LSU Baseball
By Hunt Palmer
Adversity showed up early for LSU in 2026.
In a 56-game season, adversity is inevitable. Leaving Jacksonville unbeaten in eight games, this Tiger team looked as good as any in the country. They’ve dropped three of the next six and been outscored 30-29 over the stretch.
Statistically, there is plenty to work on. LSU is averaging 4.8 runs per game over that stretch which includes a late-game outburst by the reserves after falling behind Northeastern 13-2. LSU has committed seven errors in its last two games and has issued free bases at an alarming rate with walks and wild pitches.
Asked where the priority in improvement laid, head coach Jay Johnson pointed to two things.
“We’ve got to score more runs,” he said. “We want to score more runs. I’m going to keep it simple. And then we have to stay out of the big inning. That is going to be the biggest predictor in winning and losing. And then those are usually created by free bases. We’re not getting enough of those on offense right now. So, we need to look at our hallmark and our plate discipline and our approach to create those. And we’ve created a bunch of them in our time here. And then you suppress big innings by not giving them that.”
Louisiana-Lafayette hung a pair of three-spots on Wednesday night. Northeastern scored four in the second and six in the third on Monday. LSU committed six errors in those four innings to contribute to the crooked numbers.
Some of those errors are likely not long-term problems. John Pearson made a couple of misplays at first base on Monday. He won’t play there much. Three of the seven are pickoffs/throws from the pitchers (Cooper Williams, Gavin Guidry and Conner Benge).
Offensively, it’s some of LSU’s expected key contributors that are fighting things in a big way.
Cade Arrambide: 1-for-12, 5 K
Seth Dardar: 1-for-16, 4 K
Zach Yorke: 2-for-22, 7 K
Tanner Reaves: 2-for-16, 6 K
“I’m really going to go hands-on on the hitting thing probably more than I have in my time at LSU, even though it’s my baby, next level to help some of these guys out because I believe we have good players that can play better offensive baseball than they are,” Johnson said. “I spent more time on this pitching staff leading into the season because I wanted to try to get the pieces lined up….Offensively, we need to help make those pitching decisions a little easier by helping them out.”
On the positive side, Derek Curiel got three hits on Wednesday. Jake Brown singled hard to right field and flew out to the warning track at spacious Tigue Moore Field another time. Steven Milam hit two screamers that turned into three outs. Some of LSU’s veterans took a step forward in a losing effort.
Though it’s only six games in a 56-game schedule, it’s jarring for a program that has won two of the last three national titles to look so outclassed by Northeastern and ULL in back-to-back games. The ruts often feel more palatable against the upper tier of the SEC.
LSU hasn’t gotten to that point yet, but lessons are being learned according to Johnson.
“We’ve done a really good job for four years and eight games into this of being able to learn these things while we’re winning them,” Johnson said. “A little bit a speed bump, and I’ll use that to make this team better.”
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