and leftfielder Gavin Dugas followed with a solo shot, his second homer of the year.
 
The Tigers increased the lead to 9-0 in the fifth when Jobert was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a walk to rightfielder Giovanni DiGiacomo and scored when Florida third baseman Deric Fabian misplayed a grounder by LSU catcher Tyler McManus.
 
Florida finally got to Hilliard in the bottom of the sixth, with a four-run rally highlighted by rightfielder Sterlin Thompson’s two-run homer.
 
The Tigers iced the game with a seven-run ninth inning that featured a three-run homer by Crews, an RBI single by Jobert, a run-scoring double by Dugas and a sacrifice fly by DiGiacomo.
 
“We had a good approach at the plate tonight,” Johnson said. “We did a good job of attaching mistakes and controlling the strike zone.”
 

Da Boot Sports
​3/25/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida left-hander Hunter Barco limited LSU on Friday night to one hit in seven shutout innings, as the Gators posted a 7-2 win over the Tigers at Florida Ballpark, McKethan Field.
 
Florida, which hit three homers, improved to 17-5 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. LSU dropped to 15-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
 
The teams will meet in Game 2 of the series at 5:30 p.m. CT Saturday in a contest that will air on the LSU Sports Radio Network and may be viewed on SEC Network +.
 
Barco (5-1) fired seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. LSU starter Blake Money (2-1) was charged with the loss, as he surrendered six runs on seven hits in five innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
 
“Florida is a very good team, and Barco is a great pitcher, so there’s no margin for error when you play them,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “We had some opportunities with getting runners on base, but he’s good enough to make the pitches to work his way out of it. He didn’t give us a whole lot to hit, and that’s a credit to him.
 
“We have to focus on making our approaches at the plate stronger and making a commitment to our plan. We need to focus on getting better at baseball and finding that core group of guys that are committed to winning. It’s not easy, but we’ve got to get better on the mound, better on defense, have better at-bats and have a more competitive attitude.”
 
LSU limited the Gators to seven hits, but three were homers – solo shots by second baseman Colby Halter and catcher BT Riopelle, and a two-run dinger by leftfielder Wyatt Langford.
 
Halter led off the Florida first inning with his fifth homer of the year, and the Gators increased the lead to 2-0 in the fourth on Riopelle’s fifth dinger of the season.
 
The Gators erupted for four runs in the fifth against Money, as centerfielder Jud Fabian provided an RBI groundout, rightfielder Sterlin Thompson delivered a run-scoring single and Langford blasted a two-run homer, his ninth of the season.
 
Halter drove in another run in the sixth before LSU scored single runs in the eighth and ninth. Leftfielder Gavin Dugas provided an RBI with an eighth-inning groundout, and catcher Hayden Travinski hit his first homer of the season in the ninth.
 
LSU reliever Bryce Collins held Florida to one run over the final three innings, allowing no hits and recording three strikeouts.
 

Da Boot Sports
3/23/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   ​BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana Tech shortstop Taylor Young drew a bases-loaded walk to provide the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning, and the Bulldogs posted a 7-6 victory over LSU Wednesday night at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
LSU (15-6) returns to the diamond Friday to take on their second SEC opponent of the year, as the Tigers travel to Gainesville to meet the Florida Gators in a three-game series. The first contest is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. CT.
 
The matchup will be televised on the SEC Network, and it can be heard on the LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates.
 
Louisiana Tech improved to 15-6 on the year with Wednesday’s win.
 
Louisiana Tech reliever Kyle Crigger (2-1) picked up the win after tossing four innings and allowing no runs on three hits with eight strikeouts.
 
LSU reliever Ty Floyd (3-2) was charged with the loss after working one inning and giving up one run on one hit with three walks.
 
“Louisiana Tech is a good team, and this is a game we wanted to win and needed to play,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “Games are hard to win against good teams, and we didn’t get the job done tonight. I’m proud of the players for coming back to tie the game and take the lead after we were down 4-0, and we got some great efforts tonight from our bullpen. Those are definitely positive takeaways from the game.”
 
The Bulldogs got the scoring started early with three runs in the top of the first and one in the top of the second. Their early success was anchored by two extra-base hits, a single and a sacrifice fly.
 
LSU responded with a four-run fifth inning to knot the score at four. Senior left fielder Gavin Dugas started the inning with a single, and catcher Tyler McManus followed with a walk.
 
