Pearson adding punch to LSU lineup

By Hunt Palmer

For four years, Josh Pearson played whatever role he was asked.

Now, it’s his brother John handling that assignment.

LSU’s infield was crowded with options early in the season, and Pearson wasn’t in the everyday lineup. He’s played in 13 of LSU’s 23 games thus far. Last weekend at Vanderbilt, he did not start the first two games. LSU dropped them both.

“I just asked him to give us a jolt last Sunday at Vanderbilt, and he’s done that since we’ve inserted him in the lineup,” said LSU head coach Jay Johnson. “Great at bats. Sunday he was on base four times, scored three runs. Two really hard-hit balls, I don’t know what they came off the bat at tonight. Really good presence in the box. Drove in a run on Tuesday night early in the game.”

In those three starts, Pearson is 2-for-6 with a double, three walks, three runs scored and two runs driven in. For a Tiger offense that was stuck in neutral for two weeks, he’s been a welcome everyday addition. That may last a few more weeks. It may last the rest of the season. He may not be in the lineup this week at some point.

That won’t phase him just like it didn’t phase his brother.

“Especially last year with him being here, it was very useful for me,” Pearson said of Josh. “Now, he’ll text me all the time if things are iffy or whatever. He’ll text me. He’s got my back. He’s been through it before. I lean on him a lot.”

LSU has ripped the cover off the ball in the last three games. There have been lulls in all four contests. However, the Tigers have scored 30 runs combined over the 25 offensive innings. Most importantly, LSU has won all three.

That has changed the energy within the group.

“Very contagious,” Pearson said. “When guys are jumping around it just makes guys on the field 10 times better. Keep that energy rolling.”