LSU pitcher Zack Hess throws to an Oregon State batter during an NCAA college baseball tournament regional game in Corvallis, Ore.

Associated Press

{{tncms-inline alignment=”left” content=”<p><span>LSU at Miss. State, 6 p.m. ESPNU</span></p>” id=”e46584e8-a2d2-4f91-805e-cb6981da97df” style-type=”fact” title=”TONIGHT” type=”relcontent”}}

For all the doom and gloom around the LSU baseball program, the Tigers are one game out of the lead in the Southeastern Conference West Division, and overall conference, race.

But at some point the No. 17 Tigers (17-8, 4-2 SEC) are going to have to have to hit.

LSU’s short-handed pitching staff has hung in well after some early season struggles.

But McNeese State’s 2-0 win over LSU on Tuesday was the Tigers’ third consecutive loss, the second time in three games they’ve been shut out and, if not for right-hander Zach Hess’ masterpiece in a 1-0 victory at Georgia, it likely would be a four-game losing streak.

Bottom line: LSU has scored one or zero runs in three of its last four games.

“We’ve got a long bus ride to figure out what it’s going to take,” head coach Paul Mainieri said before the Tigers headed to Mississippi State for a key Thursday-Saturday SEC series that will be their second consecutive conference road trip.’

Mississippi State (17-8, 4-2) is ranked No. 2 in the nation and has not had trouble scoring runs; the Bulldogs lead the SEC in hitting (.323) with 35 runs in the final two games of their series win against Auburn last weekend.

LSU, on the other hand, is in a classic slump.

“It might take all five hours (of the bus trip) to figure it out, but we’re going to figure it out,” Mainieri added.

The Tigers got a head start immediately after the loss to McNeese. Mainieri did not address the team in right field following the loss, as is his custom. Instead there was what was reportedly a heated players-only meeting.

Mainieri said he had no idea what was discussed, but it pleased him that they met.

“I’m responsible for the team,” he said. “I’m the head coach, the buck stops with me. But it’s a players game. I want the players to take ownership of the game, of the team. I want them to have leadership within the ranks of the team.”

Hess, who will start tonight’s series opener and appeared to be one of the more vocal participants in the players meeting, said there was no shame in losing to McNeese.

“The frustrating thing was how we lost,” he said. “It kinda just felt like we rolled the ball out there and told them, ‘Hey, take the game,’ and that just doesn’t sit well.

“We’ve shown that we can pitch the ball,” he said. “We’ve shown that we can hit the ball. It’s time for everybody to start pulling on the same end of the rope here.”

LSU and Mississippi State are two of three teams along with Auburn a game behind both Arkansas and Texas A&M (5-1) in the West standings.

“This Mississippi State team is playing great,” Mainieri said. “They’ve renovated their ballpark, and there’s a lot of energy and enthusiasm up there.

“We’re really going to lean on our leadership within the team to get ready to go, and we’re going to compete as hard as we can.”

---

Pitching Matchups

6 p.m. Today • ESPNU

LSU, RH Zack Hess (2-1, 2.97 ERA, 33 1/3 IP, 17 BB, 36 SO) vs. MSU, LH Ethan Small (2-0, 1.75 ERA, 36 IP, 8 BB, 36 SO).

6 p.m. Friday • SECN

LSU, RH Cole Henry (1-1, 3.24 ERA, 25 IP, 9 BB, 25 SO) vs. MSU, RH J.T. Ginn (6-0, 2.58 ERA, 38 1/3 IP, 4 BB, 49 SO).

2 p.m. Saturday

LSU, RH Eric Walker (1-1, 6.04 ERA, 22 1/3 IP, 7 BB, 17 SO) vs. MSU, TBA.

LSU at Miss. State, 6 p.m. ESPNU