Sophomore first baseman Tre’ Morgan drilled a double into the right-center field gap, driving in Dugas and McManus. With Morgan on second, sophomore center fielder Dylan Crews crushed a ball to left-center, which cut the deficit to one, as Morgan scored and Crews stood on third. Crews scored to tie the game at 4-4  after sophomore third baseman Jacob Berry reached on a throwing error.
 
LSU grabbed the lead in the sixth after Dugas was hit by a pitch and designated hitter Brayden Jobert singled to left center, advancing Dugas to third. Morgan sent a slow roller to third base, allowing Dugas to score and take the first lead of the game for the Tigers.
 
Sophomore shortstop Jordan Thompson led off the bottom of the eighth with a double, and Dugas drove him in with a single up the middle.
 
Louisiana Tech tied it up in the ninth with two runs without a hit, as the Bulldogs took advantage of three walks and an error.
 
LSU’s middle relief trio of Trent Vietmeier, Cale Lansville and Paul Gervase was spectacular, combining to limit Louisiana Tech to one unearned run on no hits in seven innings with two walks and 13 strikeouts.

Da Boot Sports
3/21/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU-Louisiana Tech baseball game originally scheduled for Tuesday has been moved to 6:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 23, in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
The game was moved to Wednesday due to the forecast of severe weather in Baton on Tuesday.
 
The LSU-Louisiana Tech game may be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, and it may be viewed on SEC Network +.

Da Boot Sports
3/20/2022
By: David Penn


   BATON ROUGE, LA - The LSU Tigers scratched and clawed their way back from a 6-2 deficit in the fourth inning to emerge victorious in the series finale against Texas A&M and avoided being swept in the opening SEC series for the first time since 2011.

   Dylan Crews singled to bat in the go ahead run and Tre’ Morgan came up with a highlight reel pitchout to second base on a ball that got away from first base and LSU gutted out the 7-6 victory.
    
   Ma’Khail Hilliard started on the mound for the Tigers and went four innings, giving up five runs on ten hits, walking one, striking out two, with one wild pitch and one hit batter. Sam Dutton and Eric Reyzelman would take the middle relief assignments, combining to allow one run on six hits, strike out three, and walk one. Riley Cooper (1-1) would close it for LSU and earn his first win, facing the final five Aggies, allowing one hit, no runs, and a strike out.

   Jay Johnson talked about his pitching after the game, “I’m really proud of our pitching for keeping us in the game and giving us a chance to come back. It was a great job by a number of guys.”
    
   Jacob Berry and Jordan Thompson would each earn RBIs in the bottom of the fourth by scoring Cade Doughty and
Crews respectively bringing LSU within a run of Texas A&M at the end of the forth with the Aggies leading 3-2.

   The Aggies added three more in the top of the fifth to open up its largest lead of the game at 6-2, but LSU chipped away inning by inning. 
    
   In the fifth inning Cade Doughty would single and score Tyler McManus. Dylan Crews then came up and hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Morgan, 6-4 Aggies at the end of five.

   Brayden Jobert singled up the middle in the sixth inning to score Jack Merrifield followed by Morgan hitting a single down the third base side to score Giovanni DiGiacomo, tied 6-6 and the end of six.

   Crews would provide the winning score for the Tigers when he batted across Morgan to give LSU the 7-6 lead at the end of the eight inning. LSU’s pitching and defense gutted it out from there, securing the win and avoiding the sweep.

​   Coach Johnson said, “We had some great at-bats to get Dylan up in the go-ahead situation in the eighth, and a great job by Riley on the mound to finish the game.”
    
   Ryan Prager took the bump first for the Aggies, allowing four runs on four hits, walking three, and earning four Ks over 4.1 innings of work. Brett Minnich went 3-5 at the plate for the Aggies with 2 RBIs and a homerun on a day the Aggie bats would earn 17 hits. Logan Britt and Dylan Rock would also add homeruns for the Aggies.
    
   LSU will host LA Tech on Tuesday March 22 at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field before hitting the road for their first SEC road series against #9 Florida Gators.  The Tigers are now 15-5 overall (1-2 in SEC play)...

Photos Below By: Phillip Cancilleri

Da Boot Sports
​3/19/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – Texas A&M scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 7-7 tie Saturday night, as the Aggies posted an 11-7 win over LSU in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
Texas A&M improved to 12-6 overall, 2-0 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 14-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
 
The teams meet in Game 3 of the series at 2 p.m. CT Sunday in a contest that will be televised on the SEC Network and may be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network.
 
