7th Inning Collapse Dooms LSU vs Bethune-Cookman
David Billiot Jr • April 9, 2026
Bethune-Cookman - 10, LSU - 7
Tuesday Night Recap
Just when things seemed to be getting back on the right track for LSU, a Tuesday night to the inferior Bethune-Cookman Wildcats caused the Tigers to start wobbling, yet again. It was a solid, back and forth baseball game between the teams for the first 6 innings of the game, but a 7th inning meltdown on both sides of the ball would lead to yet another midweek loss. The collapse started with pitching, which outside of a few arms, struggled for most of the night. Earlier in the game, it was the Wildcats simply hitting the ball around Alex Box, but towards the end, the free passes started to pile up for the Tigers. Although a freshman closed out the night strong, it was too little, too late.
The offense missed plenty of opportunities, leaving 15 runners on base on Tuesday night. Hot off the heels of a 16-run, 19-hit performance that included 7 homeruns against Tennessee on Sunday, LSU’s offense fell right back in to their routine of not making the most of opportunities. That was never more apparent than the 7th inning. After a 5-run inning gave Bethune-Cookman a 10-6 lead, the Tigers immediately loaded the bases with no one out and threatened to keep the blow for blow battle going. With the top of the lineup coming to the plate with the chance to do some serious damage, Steven Milam, Jake Brown, and John Pearson struck out back to back to back to take all of the air out of another potential comeback.
Pitching
Marcos Paz got the start on the mound and from the looks of the 1st inning, seemed on his way to the best outing of his freshman campaign. He went 3-up, 3-down on just 5 pitches and the Tigers were coming up to bat before everyone had a chance to get settled in their seats. But, that all changed in the 2nd when the Wildcats singled three straight times to put their first run on the board. It was three hard hits, too. Some of Paz’s issues this year have revolved around throwing strikes, but that wasn’t the case. Bethune-Cookman simply hit him and for that, they deserve credit.
- Final line: 1.0 IP / 3 hits / 2 runs / 0 Ks / 0 BBs / 15 pitches (9 strikes, 60%)
Connor Benge was first out of the bullpen on the heels of a few solid outings recently. As he often does, he was put in to try and extinguish the fire. With runners on 1st and 3rd and no outs, Benge quickly received some defensive help from Knoxville hero Cade Arrambide, who gunned down the runner from 1st base trying to steal. An RBI single would bring the runner home from 3rd, tying the score at 2-2. A strikeout got Benge close to escaping the inning, but a groundball right back to him on the mound glanced off of his glove and although he had plenty enough time to recover and make the throw, he got panicky and rushed it and was able to make the play that would have ended the inning. That’s where Jay Johnson would come out to make another pitching change, but despite the fumble at the end, Benge was pretty solid.
- Final line: 0.2 IP / 2 hits / 1 run / 1 K / 0 BBs / 10 pitches (7 strikes, 70%)
Cooper Williams entered for a left on left matchup, but promptly allowed a double that would give the Wildcats their first lead at 3-2. LSU finally got out of the inning with a groundout to Steven Milam. Williams did not return.
- Final line: 0.1 IP / 1 hit / 0 runs / 0 Ks / 0 BBs / 6 pitches (5 strikes, 83%)
To start the 3rd inning, Zion Theophilus took the mound. The freshman was pretty good, quickly recording a 1-2-3 frame. He returned for the 4th and despite recording his second strikeout, followed by a groundout back to the mound, a 2-out solo homerun put the only blemish on his line. Theophilus immediately bounced back to record his third strikeout to end his outing.
- Final line: 2.0 IP / 1 hit / 1 run / 3 Ks / 0 BBs / 32 pitches (21 strikes, 66%)
Santiago Garcia entered to start the 5th and was very good outside of a few pitches. He hit the first batter of the inning and then made an errant throw on a pickoff that allowed the runner to move to 2nd base. He’d get a strikeout, but a 1-out double would allow Bethune-Cookman to re-tie the game at 5-5. The lefty then struck out the next two hitters to end the inning. Garcia’s 6th inning was by far his best, though. After drawing a groundout to Milam to start it off, he struck out the final two Wildcats for the second straight frame. He returned for the 7th, but that’s where it appeared as if fatigue became a factor. Despite a first batter pop out, a triple off of the leftfield wall, followed by a single would make the score 6-6 and end his night. His line reads worse than what he actually threw, but maybe he stayed in just a little too long.
- Final line: 2.1 IP / 3 hits / 3 runs / 5 Ks / 0 BBs / 46 pitches (29 strikes, 63%)
Danny Lachenmayer has recently become a lefty on lefty matchup specialist and had been doing a very good job of executing going back to the Kentucky series. He did so on Friday night against Tennessee, as well. But after his Sunday appearance vs the Vols ended after just 2 pitches when he hit his batter, this one only lasted 1 pitch. Again, he hit the batter and that was all for Lachenmayer.
