LSU takes its act on road to Starkville, Cowbells might clear out Tigers’ cobwebs

Published 1:16 pm Friday, April 8, 2022

Call it the “Animal House” approach to a little adversity.

Things weren’t going so well for LSU at home wallowing in one of college baseball’s best environments, where the Tigers have lost their first two Southeastern Conference series in Alex Box Stadium.

So, cue up John Belushi for …

Road Trip!

LSU (20-9, 4-5 SEC) has had some memorable forays into Mississippi State’s raucous Dudy Noble Field, the noted pickup truck haven with homemade luxury boxes beyond the outfield and the infamous cowbells most everywhere.

It’s the two teams that were way ahead of the SEC curve in taking baseball semi-football serious in an It Just Means More sort of way.

But this will be the first time the Tigers have ventured into the Dudy Noble Field to face a defending national champion Bulldogs team.

“And they’re plenty good enough to beat anybody in the country and go back to Omaha,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said. “We’re going to have to play our best to be successful. They have a great facility and a tremendous environment. We’re looking forward to getting in there and competing.”

The Bulldogs (18-12, 4-5) got off to a ragged start in defense of the CWS title that had eluded the proud program for so long.

But it’s a key weekend when the logjam in the SEC West standings — LSU and State are among five teams tied for third in the West Division — could start shaking out with a true contender or two in the quest to chase down division-leading Arkansas (7-2).

“Good players,” Johnson said. “No shortage of talent on that team. They typically play great at home. It’s a great environment.”

LSU had best get used to it. It’s the first of consecutive SEC weekends on the road and it could get even tougher next week with a trip to Arkansas.

“I don’t think for our team, given the nature and make up of our players, it is neccessarily a bad thing,” Johnson said. “We did show that the last time we were on the road.”

While winning one of three in each of their conference home series, on their lone road series the Tigers came back from a Friday night loss at Florida to beat the Gators the next two and claim that series.

“Right now we have to focus on continual improvement,” Johnson said. “Put yourself in position in those games and that improvement helps you get over the top.”

As has been his custom, Johnson has not announced a pitching rotation for the weekend, but it would be a surprise if he didn’t go with Blake Money (2-2, 4.70 ERA) tonight, followed by Ma’Khail Hilliard (3-0, 4.34) on Saturday and freshman Samuel Dutto (1.62, 0-1) on Sunday.

CALL UP: The Major League Baseball season is opening with eight former Tigers on big league rosters.

The former Tigers include infielder D.J. LeMahieu (New York Yankees), infielder Alex Bregman (Houston Astros), pitcher Aaron Nola (Philadelphia Phillies), pitcher Kevin Gausman (Toronto Blue Jays), catcher Austin Nola (San Diego Padres), pitcher Will Harris (Washington Nationals), outfielder Jake Fraley (Cincinnati Reds) and pitcher Alex Lange (Detroit Tigers).