By Hunt Palmer
To flip the script, LSU is welcoming baseball from Omaha.
Creighton visits LSU on Tuesday night marking the second straight season LSU has entertained an opponent from the home of the College World Series. Last season, the Omaha Mavericks played a three-game set at Alex Box Stadium just four months before LSU would use their home ballpark to practice during the CWS.
The Bluejays play their home games at Charles Schwab Field, home of LSU’s two national titles in the last three seasons.
No one in purple and gold is thinking about national titles at this point. The Tigers have dropped four of five and are searching for some answers all over the field.
SLOW STARTS
In the four losses to Northeastern, UL-Lafayette and Sacramento State, LSU has been outscored 16-0 in the first three innings. Slumping is tough enough to deal with. Add on an immediate deficit against undermanned teams, and the pressure just ratchets up.
The deficits are due to both the pitching staff and the offense starting slow. That wasn’t the case in LSU’s lone win last week when the Tigers ambushed Sacramento State 12-0 over the first three innings on Friday.
It’s imperative that LSU’s starting pitcher hang a zero in the first couple of frames to allow the offense to attempt to throw the first punch. The Tigers are 9-1 when they score first.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
LSU only committed one error over the weekend. It was a costly one, as Cade Arrambide threw into the baseline on a dropped third strike. That plated a second run on Sunday. Three pitches earlier Mason Braun just misplayed a fly ball in the field.
Outside of those two plays, LSU was pretty solid in the field. Derek Curiel made a phenomenal catch in center. Steven Milam continued his masterful play at shortstop.
Statistically, LSU has been awful on defense, but I’m not convinced it’s an awful defensive team. Arrambide has to play better. He’s got three passed balls and two errors to his name at this point. Plus, he overran a bunt in Lafayette.
It’s not perfect, but it was better over the weekend for the team as a whole. That needs to continue on Tuesday night. One way to help slumping bats is to prevent runs from the other team. It lessens the offensive pressure.
NORTH STAR
Creighton is led offensively by Ben North. He leads the Bluejays in batting average, triples, home runs, slugging and on base percentage. He’s second in steals.
He hit a pair of homers at Charles Schwab Field over the weekend against Gonzaga. LSU will have to be aware of the graduate shortstop who has hit second, third and fourth at times this season.
First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. The Tigers begin SEC play at Vanderbilt this weekend.
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