Da Boot Sports
4/22/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   OXFORD, Miss. – Pinch hitter Hayden Travinski launched a two-out, three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning Sunday to lift top-ranked LSU to a 7-6 win over Ole Miss at Swayze Field.Travinski’s homer, his first of the season, erased a 6-4 Ole Miss lead. Right-hander Gavin Guidry pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to preserve the win and earn his first save of the year.
LSU improved to 32-7 overall and 12-5 in the SEC as it completed a series sweep of the Rebels. Ole Miss dropped to 21-19 overall and 3-15 in conference play.
The Tigers return to action at 6:30 p.m. CT Tuesday when they play host to Nicholls in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The game will be broadcast on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, and it will be streamed on SEC Network +.
With Ole Miss holding a 6-4 lead in the top of the ninth, reliever Mitch Murrell retired the first two LSU batters in the inning. However, first baseman Jared Jones drew a walk, and third baseman Brayden Jobert was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive.
LSU coach Jay Johnson inserted Travinski into the game, and he responded by unloading a Murrell pitcher over the left-field wall to give the Tigers a 7-6 lead.
“Hayden has a lot of power, obviously,” Johnson said. “He’s been improving as we’ve been going along. He was hurt in the fall, but he kept working. It’s a combination of baseball improvement, along with maturity and attitude. He’s been a team guy this whole time. He’s a big reason we won the game yesterday, and obviously a big reason we won today. I’m really proud of him and happy for him.”
Guidry gave up a one-out double to Ole Miss catcher Calvin Harris in the bottom of the ninth, but he retired the next two Rebel batters to seal the win.
LSU left-hander Riley Cooper (2-2) was credited with the win after retiring the final Ole Miss batter in the eighth inning. Murrell (2-2) was charged with the loss as he allowed three runs on one hit in 3.0 innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
LSU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when centerfielder Dylan Crews lined a run-scoring single.
Ole Miss tied the game in the bottom of the first on catcher Calvin Harris’ sacrifice fly, and the Rebels took a 2-1 lead in the second on an RBI single by designated hitter Will Furniss.
The Tigers struck for two runs in the third on back-to-back RBI singles by shortstop Jordan Thompson and by first baseman Jared Jones.
LSU extended the lead to 4-2 in the fifth when designated hitter Cade Beloso launched a solo homer, his seventh dinger of the year and second of the series.
Ole Miss narrowed the gap to 4-3 on first baseman Anthony Calarco’s RBI double in the sixth, and the Rebels tied the game on rightfielder Kemp Alderman’s seventh-inning solo homer, his 17th dinger of the season.
Designated hitter Judd Utermark gave the Rebels a 6-4 advantage in the eighth inning with a two-run homer, his second dinger of the season.
LSU right-hander Christian Little provided the Tigers with an excellent starting effort, limiting Ole Miss to three runs on six hits in 5.1 innings with one walk and three strikeouts.

Da Boot Sports
4/22/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   ​OXFORD, Miss. – Right-hander Ty Floyd worked a career-high 8.1 innings Saturday, and centerfielder Dylan Crews launched two home runs as top-ranked LSU defeated Ole Miss, 8-4, at Swayze Field.
 
LSU improved to 31-7 overall and 11-5 in the SEC as the Tigers clinched a series win over the Rebels. Ole Miss dropped to 21-18 overall and 3-14 in conference play.
 
The teams conclude the series at 1:30 p.m. CT Sunday in a game that will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network +.
 
Floyd (6-0) recorded the longest outing of his career, limiting Ole Miss in 8.1 innings to three runs on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.
 
“Ty just was so sharp and that allowed him to extend, just a phenomenal effort,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “He always prepares well, but the last couple weeks we really made some strides and the pitch execution was as good as you could do it today.”
 
Crews blasted two home runs, including his first career grand slam, collecting a career-best six RBI.
 
“Dylan is a special player, and he never lets the situation get too big,” Johnson said. “He executes his plan, and he’s the best player on the planet. He’s just super committed to what he knows he needs to do. He’s a special talent, but the talent comes out like that because he’s so consistent in how he approaches the game.”
 
Ole Miss starting pitcher Hunter Elliott (1-1) was charged the loss, as he allowed five runs on two this in 1.0 inning with five walks and three strikeouts.
 
