By Hunt Palmer
LSU’s first four games have come down to talent. Wednesday night could come down to toughness.
Temperatures will be below 40 degrees for much of LSU’s contest with Nicholls in Thibodaux. That’s uncommon for every player on the field and will require some intestinal fortitude to overcome.
Nicholls won two of three over Northern Illinois over the weekend and dropped last night’s contest with Omaha, 5-2.
After a strong first two games offensively, Nicholls has only produced four runs in its last 17 innings. Enter an LSU staff that has only allowed three runs on the season.
The Tigers have pitched the ball exceptionally well against overmatched foes through four games. A trio of Tiger arms combined to limit Southern to two hits in seven innings on Tuesday.
LSU also clubbed 14 hits and scored 13 runs with the help of four Southern errors and seven walks.
PITCHING PLANS
LSU has options on Wednesday. In the frigid conditions, don’t expect lengthy outings from many Tigers arms. Heating up on the mound and freezing for 10 minutes in the dugout before going back out to heat back up isn’t ideal early in the season.
LSU will show off its pitching depth by running out a number of arms throughout the game.
Conner Ware and Zac Cowan won’t be available after throwing 40-plus pitches on Tuesday. Clearly Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson and Chase Shores are off limits.
The rest of the staff should be good to go.
Gavin Guidry has not seen the mound yet. He’s a good bet to get some time. Nine relievers who pitched over the weekend should be ready, as well.
Cold conditions generally limit offense and can tighten the score. We could get a look at who Jay Johnson trusts in the first close game of the season.
NO CHARITY
Johnson often says most baseball games are lost, not won. Errors, walks and hit batters can flip momentum and gift outs and runs to the opposition. Three years ago, LSU went up to Louisiana Tech in this exact spot, the first midweek game. LSU made five errors and lost an 11-6 game in freezing Ruston conditions.
The Tigers have thrown a ton of strikes and been largely error-free through four games. That has to continue on the bayou.
KARSON’S CRUISIN’
Karson Irvin has been the fire starter for Nicholls early on, and he’s done it out of the nine-hole. The Colonel right fielder is 7-for-13 with three multi-hit games. He’s driven in four and stolen a base.
Power doesn’t figure to be in play, so short swings that produce line drives will be effective. LSU need to join the weather in cooling Irvin off.