A two-run single by LSU catcher Tyler McManus tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Aggies struck for four runs in the ninth.
 
Texas A&M capitalized on an LSU error to score the first run of the ninth, and the Aggies added to their lead with an RBI single by shortstop Kole Kaler and a two-run double by catcher Troy Claunch.
 
“It’s frustrating,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “That’s two nights in a row we’ve tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, had the go-ahead run on second base and not get them in, and then proceed to give up runs in the ninth. There are so many things we can do better, which when you look at it from that perspective, makes it even more frustrating.
 
“We’ve got to get back to work, it’s a quick turnaround for a 2 p.m. game Sunday, and we need to have the best, competitive team out here ready to play.”
 
Texas A&M reliever Robert Hogan (1-1) was credited with the win, as he worked 1.1 scoreless innings with no hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
 
LSU reliever Devin Fontenot (1-1) was charged with the loss, as he allowed three runs – two earned – on two hits in 0.2 inning with one walk and one strikeout.
 
McManus was 2-for-4 at the plate for LSU with a homer and three RBI. Outfielder Giovanni DiGiacomo contributed a two-run homer – his third of the season – and centerfielder Dylan Crews added a solo blast, his fifth dinger of the year.
 
LSU starting pitcher Blake Money, who returned to the mound after suffering a wrist injury last weekend, worked 3.1 innings and allowed four runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
                                                                                    

Da Boot Sports
3/18/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – Texas A&M broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in the top of the ninth inning Friday night, and the Aggies went on to defeat fourth-ranked LSU, 6-4, in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
Texas A&M improved to 11-6 overall, 1-0 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 14-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
 
The teams meet in Game 2 of the series at 6 p.m. CT Saturday in a contest that may be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network and viewed on SEC Network +.
 
Texas A&M reliever Chris Cortez (3-1) earned the win with 1.2 perfect innings, including two strikeouts. LSU reliever Eric Reyzelman (1-1) was charged with the loss, as he allowed two runs on two hits in 0.2 inning with one walk and one strikeout.
 
Run-scoring singles by second baseman Austin Bost and by leftfielder Dylan Rock in the top of the ninth provided the winning margin for the Aggies. Cortez retired LSU in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory.
 
“I thought for six innings we played outstanding defense,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson, “but in the seventh, we had two misplays that led to two runs for Texas A&M. Then, in the eighth, we had a big opportunity with the bases loaded and nobody out, but we only came away with one run. To me, those two innings really stand out and were the difference in the ball game.”
 
LSU second baseman Cade Doughty got the scoring started in the bottom of the first after slapping an RBI single into right field that scored sophomore centerfielder Dylan Crews from second. Crews had reached on a single up the middle and advanced to second on a groundout.
 
Texas A&M responded with two solo home runs in the top half of the second against LSU starter Ty Floyd that traveled into the whipping wind blowing from left to right.
 
LSU regained the lead with by a dinger from sophomore shortstop Jordan Thompson in the fourth and a home run from catcher Tyler McManus in the fifth.
 
A pair of LSU errors helped the Aggies score two runs in the seventh, giving them a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers loaded the bases with nobody as Crews singles, third baseman Jacob Berry walked and Doughty was hit by a pitch.
 
Designated hitter Brayden Jobert came to the plate and delivered an RBI on a fielder’s choice to tie the contest, but the Tigers were unable to score again.
 
The Tigers’ relief pitching effort was highlight by the outing of freshman right-hander Grant Taylor, who entered the game in the third inning and worked four scoreless innings with two hits and one strikeout.
 

Photo Below By: Phillip Cancilleri

Da Boot Sports
3/15/2022
By: David Penn


   BATON ROUGE, LA - One final matchup for the LSU Tigers (14-3) before they open SEC play against the Texas A&M Aggies on Friday night came against the Tulane Green Wave (10-7).

   Will Hellmers got the start for the Tigers but it was Sophomore RHP Eric Reyzelman that picked up the win for
the Tigers. Hellmers pitched the first 1.2 innings for LSU and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out two batters. Paul Gervase would come in and pitch the next two innings and would give up no hits or runs, walk a pair of batters, and earn four Ks.
    
   Reyzelman would enter the game and walk the first batter he faced but then fanned six of the next seven batters.

   “I’m so proud of Eric; he’s had to face a lot of adversity coming off Tommy John surgery (at San Francisco),” Coach Jay Johnson said. “He’s gotten himself prepared and healthy, and he’s a very big asset for our team when he’s on the mound.”