LSU struck for two runs against Elliott in the top of the first inning as leftfielder Tre’ Morgan drew a one-out walk before Crews unloaded a two-run homer into center field.
 
The Tigers increased the lead to 6-0 in the second when Crews blasted the first grand slam of his career and his 11th homer of the season.
 
Designated hitter Cade Beloso’s solo homer in the fifth – his sixth dinger of the season – gave LSU a 7-0 advantage.
 
Ole Miss narrowed the gap to 7-3 in the sixth when leftfielder Kemp Alderman his a three-run homer, his 16th dinger of the year.
 
LSU added a run in the seventh when catcher Hayden Travinski delivered a two-out, RBI single.

Da Boot Sports
4/21/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   ​OXFORD, Miss. – Third baseman Tommy White blasted his third grand slam of the season Thursday night, and right-hander Paul Skenes earned his seventh win as top-ranked LSU posted a 7-3 victory over Ole Miss at Swayze Field.
 
LSU improved to 30-7 overall, 10-5 in the SEC, while Ole Miss dropped to 21-17 overall and 3-13 in conference play.
 
The teams resume the series at 2 p.m. CT Saturday in a game that will be carried on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network and televised on ESPN2.
 
White’s grand slam in the fifth inning erased a 3-2 Ole Miss lead and increased his RBI total this season to 66.
 
Skenes (7-1) pitched six innings and fired a season-high 117 pitches, limiting the Rebels to three runs on four hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts.
 
Ole Miss starter Xavier Rivas (5-3) was charged with the loss, as he allowed six runs – five earned – on four hits in 4.1 innings with three walks and six strikeouts.
 
“Anytime you go on the road in this league, you’re going to take punch, and we did, and the response is what I’m proud of,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “Our hitters continue to take great at-bats and set the stage tonight for Tommy’s grand slam.
 
“It was a really good team win; I thought everybody played their roles in the game really effectively tonight.”
 
LSU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when centerfielder Dylan Crews tripled and scored when Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez misplayed a hard grounder by White.
 
The Tigers extended the lead to 2-0 in the third when second baseman Gavin Dugas doubled, moved to third on leftfielder Tre’ Morgan’s groundout and scored on a wild pitch by Rivas.
 
Ole Miss struck for three runs in the fourth as designated hitter Will Furniss launched a three-run homer, his third dinger of the year.
 
LSU regained the lead in the fifth when White smashed a grand slam over the center-field fence for his 13th homer of the year. The dinger was White’s third grand slam of the year and LSU’s sixth this season.
 
The Tigers added a run in the eighth when rightfielder Brayden Jobert singled, stole second base and scored on catcher Alex Milazzo’s single.
 
LSU freshman left-hander Griffin Herring earned his second save of the season, as he worked the final three innings and allowed no runs on no hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Da Boot Sports
4/18/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – UL Lafayette reliever David Christie pitched a career-high six innings Tuesday night, and the Cajuns launched a pair of two-run homers to defeat No. 1 LSU, 8-5, in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
LSU, which lost its first midweek game of the season, dropped to 29-7, while UL Lafayette improved to 26-12.
 
The Tigers open a three-game SEC series versus Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., at 6:30 p.m. CT Friday. The game will be broadcast on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, and it will be streamed on SEC Network +.
 
Christie (1-0) limited LSU to one run on three hits in six innings with four walks and one strikeout. LSU reliever Riley Cooper (1-2) was charged with the loss, as he allowed four runs on six hits in 3.1 innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
A two-run homer by centerfielder Heath Hood in the third inning and a two-run blast by leftfielder Conor Higgs in the seventh highlighted the Cajuns’ offensive output.
 
The Cajuns also benefited from two LSU errors and two misplayed fly balls by the Tigers’ outfield.
 
“UL Lafayette has a very good team, and they produced a lot of baserunners and created a lot of traffic,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “Christie did a great job for them on the mound; he got out there and executed, and we couldn’t quite get on the barrel against him and get the offensive momentum going.”
 
LSU left-hander Javen Coleman started the game on the mound, making his first appearance in over a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2022. Coleman retired the side in order in the first and recorded two strikeouts in his one inning of work.
 
“It’s really awesome to see for Javen,” Johnson said. “I know the work that he’s put into his recovery, and it obviously a great development for our team. I’ve never seen someone return that quickly and return in that type of form. I’m happy for him and happy for our team to have him available.”
 
