LSU looks to stay alive against Auburn’s ace

By Hunt Palmer

One down. Four to go.

LSU survived Oklahoma late Tuesday night. Next up is Auburn, and the test won’t be easy. Butch Thompson’s team has had an excellent season to this point. The Plainsmen are 38-16 and went 17-13 in the SEC with series wins over Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M and Mississippi State.

Most importantly, their RPI is No. 3. With 15 quadrant 1 wins, no quadrant 3 or 4 losses and the best strength of schedule in the country. It’s a tight case for a top eight seed. In my opinion, Auburn doesn’t have anything to play for this week. Thompson may feel differently.

ACE INCOMING

Auburn will go with ace Jake Marciano on a day short rest. The sophomore southpaw threw six innings and 102 pitches Thursday of last week against Georgia.

After a blistering start to the season, Marciano has just been good of late. He’s allowed 16 earned runs in his last six outings. He’d allowed seven in his first nine. Seven of his 16 walks on the year have come in the last three weeks.

It sounds like Marciano will be on a limited pitch count that may be around 75 pitches on Wednesday night.

He’s not overpowering. the fastball just creeps over 90 mph. It can sit around 88, but he’s not at all afraid to challenge hitters with it.

Marciano throws a ton of strikes and commands the entire arsenal. He’s got a sweeping slider with a ton of horizontal break and a humpback curveball.

When Marciano is done, expect to see Jackson Sanders take over, and he can finish the game. The converted starter is now a long reliever in that Griffin Herring, Zac Cowan role. He got a three-inning save against Texas A&M and a four-inning save against Arkansas earlier this year. He’s got no problem upping his pitch count to 70 if the situation calls for it. The lefty reliever has 80 punchouts in 58 innings this season.

PITCHING PLANS

LSU will have to navigate this one without William Schmidt, Grant Fontenot, Gavin Guidry or Deven Sheerin. That’s daunting.

Casan Evans would be the likely starter, but how long can he go? He’s only lasted five outs in each of his last two outings since returning from the arm issue that sidelined him in Starkville.

He did throw 56 pitches at Georgia, so 65 to 70 doesn’t feel like a stretch. He’ll need to be efficient against a really good Auburn offense.

After Evans, Zac Cowan is an option. He’s had three days of rest since his 60-pitch start on Saturday. Cowan’s steady diet of strikes may play well in spacious Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Santiago Garcia, Danny Lachnemayer and Reagan Ricken are probably the next three men up. Remember, Ricken was excellent against Florida over 4.1 innings last week. He struck out five and didn’t allow a walk.

Marcos Paz is another option after a disappointing outing against Florida.

AUBURN OFFENSE

This is a solid Auburn offense. No team in the SEC struck out fewer times over 30 league games.

Auburn finished the SEC slate fifth in batting average and sixth in doubles. Bub Terrell has 15 homers on the year, and Chase Fralick has 13 to go with 15 doubles. Chris Rembert is one of the best sophomores in the nation at second base. He’s got a .349 batting average with 10 steals.

LSU is stepping up in class Wednesday night from Oklahoma to Auburn. The Tigers have not beaten an SEC team with a winning record this season. If that streak continues, the light will go out until February.