(Photo Credit: @LSUbaseball on X)
By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY: LSU’s best start of the season came 24 hours after its worst.
The Tiger offense churned out seven first inning runs en route to a 13-3 run rule victory over North Dakota State Wednesday night at Alex Box Stadium.
LSU (13-1) sent 11 men to the plate in the seven-run first. Six collected hits, one walked and one was hit by a pitch. The first five reached, capped by Steven Milam’s two-run single to plate Derek Curiel and Jared Jones.
That was more than enough for William Schmidt, LSU’s starting pitcher, who handcuffed the visiting Bison over four one-run innings. He struck out seven.
Schmidt’s outing was very positive. His stuff outweighs his execution right now. That will get it done against these lesser teams. For example, in the North Dakota State second inning, Davis Hamilton led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Then Schmidt walked Colten Becker. After a mound visit from LSU pitching coach Nate Yeskie, Schmidt struck Tyman Long out. But then he walked Alex Urlaub to load the bases with one out.
Schmidt got Luis Garcia swinging on a 3-2 pitch that was high and outside. The Bison batter helped out there. And then a wild pitch plated a run.
Without the generous second out, the second inning could have spiraled. It didn’t. And you get those benefits when you throw 94-95 with a hammer of a breaking ball. Schmidt also featured a plus changeup that got a punchout in the third.
Schmidt continues to position himself as the next viable option in the LSU weekend rotation should a spot come available. Wednesday was a step in the right direction for the freshman.
LSU’s offense roared again in the third. After a pair of walks to lead the inning off, Chris Stanfield smoked an RBI single, and Jones later blistered a line drive three-run homer just over the wall in right field. That make it 11-1.
Jones wasn’t done.
The hulking first baseman launched a second blast, this time high into the Baton Rouge night and out to right center. That made it 13-1.
Jacob Mayers worked a classic Mayers inning in the sixth, walking the bases loaded and escaping without any damage. Grant Fontenot immediately walked the leadoff man in the seventh and then hit the next man. Those were the 10th and 11th free passes issued by Tiger pitching. Both came around to score after a single and a fielders choice. But that was all the damage.
Mayers has enticing stuff, but he can’t be trusted in a high-leverage spot walking every other hitter. That’s what midweek games are for, to try to find something with depth pieces in the bullpen and lineup.
THE SCORECARD: LSU was 10-for-26 (.385) in the game.
With runners on, LSU was 8-for-15 (.533)
With running in scoring position, LSU was 5-for-7 (.714)
Jared Jones was 3-for-4 with 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 runs
Derek Curiel was 2-for-2 with 2 runs, 2 RBI and a walk.
LSU plated all four runs that got to third base with less than two out.
After a brutal defensive start on Tuesday, LSU’s defense was errorless on Wednesday
WHAT’S NEXT: LSU welcomes North Alabama in for the final conference weekend series of the year. North Alabama has lost five games in a row and will come into the weekend at 3-8 on the season with losses to Auburn and Tennessee.