LSU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on designated hitter Cade Beloso’s RBI triple, but the Cajuns responded with two runs in the second on catcher Clay Wargo’s RBI sacrifice bunt and a run-scoring single by rightfielder Will Veillon.
 
The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the second when second baseman Jack Merrifield provided an RBI groundout.
 
Hood’s two-run homer in the third gave the Cajuns a 4-2 lead, and LSU first baseman Jared Jones’ sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame narrowed the deficit to one run.
 
The Cajuns took advantage of two misplayed fly balls in the fourth to expand their lead to 6-3, and Higgs’ homer in the seventh increased the advantage to 8-3.
 
LSU leftfielder Tre’ Morgan unloaded a two-run dinger – his third homer of the season – in the ninth to reduce the margin to 8-5.

Da Boot Sports
4/15/2023
By: David Penn


   BATON ROUGE, LA - Back and forth it went in the series rubber match between the #1 LSU Tigers (29-6, 9-5) and the #12 Kentucky Wildcats (28-7, 10-5) with the Tigers winning the game 7-6.

   For the second straight day it was gorilla ball vs small ball, another back forth battle of attrition with the Tigers clinching the series victory.    
   
   True freshman Jared Jones hit his tenth homerun of the season giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead, before belting his eleventh homerun in the sixth inning to regain the lead, putting the Tigers up 4-3. Jones had choice words for the UK pitcher after being quick pitched, voicing his frustration with his bat and then his mouth.
    
   Coach Jay Johnson said, “I sensed an awesome focus with Jared today. I had a good gut feeling that he was locked in and ready to go. On the second homer, he got on top of a fastball and hit it a mile. That was impressive; he’s becoming such a good player and I’m really proud of his development.”
    
   Kentucky scratched across three runs in the seventh inning to take a 6-4 lead, but LSU would answer. Jordan Thompson hammered an RBI double that scored Tre’ Morgan. Cade Beloso would tie the game on an RBI single that scored Thompson, ending the seventh inning in a 6-6 tie.

   With the bases juiced in the bottom of the eighth inning, Tommy White was hit by a pitch that would bring home the winning run when Brayden Jobert stepped across home plate, providing the game's final margin.
    
   Christian Little started on the mound for the Tigers, but the win went to Bryce Collins, who trotted out to the bump in the seventh inning, worked out of a jam, then kept the Wildcats off the board in the final two frames.
    
   “I’m so proud of our team,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “We have so many things that we can do better and that we’re going to work on to do better. But, to just gut that thing out and find a way to win that game is a credit to our team. I’m very proud of them, they’ll get a well-deserved day off, and I’m really excited for another good week coming up; it doesn’t slow down.” 
   
   Next up the Tigers will face the Ragin Cajuns of ULL in a midweek matchup, then hit the road to go to Ole Miss for a weekend tilt in Oxford, MS.
​

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

​*John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

Da Boot Sports
​4/14/2023
By: David Penn


   BATON ROUGE, LA - The Wildcats (28-6,10-4) bounced back in game two of the series to force a rubber match on Saturday.

   Kentucky used their propensity to bunt, sacrifice, and steal to claw out 13 runs against the top ranked Tigers.

   #1 LSU (28-6, 8-5) had runners on in the bottom of the ninth but were unable to convert those opportunities.

   Kentucky put up five runs in the fifth and seventh innings to erase a four run deficit and jump out to a six run lead (12-6) halfway through the seventh inning.    
   LSU got on the board first when Tommy White’s double scored Dylan Crews.

   The Wildcats answered with a pair of runs in the second frame but LSU matched those two runs in the bottom of the second. Tre’ Morgan hit a two RBI single that scored Ben Nippolt and Jordan Thompson. 3-2 Tigers after two.

   In the fourth inning Crews would score Morgan on an RBI double and then Tommy White launched a two run homer over the center field wall, increasing the Tigers lead to 6-2 after four innings.
   The Wildcats would then break the game open over the next three innings, adding five runs in the fifth and seventh innings.

