May 3, 2026: LSU ss Steven Milan (4) throws a runner out in game #3 during NCAA Baseball action between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the LSU Tigers at the Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. Michael Bacigalupi
By Hunt Palmer
Much will be made of the dimensions of Foley Field this weekend.
Right field is laughably short by college baseball standards. It’s helped a powerful Georgia lineup lead the country in home runs. LSU will no doubt need to leave the yard at times to get out of the series with a win or two.
That said, the bases are still 90 feet apart, and the baseball is still about 9 inches in circumference. LSU needs to take care of the baseball and throw to the bases. That doesn’t change no matter how tiny the ballpark plays.
LSU’s defense has been awful this season. The Tigers are last in the SEC in fielding percentage at .965, almost 20 points worse than last season’s championship team. The positive news is that LSU has cleaned that up a little bit lately.
LSU only has two errors in its last five games, and one of those was by Steven Milam who might be the best defensive player in college baseball. Freshmen Mason Braun and Jack Ruckert have been cleaner on the right side of the infield after some early struggles. Ruckert has only been charged with one error since April 1. Braun has actually made some nice picks at first base which is a new spot for him.
When the Tigers make one error or fewer, they’re 21-12 (.656). When they make two or more? 8-9 (.470). Coincidentally, LSU needs to play .667 baseball down the stretch which is right in line with that win-loss record when LSU plays better defense.
The pitching staff can take some pressure off the defense with strikeouts. Georgia is middle-of-the-pack in putting the ball in play, seventh in the SEC.
At this point, Georgia is a better team than LSU, so the Tigers will have to play great baseball to take the series. That means limiting free bases, especially on defense.
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