   Devin Fontenot would come in and earn the save for LSU after pitching the final 1.2 innings, allowing no runs on one hit, one walk, and one strike out.

   Tulane took an early lead on the Tigers when they plated two runs in the second inning but LSU would answer in the third inning.
    
   Gavin Dugas was the first Tiger to score, doing so in the third inning for the Tigers on a mishap by the Tulane first baseman that allowed Tre’ Morgan to reach safely. Dylan Crews would then come up and hit a sacrifice fly that scored Hayden Travinski to tie the game at 2-2.

   The Tigers took the lead in the home half of the fourth inning when Giovanni DiGiacomo hit a single that scored Cade Doughty. Morgan would follow up with two RBI single that scored Jordan Thompson and DiGiacomo giving the Tigers a 5-2 lead after four innings of play.

   Morgan again score Thompson in the sixth inning on a sac fly to add insurance to the LSU lead, making it 6-2 after six innings.
    
   Two Tulane players would score in the top of the seventh inning on an error by the LSU defense. Tulane would add another run in the top of the eighth when they scored on a wild pitch and had the tying run barreling toward home plate when DiGiacomo would snag a flyball and make the relay to gun down the runner at home plate in time for the defensive highlight of the night. 
    
   Carter Robinson Started for Tulane and went 3.2 innings, giving up five runs on four hits,  walking three and striking out three. Gavin Shulz and Jared Hart would each get two hits, an RBI, and score a run for the Wave.

   “The fans got their money’s worth tonight,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “That was not a surprise, Tulane is a very well-coached team that presents some different problems for the teams they face. Tulane has always been a real challenge on LSU’s schedule over the years, so I’m very glad we were able to come out on top.”
    
   LSU opens SEC play on Friday night March 18 at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field when they host the Texas A&M Aggies at 6:30pm CT, Saturday March 19 at 6:00pm, and Sunday March 20 at 2:00PM.  

Da Boot Sports
3/13/2022
By: David Penn


   BATON ROUGE, LA - With the sun shining upon the championship gold jerseys of the LSU Tigers (13-3) on a gorgeous day for baseball in Baton Rouge, the Tigers swept the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (5-10) with a 15-0 trouncing at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.

   The offense would come early and often for LSU who put up five runs in both the first and second innings.

   “Any time you don’t let them score, it makes it much easier to win,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “A really good outing by Ma’Khail today, we really needed that to allow us to level off our pitching staff. We played four games in five days, and we had to push some pitch counts up earlier in the week, so to have Ma’Khail throw the ball so well today was tremendous for us.”

   Ma’Khail Hilliard pitched six scoreless innings for the Tigers and struck out six batters in his best outing of the season. Hilliard (1-0) faced 21 batters, throwing 59 strikes on 78 pitches, giving up no runs on two hits without walking a batter. His performance, along with Ty Floyd’s gem from Saturday was a welcomed sight given the injury that Friday night starter Blake Money suffered.

   Riley Cooper and Cale Lansville each pitch an inning of middle relief giving up no runs, a hit, and striking out three
without allowing a walk. The closing duty went to Trey Shaffer who walked a batter but allowed no hits or runs to keep the shutout for the Tigers in tact.
    
   Dylan Crews and Giovanni DiGiacomo each went 3-4 at the plate and each belted a homerun in the contest. Crews would earn three RBIs and DiGiacomo would bring in two. Jordan Thompson went 4-4 at the plate and knocked in three RBIs to pace the offense for the Tigers. Cade Doughty also blasted a homerun in the contest, going 2-3 in the box and bringing in three RBIs  scoring three runs himself. Brayden Jobert also went 2-3 on the day and was the fourth Tiger to earn three RBIs in the contest.
    
​   Hector Vazquez (1-2) started the affair for Bethune-Cookman but was pulled from the mound in the second inning with Tigers having already scored eight runs on seven hits. Things didn’t get better for the rest of the Wildcats’ bullpen as LSU attacked pitches from the next three pitchers Bethune-Cookman would bring in with LSU getting to fifteen runs in just six innings.
    
   The Tigers will host the 10-5 Tulane Green Wave on Tuesday March 15 at Alex Box Stadium before hosting the
​Texas A&M Aggies for their first conference series of the season.

Da Boot Sports
3/12/2022
By: David Penn


   BATON ROUGE, LA - After a thrilling come from behind win on Friday, the sixth ranked LSU Tigers left little doubt on Saturday afternoon, dispatching the Wildcats from Bethune-Cookman 5-1 at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.

