Slumping Tigers to host red hot McNeese

By Hunt Palmer

The nation’s longest winning streak meets LSU’s season-worst losing streak on Tuesday night.

The Tigers were swept for the first time this season over the weekend at Auburn. McNeese has won 12 in a row.

That should get LSU’s attention entering Tuesday’s game, but, truthfully, LSU hasn’t had mental lapses in the midweek thus far. The Tigers handled business at Globe Life Field against a ranked Dallas Baptist team. Overmatched lower-level teams have left with run rule losses. Even a trip to Thibodaux, where LSU didn’t score for seven innings, resulted in an LSU win thanks to some quality pitching.

The Tigers need something good to happen in this game. Three straight games of playing from behind can wear on a team mentally. The early innings will be key.

HOW ‘BOUT THEM COWBOYS

Former Tiger Justin Hill may have his best team in Lake Charles. McNeese has won 12 in a row and are off to the best start in school history at 27-5. Over the weekend, McNeese swept Incarnate Word in a road series where they trailed by six runs on Sunday.

In the midweek, the Cowboys have beaten ULL twice and Houston once, that game was played last week.

A Southland Conference team has to pile up a massive amount of wins to get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, and a win over LSU might help make a difference should McNeese fall in the conference tournament.

More so than any midweek game the Tigers play this season, this one means a ton to their opponent.

Expect a spirited effort from the Cowboys.

JONESING FOR OFFENSE

LSU hasn’t really swung the bats for five games. Over that span, Jared Jones is 3-for-23 with one extra base hit, a double. Every player is going to fight it at some point during the season. Whenever Jones snaps out of it, the Tigers will welcome that. Seven of his 11 home runs this year have come during the midweek.

LSU needs more than it got from everyone not named Chris Stanfield over the weekend. Jones is most apt to take over a game with two or three huge swings.

The breakout is coming, it’s just a matter of time.

PITCHING PLANS

Zac Cowan will not be available. Casan Evans threw 22 pitches on Sunday. He could give LSU some help in the ninth inning if a lead needs to be protected.

Expect to see Jaden Noot, William Schmidt, Mavrick Rizy, Connor Benge and Conner Ware in some sort of order. DJ Primeaux and Jacob Mayers are also available.

Schmidt was exceptional in Thibodaux. Another outing like that could be a difference maker for this team.

Though the bats have been cold for five games, there have been some pitching efforts that have been encouraging over that stretch.

Rizy threw 65 percent strikes on Friday night in a losing effort. Ware, Benge and Primeaux combined for three innings of one-hit shutout baseball on Saturday.

The offense is cold this week, but pitching depth has been a question mark all year. The staff has a challenge on its hands Tuesday with a McNeese squad that features four regulars hitting .330 or better and another with nine home runs.

First pitch Tuesday night is set for 6:30 and can be streamed on ESPN+. In Baton Rouge, the game will air on WDGL 98.1 FM, the flagship of LSU athletics.