    LSU would fight back but were unable to to tie or regain the lead. In the seventh inning, the Tigers were down six runs and Jared Jones scored when Thompson hit into a fielder’s choice.
   In the eighth inning LSU cut the Wildcats lead to two runs when White drew a bases loaded walk that scored Josh Pearson. Jones would then send a two RBI single to left field that brought home Crews and Morgan.
    “Kentucky has a good offense and they put pressure on you in a lot of different ways,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I thought we dictated the type of game that was played last night, and they dictated the game tonight. We’ve got to be better from the mound, we’ve got to be better defensively. I like the fight of our team, but if we play a little bit better, we win that game.”
    The Wildcats and Tigers will finish up the series on Saturday barring any delay or cancellation due to inclement weather. The game is scheduled for a 1:00pm CT first pitch.
​

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

​*John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

A huge Thank You to Cardio Health Solutions owned by Ron Sancho for sponsoring our publication!
​

Da Boot Sports
4/13/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. - Shortstop Jordan Thompson and rightfielder Brayden Jobert each launched a grand slam Thursday night to lift top-ranked LSU to a 16-6 victory over No. 11 Kentucky inside Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
LSU improved to 28-5 on the season and 8-4 in conference play, while the Wildcats dropped to 27-6 overall and 9-4 in SEC action.
 
The second game of the LSU-Kentucky series is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch on Friday, and it will be streamed on SEC Network+. The matchup will also be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates.
 
Designated hitter Cade Beloso scorched a home run to right field to account for the third dinger from LSU on the night. He posted a line of 1-for-2 with three RBI and two HBP. Third baseman Tommy White collected the first two RBI of the contest with a two-RBI double to left field in the first inning.
 
“I’m really proud of our guys and the at-bats that they took,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I felt like they showed up to the park super determined today, and you could see it in batting practice. That’s how they show up every day, but I had a really good feeling going into the game tonight that we were ready to play.
 
“We came off of a good game on Tuesday (at Tulane), and we carried that momentum forward. We want to be one of those teams that if you give us an inch, we’re going to take mile, and we did that in the first three innings.”
 
LSU starter Paul Skenes (6-1) earned the victory for the Tigers. Skenes, who leads the country in strikeouts, fanned 13 batters to match his career high. After picking up his ninth strikeout of the night, his season total hit 100, and it currently sits at 104. Skenes pitched 6.0 innings and gave up five runs – four earned -- on seven hits with one walk.
 
“Paul has set such a high bar and high standard, and eventually, he was going to give up a few runs,” Johnson said. “You don’t see that very often, so credit to Kentucky for getting some swings on him. I’m very proud of Paul, and I’m glad we could get this win for him tonight.”
 
Kentucky starter Zach Hise (1-1) was charged with the loss after tossing 1.2 innings and allowing 11 runs – six earned -- on four hits. He gave up two home runs and three extra-base hits.
 
After a scoreless top of the first, the Tigers opened the scoring in the bottom half, striking for six runs. The inning began with a hit-by-pitch from second baseman Gavin Dugas and an intentional walk issued to centerfielder Dylan Crews. White drove in both runs with a double to give LSU a 2-0 lead.
 
With an early lead, Beloso reached via an HBP, and first baseman Jared Jones hit a double to right field. Thompson came to the plate and smashed his sixth homer of the season - this one of grand slam variety - to increase the margin to 6-0.
 
With the dinger – the first grand slam of his career – Thompson has now homered in four straight games.
 
In the top of the second, the Wildcats reached two straight singles. Kentucky second baseman Emilien Pitre reached third base by tagging up on a fly ball to right field. The visitors scratched across their first run with an RBI single from right fielder Nolan McCarthy and shortened the lead to five.
 
The Tigers responded in the bottom of the second, scratching across five more runs, including the second grand slam of the ballgame - this time from Jobert. Before putting up four runs, left fielder Tre’ Morgan reached base with the third HBP thrown by Wildcat pitchers. Following Morgan’s at-bat, White reached on a fielding error and Beloso got hit by another pitch.
 
Jobert launched his sixth dinger of the year – and his second career grand slam -- to make the score 11-1. LSU, which has hit five grand slams this season, hit two in a game for the first time since May 13, 2014, when the Tigers blasted two grand slams versus Northwestern State in Alex Box Stadium.
 
Beloso joined the home run parade, launching a home run to right field in the bottom of the third. Crews reached base with the fifth HBP thrown by the Wildcats, and White singled up the middle. Beloso’s ensuing three-run dinger was his fifth of the season and gave LSU a 14-1 lead.
 
Kentucky scored four runs across the fourth and fifth inning, and the Wildcats added one in the seventh to reduce the margin to 14-6.
 
