LSU getting healthy, making a move in SEC standings
Published 6:00 pm Tuesday, April 23, 2019
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LSU baseball is getting healthy again — on the field and in the standings.
The Tigers used a makeshift, patched-together lineup to get through last weekend taking two of three for a series win over Florida.
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That was without three regulars in the everyday lineup and without Zach Hess taking his turn as the leadoff starting pitcher, although he was able to pitch in relief in the final game.
None will play tonight when LSU stays home for its only midweek game this week against Lamar. But Mainieri expects centerfielder Zach Watson (groin), third baseman Chris Reid (hamstring) and catcher Brock Mathis (hand) should be ready when the Tigers continue conference play at Alabama this weekend.
After losing the first game against the Gators 16-9, which was LSU’s fourth straight loss, Tigers bats came alive to rout the Gators 13-1 and 11-2 in the final two games to take the series.
It left LSU (26-15, 11-7 SEC) in third place in the SEC West, but only a game behind Arkansas (12-6) and a half-game behind Texas A&M (12-5-1).
“This is the most important week of the year right here,” head coach Paul Mainieri said, “If we’re going to be contenders for the SEC Championship, for the SEC West championship, to be a (NCAA tournament) host, this is it. We’ve got to get the job done this week. Make no bones about that.”
More help could be on the way as reserve Gavin Dugas could be available this week for the first time since injuring his thumb in February. Dugas gives the Tigers’ lefthanded-heavy batting order a righthanded bat off the bench.
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Mainieri is also hopeful of getting utility infielder Hal Hughes back by the weekend.
Watson and Reid have been LSU’s top hitters in SEC play. Hess, who strained a groin the previous weekend, is obvioiusly ready after Mainieri said he felt fine after 2.1 scoreless innings of relief in the final game against the Gators.
But he wasn’t sure what Hess’ role will be this weekend.
Tonight against Lamar, however, will be another test run for freshman pitcher Landon Marceaux, who began the season in the weekend rotation before suffering arm soreness. He will pitch two or three innings, Mainieri said, hoping to improve on his disastrous last outing against Southern when he didn’t get out of the second inning while allowing five runs on five hits.
“I’d really like to see him get hitters out,” Mainieri said. “He had a tough time doing that last time out. It sounds simple, but that is the whole idea of the game. You’ve got to go out there and throw strikes and get hitters out.”
Meanwhile, LSU’s Cole Henry was named SEC co-freshman of the week Monday after his dominating performance in Friday’s second game against Florida.
He shared the honor with Arkansas pitcher Connor Noland after striking out 12 in just 5.1 innings while holding the Gators to one run on five hits with no walks.
It was the most strikeouts by an LSU pitcher since Alex Lange, also a freshman at the time, struck out 13 against Kentucky in 2015.
Lamar at LSU, 6:30 p.m.