Time for LSU to get a grip, open series at Florida

Published 3:00 pm Friday, March 25, 2022

LSU’s quest to clean up its baseball act takes to the road this weekend for a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Florida.

The Tigers (15-6, 1-2 SEC) need to get in gear at a tough conference road stop against the Gators (16-5, 2-1)

“Florida is one of the top programs in the SEC,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said. “So we’re going to do everything in our power to rise to that level.”

Johnson said he wasn’t sure of his pitching plans beyond tonight’s opener, when Blake Money (2-0, 2.86 ERA) goes against the Gators’ Hunter Barco (4-1, 1.72).

But he probably needs a long outing out of Money.

The Tigers used seven pitchers Wednesday night in a 7-6, 12-inning loss to Louisiana Tech, a frustrating 5-hour marathon in which a lot of their flaws jumped up again.

LSU pitching struck out 20 Tech hitters, but the Tigers also struck out 20 times.

And LSU also issued 12 walks and added two errors to the growing list that has the Tigers at 37 in 21 games — 14 more than the next-worst SEC teams.

Wednesday, for instance, the bullpen didn’t allow a hit from the second inning until the 10th.

LSU led 6-4 heading into the ninth, but Tech scored two runs without a hit — an opening throwing error, followed by three consecutive walks that got one run across. The tying run scored when the Tigers turned a double play while conceding the run.

The Bulldogs’ winning run in the 12th scored on bases-loaded walk.

It won’t get any easier, although the ever-optimistic Johnson. Still, he said he thinks his team can turn it around.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity this weekend,” he said.