  Jacob Berry continues to show off his power, bouncing his SEC leading eighth homerun of the season off the Intimidator billboard.

   Ty Floyd (3-1) earned the win today on the bump for the Tigers and recorded eight strikeouts for the second time this season..Floyd pitched six innings giving up the only run Bethune-Cookman would score in the third inning while only giving up two hits and striking out eight against only two walks.

   Eric Reyzelman would come in and pitch the final three innings for LSU giving up only two hits, not allow a run and would strike out seven of the eleven batters he faced.

   Coach Jay Johnson said, “We got great performances on the mound today from Ty and Eric. They were in the strike zone all day long, it seemed like there was a 1-2 count on every hitter. It was great to be pitching ahead in the count, and it was great not to give them any kind of momentum.”

   Jacob Berry started the scoring in the first inning for LSU when he obliterated a shot that scored Dylan Crews who
had previously reached on a single.

   Hayden Travinski made his presence felt in the batter’s box in the fourth inning when he placed a double in center field that would score Giovanni DiGiacomo.

   Cade Doughty would score Berry in the fifth inning with a hard hit double to right field and then cross home plate himself to finish the scoring when Brayden Jobert would hit a single.

   Nolan Santos (1-1) started for the Wildcats pitching five innings, allowing five runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out two.

   The lone score for Bethune-Cookman came on an error by Doughty who overthrew Tre’ Morgan on a play that would have retired the side but allowed Franki Febles to cross the dish, taking advantage of the miscue.

   LSU improved to 12-3 on the season while the Wildcats dropped to 5-8. The teams will finish the weekend series tomorrow March 13, with a start time of 1:00pm CT.

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

Da Boot Sports
3/11/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – Junior third baseman Jack Merrifield ripped a seventh-inning RBI single into center field to break a 7-7 tie and lift LSU to an 8-7 victory over Bethune-Cookman Friday at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
The sixth-ranked Tigers, who trailed 6-2 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, improved to 11-3 on the season, while Bethune-Cookman dropped to 5-8.
 
The teams meet in Game 2 of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. CT in a contest that may be heard on LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates and viewed on SEC Network +.
 
LSU opened the scoring in the first inning by scratching two runs across after second baseman Cade Doughty launched a two-run dinger to left field. Junior right fielder Jacob Berry reached base in the previous at-bat with a single into center, and LSU led 2-0 after one inning.
 
Following four perfect innings from LSU starter Blake Money, the Wildcats collected six runs in the top of the, an outburst highlighted by a three-run homer from rightfielder Franki Febles.
 
The Tigers tied the game in the bottom half with four runs, as the rally was highlighted by a Berry two-run homer, a bases-loaded walk by shortstop Jordan Thompson and a bases-loaded  hit-by-pitch by pinch hitter Josh Pearson.
 
“After their big inning, I told our team we can win this game as long as we don’t try to do too much,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “Our players stayed within themselves and stayed with the plan, and we had some very good at-bats that got us back into the game.”
 
The score was tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth when LSU centerfielder Dylan Crews hit his third home run of the season, and the Tigers led 7-6.
 
B-CU knotted the game again in the seventh when Febles collected a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and was driven in on a single from shortstop Matthew Garcia.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, designated hitter Brayden Jobert led off the inning with a walk, and with one out, Thompson also drew a walk. Merrifield then singled to drive in the deciding run.
 
LSU reliever Devin Fontenot (1-0) picked up his first win on the season after tossing the final 2.1 innings and allowing no runs on no hits with three strikeouts. B-CU reliever Knickolas Billings (0-1) was saddled with the loss as he surrendered two runs on two hits in 2.0 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
 
“When I was hired here, one of the first things I did to was make sure Devin was returning to our team for another year,” Johnson said. “The back end of the bullpen is such an important piece, and when you win close games like this, it does a lot for the confidence of your team. Devin pitched with great tempo today, threw a ton of strikes, and that’s a big lift for our team.”
 

Da Boot Sports
3/10/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – Game 1 of the LSU-Bethune-Cookman baseball series will be played at 12 p.m. CT Friday due to the forecast of severe weather in the Baton Rouge area.
   The game was originally scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. CT, but will now have a 12 p.m. CT first pitch in order for it to be completed before the weather becomes a factor.

​   Sixth-ranked LSU enters Friday’s contest with a 10-3 record, while Bethune-Cookman has an 5-7 mark. The game may be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, and it may be viewed on SEC Network +.