By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY
Any thought that LSU might overlook Xavier on Tuesday was removed immediately.
The Tiger offense reached base six consecutive times to open the game and scored seven times in the first frame. Three more runs came in the second, and then another seven-spot followed in the third.
LSU led 17-0 after three innings and won 18-4 in seven to set the stage for SEC play on Friday.
Jared Jones and Daniel Dickinson hit back-to-back line shot homers in the first. Tanner Reaves clobbered a grand slam in the fourth. But it wasn’t just the long ball.
The Tigers banged out 18 hits. Eight of the nine starters collected a hit. That left Steven Milam who walked three times and scored all three.
On the mound, William Schmidt got things off to a good start. He worked a scoreless first that included a strikeout.
Conner Ware’s line (0.2IP, 3H, 2ER) is concerning, but it doesn’t tell the story. Yes, his command was spotty. He missed badly with some fastballs and issued a walk. He should have recorded four outs and only got two. A pop up landed in shallow center between Tanner Reaves and Chris Stanfield. It went for a double. Then Jones failed to come in and call catcher Cade Arrambide off on a mile high pop up. It fell eight feet from home plate for a hit.
Ware wasn’t great, but he got no favors from his defense/baseball fortune. He’s still a guy LSU is going to count on. He’s just got to command his stuff a little bit better. He did all fall, and he will again.
Casan Evans came in for the seventh to get some work after sitting the weekend. He showed some rust and perhaps a small lack of focus due to the 18-2 score. He walked the first man he faced and then allowed a double to left field. After a strikeout with a good slider, he surrendered a second double to plate a pair of runs. He came back to get a pir of punchouts after that.
As expected, LSU didn’t burn any pitching for the weekend. In fact, everyone should be available for Friday.
Schmidt only threw 14 pitches. Jaden Noot fired 41 to lead the team. Ware and Mavrick Rizy stayed in the 20s.
Milam deserves some credit for some really slick glove work in the fifth. He made a pair of charging plays that were gorgeous. The second baseman-turned shortstop has only made one error in 18 games.
THE SCORECARD
- Derek Curiel: 3-for-3, 2 2Bs, RBI
- Jared Jones: 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- Daniel Dickinson: 1-for-3, HR, 2 R
- Jake Brown: 3-for-3, 3 RBI, 2R
- Tanner Reaves: 2-for-3, 2 R, 4 RBI
- LSU was 18-for-32 in the game (.583)
- LSU was 11-for-19 with runners on (.579)
- LSU was 8-for-13 with runners in scoring position (.615)
- LSU pitching after Schmidt issued seven walks in six innings
WHAT’S NEXT: LSU will open up SEC play on Friday against visiting Missouri. The SEC has lost 38 games between 16 teams. Missouri has accounted for eight of those losses. That’s 21%. The Tigers are very obviously the weakest team in the league.
Unlike last season, the open to SEC play is favorable to LSU. It will be up to the Tigers to take advantage.
First pitch from Alex Box Stadium on Friday is set for 6:30.
