LSU Baseball
By Hunt Palmer
For a decade after the turn of the century, Bethune Cookman was a MEAC force.
The Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament every season but one from 1999 to 2011. LSU missed the field three times in that span– 2006, 2007 and 2011. Since that time, the magic had been lost…until last season. Bethune Cookman went 37-23 last year including a 24-5 SWAC record and a conference tournament title which put them back in the field of 64.
This edition of the Wildcats looks primed to do the same. Jonathan Hernandez’s team is 22-10 overall and 10-2 in SWAC play. They own a win over South Florida who is 24-8 on the year. They were tied with Miami after six innings and dropped a 5-2 game in Coral Gables.
If LSU swings the bats the way the Tigers have the last eight games, LSU will be just fine on Tuesday night. However, Bethune Cookman isn’t going to be intimidated.
START FAST
LSU has started poorly in every single midweek game since the first one of the season against Kent State. In eight games in a row, LSU has either trailed or been in a dog fight.
Nicholls – Down 1-0 after half an inning
McNeese – Down 7-2 after four
Northeastern – Down 10-0 after three
ULL – Down 3-0 after one
Creighton – Down 4-1 after three
Grambling – Tied 1-1 after three and a half
Louisiana Tech – Down 2-0 after half an inning
Southern – Down 6-1 after two and a half
That’s a startling reality. LSU’s talent level dwarfs those teams, but the Tigers can’t get out of the starting blocks. Some of it has been pitching. Some of it has been defense. Some of it has been the bats. Jay Johnson has started Gavin Guidry, Jaden Noot and Reagan Ricken. None of it has really helped.
This weekend felt like an emotional jolt, but so did last Sunday against Kentucky. LSU followed that up two days later by getting punched in the mouth by Southern who Bethune Cookman took two games off of over the weekend.
CATCHING CONUNDRUM
Omar Serna had to come out on Sunday after the collision at the plate on the sacrifice fly Jake Brown wildly fired in from right field. Eddie Yamin came in to catch so LSU could retain the designated hitter spot where Cade Arrambide was making history.
The decision behind this dish is a big one tonight because Bethune Cookman has 83 steals on the season which is 15th nationally and just seven off Kentucky’s tally which leads the SEC.
I’d be a little surprised if Serna cracked the lineup Tuesday night after that collision. Truthfully, I haven’t really seen enough of Yamin to know how well he catches and throws. Arrambide’s arm is exceptional, but he has struggled to corral it, and his blocking hasn’t been very good.
Catching defense will be at a premium on Tuesday night. Johnson’s decision with the lineup will be telling.
STEERIN’ TO SHEERIN
If the game is tight in the late innings, Deven Sheerin will be ready. He threw 41 pitches on Friday and has had three days off.
How LSU gets to Sheerin remains to be seen.
Zac Cowan and Gavin Guidry figure to be down on Tuesday night. Cowan threw 67 pitches on Sunday, and Guidry followed with 55. Grant Fontenot started the game and went 39. They’re all on a single day’s rest.
If LSU has seven innings to cover without those three, Casan Evans and William Schmidt, the proven and consistent options to eat outs are few and far between.
The likeliest of the candidates to try to get LSU off to a decent start are Jaden Noot and Cooper Williams, but both guys sport ERAs over 7.80 to this point. Connor Benge hasn’t walked anyone yet this year in very limited time. Maybe he takes the first inning?
Ricken’s issue has been control. He’s walked nine and hit four in 11.1 innings. Mavirick Rizy is a veteran at this point, but he’s walked 12 and hit five in 17 innings. That’s a free pass per inning, and his 6-foot-9 frame is not ideal for holding runners on against a team that wants to run.
There isn’t a clear option here. The option is for LSU’s offense to score 14 runs and put the game to bed.
First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. from Alex Box Stadium. Baton Rouge listeners can find the game on Eagle 98.1 FM, the Flagship Home of LSU Athletics.
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