LSU tacked on the final two runs of the game, and catcher Alex Milazzo lined an RBI single through the left side in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Tigers the run-rule victory.

Photo Below By: Jonathan Mailhes 

Da Boot Sports
4/11/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   NEW ORLEANS, La. – Rightfielder Brayden Jobert and third baseman Tommy White each drove in three runs Tuesday night to lead top-ranked LSU to an 11-5 win over Tulane in Turchin Stadium.
 
LSU improved to 27-5 on the year, while Tulane dropped to 9-24.
 
LSU opens a three-game SEC series at 6 p.m. CT Thursday when the Tigers play host to Kentucky in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The game will be broadcast on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, and it will be televised on the SEC Network.
 
Jobert collected three RBI with a run-scoring single and a two-run homer, and White provided a two-run double and a sacrifice fly as LSU recorded 19 hits, hits third-highest output of the season.
 
“We played well tonight, and we had to in order to win the game,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “We used pitchers that we rely on a lot, and it was a good win on the road. I think Tulane will finish the year better than they started it; they’re really well coached, and it was a tough game tonight. A good win for us.”
 
LSU reliever Bryce Collins (1-0), the third of six LSU pitchers, earned the win by blanking Tulane over 2.2 innings and allowing no hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
“Bryce had a tough start to this season, which was a real surprise,” Johnson said. “We’ve made some adjustments both in mindset and physically, and that’s four or five good outings in a row for him. We really need that, now more than ever. I have total faith in him.”
 
Tulane took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on third baseman Simon Baumgardt’s RBI single, but LSU responded with two runs in the third as on White’s two-run double to center field.
 
The Green Wave regained the lead in the bottom of the third when Baumgardt launched a two-run homer, his seventh dinger of the year.
 
LSU tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth when first baseman Jared Jones doubled and scored on Jobert’s single to left field.
 
The Tigers plated two runs in the fifth as White lifted a sacrifice fly and designated hitter Cade Beloso lined an RBI single.
 
LSU extended the lead to 6-3 in the sixth when second baseman Gavin Dugas smacked a run-scoring single into left field.
 
Jobert’s two-run blast in the seventh – his fifth homer of the year – gave the Tigers an 8-3 advantage before Tulane narrowed the deficit to 8-4 in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by leftfielder Jackson Linn.
 
The Tigers struck for three runs in the ninth as shortstop Jordan Thompson launched a solo homer, his third homer in the past three games and his fifth of the season.
 
Run-scoring singles by first baseman Tre’ Morgan and by centerfielder Dylan Crews punctuated the final inning for the Tigers.
 
Tulane added a run in the bottom of the ninth, but reliever Thatcher Hurd entered the game and recorded the final three outs, including two strikeouts.

Da Boot Sports
4/8/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   ​COLUMBIA, S.C. – Due to the forecast of severe weather in Columbia on Saturday, Game 3 of the LSU-South Carolina baseball series has been canceled.
 
The game will not be made up later in the season. The series ends tied at one game apiece – South Carolina won Game 1, 13-5, on Thursday night, and LSU captured Game 2, 8-7, on Friday.
 
Top-ranked LSU is 26-5 overall, 7-4 in the SEC. The Tigers’ next game is on Tuesday, when they travel to New Orleans to face Tulane at 6 p.m. CT. in Turchin Stadium.
 
The LSU-Tulane game will be broadcast on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, and it will be streamed on ESPN +.

Da Boot Sports
4/7/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   COLUMBIA, S.C. – Designated hitter Cade Beloso singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning Friday, lifting top-ranked LSU to an 8-7 comeback win over No. 3 South Carolina in Founders Park.
 
The Tigers trailed, 7-3, entering the eighth inning, but a grand slam by second baseman Gavin Dugas tied the contest, and Beloso’s single in the ninth proved to be the game-winner.
 
LSU improved to 26-5 overall, 7-4 in the SEC, while South Carolina dropped to 28-4 overall and 9-2 in conference play. The loss was South Carolina’s first at home this season.
 
The teams are scheduled to complete the series Friday evening, weather permitting. If the game is played, it will be broadcast on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network +.
 
LSU reliever Gavin Guidry (2-0) earned the win as he worked the final 1.2 innings, allowing no runs on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts.
 
