(Photo by LSU Athletics)
By Hunt Palmer
Regional play is less than 24 hours away, and LSU remains a prohibitive favorite to advance to next weekend’s Super Regionals.
The main reason for that is a red hot pitching staff and a lineup full of future pros. And Alex Box Stadium doesn’t hurt.
Look, if Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson get lit up this weekend, LSU is in trouble. To that point, that hasn’t happened to either in well over a month. So, while their performance is certainly vital to LSU’s moving on, I’d consider more questionable pieces of LSU team “keys” to the weekend.
LSU has played consistently this year. That doesn’t mean every player on the roster has been consistent for 57 games. Every season come with ups and downs unless you’re Dylan Crews or Paul Skenes.
I’ve identified three players who need to be big this weekend for the Tigers to continue on The Road to Omaha.
Derek Curiel, OF
The precocious freshman roared onto the college baseball scene this spring. He reached base in his first 43 games and responded to that streak snapping by collecting five hits in LSU series-clinching win over Tennessee.
However, he’s hit that proverbial freshman wall. He may be tired. The book may be out on him. He may just be in a slump. Either way, he’s 8-for-46 (.174) over the last 11 games.
Curiel is still going to be in the leadoff spot on Friday. The reason that makes him so important is that Jared Jones is hitting right behind him. Jones feasts on mediocre pitching and is going to hit a home run or two or three this weekend. LSU needs Curiel on base when the big bopper comes up.
Zac Cowan, RP
Cowan’s emergence this year was sensational to watch. He transitioned seamlessly from Wofford ace to Tiger closer. LSU won 15 of the first 16 games he pitched in. The Tigers have now lost three of his last four appearances–two in College Station and one in Columbia, S.C.
In those three outings, Cowan has been dinged for two home runs and three triples over 2.2 innings. In his other 42.2 innings of work, he’s yielded just one homer, six doubles and a triple. Five of the 13 extra base hits Cowan has given up have come in just those three games
LSU is unlikely to run away with three wins this weekend. That doesn’t happen often in a regional, and Jay Johnson won’t hesitate to go to Cowan when things get tight late. He has to slam the door.
Jake Brown, OF
Brown has largely been used in a platoon role this year with Josh Pearson in right field. He’s seen a ton of right-handed pitchers and crushed them. On the year, Brown is hitting .319 with seven homers, but he’s only started 38 games.
Good news for Brown. This regional is loaded with right-handed pitching. The Little Rock ace, Jackson Wells, is right handed. Rhode Island’s lone left-handed starter is pitching Friday night against Dallas Baptist, and the three best DBU arms are right-handed.
Brown should be a mainstay in the lineup this weekend, and the Tigers need him to do damage.