- Final line: 0.0 IP / 0 hits / 0 runs / 0 Ks / 0 BBs / 1 HBP (1 pitch)
With runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out in the 7th, Mavrick Rizy entered and this is when things started to go terribly wrong for the Tigers. After hitting his first batter while ahead in the count 1-2, the big sophomore recorded a flyout to shallow right field where Jake Brown was able to get the ball to home plate quickly and prevent any potential sacrifice fly. Now just an out away from going to the bottom of the 7th in a tied game, Rizy walked the next two hitters to bring in 2 runs for Bethune-Cookman and make it an 8-6 game, which would end his night. Rizy has been very underwhelming recently, which is tough for LSU, considering he’s the guy Jay likes to run out there the most. He led the team in appearances in 2025 and currently leads them in appearances this season, so he will need to sharpen up soon.
- Final line: 0.1 IP / 0 hits / 2 runs / 0 Ks / 2 BBs / 1 HBP / 19 pitches (8 strikes, 42%)
Dax Dathe has been seldom-used the past few weeks, but came in with a huge opportunity to prevent further damage. He only threw one pitch and did his job, inducing a ground ball to Seth Dardar at 2nd base, but a tough hop led an E-4 and two more runs scored to make it 10-6. Jay would then turn to his final pitcher of the night.
- Final line: 0.0 IP / 0 hits / 0 runs / 0 Ks / 0 BBs / 1 pitch (1 strike)
Reagan Ricken was pitcher #9 of the night and the final one that would step on the mound. With 2 outs and runners on 1st and 3rd, the freshman recorded a strikeout looking to end the disaster of an inning for the Tigers. Two quick outs would kick off the 8th, but he found himself in a tad of trouble after hitting a batter and then giving up an infield single on a ball that John Pearson was unable to get to. That didn’t phase Ricken, though, as he recorded a groundout to Milam to prevent the LSU deficit from growing. A leadoff single would start the 9th, followed by a sacrifice bunt to move the potential insurance run to 2nd base with just 1 out. Another strikeout looking and a groundout to new second baseman Tanner Reaves would end the inning and get LSU back to the dugout needing 4 runs to extend the game.
- Final line: 2.1 IP / 2 hits / 0 runs / 2 Ks / 0 BBs / 1 HBP / 38 pitches (26 strikes, 64%)
Hitting
Cade Arrambide stayed hot on Tuesday night, following his legendary 4 homerun performance on Sunday. Although all three of his hits stayed in the park, one came about a foot away from flying over the wall in dead center, resulting in a double. Arrambide finished 3-5 with an RBI, but even one of his outs was a hard line drive right at the third baseman. He caught on Tuesday night, so it will be interesting to see how Jay Johnson chooses to deploy Arrambide this weekend, assuming Omar Serna is healthy enough to return, which is expected.
After a 7-14 weekend in Knoxville, Derek Curiel recorded his fourth straight multi-hit performance by going 3-6. He drove in 2 RBI and also scored once. He came to the plate with LSU having drawn closer at 10-7, representing the tying run with 2 outs in the 9th. He hit another ball hard on the ground and seemed to have yet another hit and extend the game, but Bethune-Cookman had him shifted up the middle and the shortstop was in perfect position to make the play and prevent any comeback. Curiel has looked like the Freshman of the Year that he was in 2025, now taking the team lead in batting average with Jake Brown slowly coming back down to Earth.
Speaking of Jake Brown, he bounced back from a subpar weekend by hitting his 13th homerun of the season on Tuesday night. He finished 2-4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored, while also drawing 2 walks.
Following a fantastic performance when desperately needed on Sunday, Eddie Yamin earned a much-deserved start on Tuesday night. He continued to do what he does best and that is get on base…a lot. Yamin finished 1-2 with a run scored, but also walked and was hit twice, on his way to a .800 on base percentage vs the Wildcats.
Mason Braun made his first start of the season at 1st base and held his own. His only blemish was allowing Garcia’s pickoff attempt to sneak by him, but played well aside from that. At the plate, Braun went 1-3 and scored a run, but also reached base two other times with a walk and hit by pitch.
Up Next
LSU fell to 22-12 with Tuesday’s loss, marking their fifth quadrant 4 RPI loss of the season. For those that don’t follow that metric, that’s not good for their resume. It was also their fourth midweek loss of the season and we are just reaching the halfway point of conference play. The Tigers will now look to bounce back over the weekend as they travel to Oxford for a series against Ole Miss. Game 1 will start on Friday with a 6:30 first pitch. Games 2 and 3 will follow with first pitches of 4 pm and 1:30 pm central on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Ole Miss enters one game better with an overall record of 23-11, but one game behind LSU in SEC standings with a record of 5-7.
Follow me on X for much more @DCBilliotJr
A quick share helps us a lot!
LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.