“What our guys do best is stick together,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson, “so I’m really not surprised this happened. It’s a testament to them, both in their ability and their heart. That’s why we’re ranked No. 1. What you just saw in that game, along with talent, is why we’re the No. 1 team in the nation.”
 
Trailing 7-3 in the eighth, the Tigers struck for four runs against South Carolina reliever Cade Austin. Beloso drew a walk to start the inning, and after Austin struck out first baseman Jared Jones, he walked LSU shortstop Jordan Thompson.
 
Austin then struck out catcher Brady Neal, but pinch hitter Brayden Jobert followed with a single to right field, loading the bases. Dugas followed with the grand slam on the first pitch he saw from Austin, marking his 10th home run of the season.
 
In the ninth, with reliever Eli Jones on the mound for South Carolina, LSU centerfielder Dylan Crews led off with a walk, and he moved to second on third baseman Tommy White’s groundout. Beloso followed with a single up the middle to give the Tigers an 8-7 lead.
 
South Carolina put runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Guidry fanned pinch hitter Caleb Denny to end the game.
 
Jones (4-1) was charged with the loss as he surrendered one run on one hit with one walk and no strikeouts.
 
South Carolina bolted to a 4-0 in the second inning against LSU starter Ty Floyd, but LSU narrowed the gap to 4-3 in the fourth on White’s solo homer and Thompson’s two-run dinger.
 
The Gamecocks, however, struck for three runs in the bottom of the fifth, with third baseman Talmadge LeCroy’s RBI single highlighting the surge.
 ​

Da Boot Sports
4/6/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   COLUMBIA, S.C. – Rightfielder Ethan Petry homered twice and drove in eight runs Thursday night to lead No. 3 South Carolina to a 13-5 win over top-ranked LSU in Founders Park.
 
The Gamecocks improved to 28-3 overall and 9-1 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 25-5 overall and 6-4 in conference play.
 
The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader beginning 11 a.m. CT Friday that will complete the three-game series. The twin bill will consist of two nine-inning games, and there will be a one-hour break between games.
 
Friday’s games will be broadcast on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, and they will be streamed on SEC Network +.
 
Petry was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a grand slam and a sacrifice fly in a game that was halted for just over an hour in the top of the fourth inning due to lightning in the area.
 
South Carolina led, 3-1, when the lightning delay began, and the Gamecocks erupted after play resumed for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take an 8-1 lead. The outburst featured Petry’s grand slam and a solo homer by leftfielder Dylan Brewer.
 
South Carolina right-hander James Hicks (6-0) – who replaced starter Will Sanders on the mound when the game resumed – earned the win by working four innings and limiting LSU to two runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.
 
“Hicks did a good job,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “He didn’t miss over the plate very much, and he kept the ball down well. We just didn’t seem to see him very well tonight.”
 
LSU starting pitcher Paul Skenes (5-1) was charged with the loss after he pitched the first three innings, but did not return after the hour-long delay. Skenes allowed three runs – two earned – on two hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.
 
“Give credit to South Carolina, they got two good swings against Paul, and they hit homers,” Johnson said. “But, he did strike out eight in three innings, and the max you can strike out in three innings is nine. He’s been great, and I don’t think they would have scored again if he had stayed in the game.”
 
LSU shortstop Jordan Thompson was 2-for-4 at the plate, including an RBI single in the second inning and a two-run homer – his third of the year – in the seventh.
 
Designated hitter Cade Beloso launched a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his fourth dinger of the year.
 
Petry’s two-run homer in the first inning was the first dinger allowed by Skenes this season. A solo homer by shortstop Braylen Wimmer in the third inning gave the Gamecocks a 3-1 advantage before the game was delayed.
​

Da Boot Sports
4/4/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – Third baseman Tommy White launched two homers and collected five RBI Tuesday night to lead top-ranked LSU to a 12-2 over Nicholls in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
LSU improved to 25-4 on the season, while Nicholls dropped to 17-14.
 
The Tigers return to action at 6 p.m. CT Thursday when they face South Carolina in Game 1 of a three-game SEC series at Founders Park in Columbia, S.C. The game may be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, and it will be streamed on SEC Network +.
 
White blasted a three-run homer in the third inning and a two-run dinger in the seventh to pace LSU’s offensive output. He now has 10 homers and 50 RBI on the year.
 
LSU reliever Gavin Guidry (1-0) earned his first career collegiate win, entering the game in the third inning and working 1.1 scoreless innings with no hits, no walks and three strikeouts.
 
“I knew we would need to play well to win this game, because Nicholls has strong program and is in first place in their conference,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “We needed some guys to step up on the mound, and I couldn’t be more excited about what the pitchers did tonight.”
 
LSU starter Christian Little, along with Guidry and relievers Will Hellmers, Thatcher Hurd, Bryce Collins and Micah Bucknam combined to limit Nicholls to only two runs on four hits with 13 strikeouts.
 
“Gavin Guidry was the story of the game,” Johnson said. “He came into the game against one of their best hitters, got a big-time strikeout to end the inning and then followed with a clean inning. That was outstanding; Gavin has a unique pitch mix that we can really use on our staff.”
 
Nicholls reliever Cole Poirrier (0-1) was charged with the loss as he started the third inning on the mound and allowed two runs on no hits with two walks and no strikeouts.
 
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning, the Tigers struck for five runs in an outburst highlighted by White’s three-run homer and a sacrifice fly by second baseman Gavin Dugas. LSU also scored in the inning when rightfielder Paxton Kling raced home on a wild pitch.
 
LSU added two runs in the fourth inning as catcher Alex Milazzo delivered an RBI single and Dugas produced a run-scoring double.
 
Designated hitter Jared Jones unloaded a solo homer – his ninth dinger of the year – in the fifth inning to give the Tigers an 8-2 advantage.
 
LSU widened the margin to 10 runs in the sixth on White’s two-run homer, an RBI triple by Dugas and first baseman Tre’ Morgan’s sacrifice fly.

Da Boot Sports
4/1/2023
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. - No. 9 Tennessee struck for 10 runs in the first two innings to lift the visitors to a 14-7 victory over top-ranked LSU in the series finale inside Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
The Tigers dropped to 24-4 on the season and 6-3 in SEC play, while the Vols improved to 21-8 on the year and 4-5 in conference play.
 
LSU returns to action Tuesday night when it faces off against Nicholls at “The Box.” The contest is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch and it can be viewed on SEC Network+. The matchup is available to listen to on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network.
 
LSU, which won two of three games over Tennessee, has won its first three SEC series since the 2013 season. The Tigers have posted series wins over No. 11 Texas, No. 3 Arkansas and No. 9 Tennessee.
 
“You tip your hat to Tennessee today; we saw another really good pitcher on the mound and their offense is explosive,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “Our players know the things we need to do better that we did not do well today. We’ll work on those and move forward.
 
Vol reliever Camden Sewell (2-0) earned the victory after pitching 2.2 innings and allowing one run on three hits. LSU starter Thatcher Hurd (2-1) was charged with the loss after tossing no innings and giving up six runs on four hits. 
 
Tennessee began the game with a six-run first inning that had all nine Vols in the lineup reach base. Before LSU was able to record the first out of the inning, Tennessee led 5-0. The Vols had extended the lead to 6-0 before the Tigers came to the plate in the bottom of the first inning.
 
The Vols increased their lead to 10-0 in the top of the second on the strength of four base hits against LSU reliever Riley Cooper.
 
LSU got one back in the second inning when first baseman Jared Jones scoring on a fielding error. The Tigers added another run in the third with an RBI single from centerfielder Dylan Crews, which scored left fielder Tre’ Morgan from second. Crews picked up his first hit of the day in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 26 games.
 
Crews posted a line of 4-for-4 with three singles, a double, and three RBI.
 
LSU shortened the margin in the fourth inning by striking for four runs. Jones began the frame with a sharply hit single to left field and right fielder Brayden Jobert reached on the Vols’ third error of the game. After two quick outs, second baseman Gavin Dugas reached via a hit-by-pitch.
 
Morgan came through with the bases juiced, lacing a double down the right-field line to score Jones and Jobert. Crews continued his impressive day at the plate with a two-RBI single to make the score 10-6.
 
Vols third baseman Zane Denton hit a two-run homer in the sixth to give UT a six-run advantage. In the seventh, Tennessee added two more runs, and LSU narrowed the gap to 14-7 in the eighth on an RBI single from White.
 
“I didn’t love today,” Johnson said, “but I would give us an ‘A’ for the first half of the season. Ours is an easy team to get behind in terms of how we play, how much they care, how invested they are. I love coaching them, and we’ve got great leadership and a great team dynamic. I’m excited for the week ahead of us.”

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi