Interview with Former LSU Tiger and current Pro Hooper Keith Hornsby

Erik Trosclair • May 10, 2024

Lets get into it!

I was able to talk with former LSU Tiger and current Professional Hooper Keith Hornsby.


Take us back to Hampton Roads Academy and THE Oak Hill Academy. Talk to us about your high school career and your recruitment.


Keith: My high school career started off fairly slow. I was very late to grow, so even after repeating 8th grade, (for reasons other than sports that justify it, not just for sport), I still looked young for my current grade despite being older. Hampton Roads Academy had a solid high school program in the East Virginia Tidewater area. Nothing special, but the league produced Division 1 talent every year. I started to finally grow my Sophomore year and my luck started to change. Despite a slow start, I caught an amazing stride the last half of the season and ended up earning First Team All-Conference. This also earned me my first tattoo haha from me winning a bet with my dad before that season that I'd make All-Conference. He didn't really think I could do it, but I did, so he was true to his word. I received my first D1 offer at the end of that year from ...... UNC Asheville!!!!

I went in the spring to try out at Oak Hill. I certainly wasn't a prospect they'd outwardly recruit, but I'd been going to their summer camps my whole life and they were aware I had some talent.

That particular try out, I just happened to play on another level. I had an incredible day, which resulted in me being offered a spot on the team for the next two years. That was one of the best days of my life!!! I'll never forget it! I was in disbelief for the oncoming months, and of course, I accepted! The only problem, was that once word got out that I was going to THE Oak Hill, there was a thought in the air that my famous Dad paid for me to be on the team. Looking back at how I really looked then (despite having a fresh shoulder tattoo), I can't say I blame them. Oak Hill was something different entirely. I was a fringe D1 prospect at the time. People didn't understand that I wouldn't be one of their scholarship guys... as I would pay full tuition, but still... I was recruited there to play and get better!

There is no simple way to sum up my Oak Hill Academy experience. It was absolutely iconic for me. I'll always rep Oak Hill with tremendous pride. Even now while the landscape has undoubtedly changed, I still think there is no program like the Hill.


You got to UNC-Asheville, you see major minutes right away, and average 15 PPG & 92.5% from the free throw line in your Sophomore year. Tell us about your time as a Bulldog.


Keith: I committed to Asheville shortly after my junior season at Oak Hill. You see... there is a problem with being at Oak Hill if you're not a high major talent. Mostly just the Kansas, Duke, Kentuckys, LSUs, and other high level programs come to recruit. I wasn't at that level then, I wasn't supposed to be. I still looked like a baby faced kid. Upon entry, I failed the "look test" from any of these programs, and that's how it is.

I had a strong Senior season at Oak Hill. I started almost every game and ended up second all-time in 3 pt % for a single season at 50.4%. Quinn Cook was my point guard that year, and he made my life easy many times.

....but my arrival at Asheville... I learned quite a lot. I struggled my Freshman year. I averaged 4 PPG, but it was okay because I was on an incredible team with some serious upper class talent. We won the Big South my Freshman year and ended up controversially losing to Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament. We should've been the first 16 seed to beat a 1.

I was a tad delusional coming in. I thought because I was at Oak Hill, I'd come in to this low major Division 1 and dominate! That theory was squashed quickly, and I realize that Division 1 college ball is just different. Especially at the guard level, there is talent everywhere.

My Sophomore year was different. Most of the seniors left and I got more of a chance. I worked relentlessly over the summer to come in as a different player.

I had some big games against high major schools (23 vs. NC State, 26 vs. Ohio State) and established myself as one of the better guards in the Big South league that season. The future was looking bright at Asheville. I never had plans to transfer even after my coach resigned about a month after the season. There was no real portal then lol at least no of the same style.

Asheville was a wonderful town. It has a nice bohemian vibe. You can describe it as sort of artistic oasis in Western NC. I liked playing there, but when you have some of the big dogs sniffing around for you, you start to do some new dreaming yourself. I finally figured I had what it took at this point to compete at the high major NCAA level, especially with a sit out redshirt year to grow physically and gather comfort within the systems of the program. We would see soon enough.


In late 2013 you transfer over to LSU, talk to us about your transfer experience, and why LSU? In 2014-2015 you hit the ground running for the Tigers, averaging double digit points. Talk to us about your time with the Tigers.


Keith: After having sat out an entire season, that was difficult. There are times during portions of the season when you're not involved in practices at all because you're not eligible and it makes sense but still it's tough to stay motivated. But I didn't let it deter me. I worked incredibly hard that year and also I established myself in the practices as a serious player especially on scout team. I would normally play the opposing team's best guard, and that year I would be playing Marshall Henderson from Ole Miss or a player like that and have fun. But then when I started my Junior year, I didn't start off playing that well, I was nervous, it was different suiting up for LSU in the PMac the stakes were higher, I'm not going to lie it took me a little while to get comfortable. Also, having sat out a year, you lose a certain comfort and sharpeness for playing official games. That year was probably my best overall year, just because my Senior year was marred with injury, it just has that particular stain on it just from how we finished. My Junior year was like my establishing year where I established myself as a serious player who could probably play professionally as well, and that instantly became my goal that Junior season. Before at Asheville, I never had the privilege of looking too far ahead like a lot of big time prospects do who are somewhat guaranteed a basketball career, but I wasn't I was just trying to succeed at the level I was currently at, and that carried over to my pro life.

The last thing I'll say about LSU or playing for LSU is that because it was such an amazing experience for me, I was just incredibly thankful for the staff and the school, for being part of such a brand like LSU. I had tremendous pride representing it, and I am not even from Louisiana. I can't imagine what it would be like if I grew up in Louisiana. Still, I was never recruited like that in high school. The fact that I played my first two years of college at a smaller Division 1, I really appreciated everything LSU had to offer. Everyone always looks back at my playing time at LSU and comments on my effort, how hard I played, and that was really not even a question for me, I felt like I would be doing myself and the school a disservice if I didn't give it anything but my 100% because every time I wore that uniform I just had such pride. I wanted to fight for the school, I cared about the school so much.


Now let's move onto your professional career. Talk to us about your time in the G League.


Keith: I had a crazy experience in the G League, some highs and definitely some lows. Some doses of reality I had in the G League. I started off my pro career with the Mavericks in training camp, so that alone was one of the best experiences of my life. Those two months were unreal. Being in a locker room with Dirk Nowitzki, practicing everyday, going against NBA players, living in that NBA environment. But it was delusional for me, it gave me a false sense of place for where I was really at as a player and how the G League would be for me. My first year was disastrous. I witnessed the business side of the NBA/G League first hand. Coming from college, now I'm competing with real pros 28, 29, 30 year old guys who are fringe NBA guys or have had huge success overseas on the cusp of making it to The League, them or, some of the best college prospects who aren't quite in The League. Talent wise it is the second best league in the world for sure. My first year was eye opening for me. I also changed my shot, everyone remembers my shot at LSU for being a little wonky. If I was going to shoot the three ball consistently on the NBA line, I had to simply my shot. That first year was kind of an adjustment period. I was kind of tabbed as a non shooter. In typical fashion I worked and worked and worked and worked. My second season was definitely better even though I had a shoulder injury that kept me out some time. To be honest, I didn't want to play in the G League that long, every summer I wanted to go to Europe because I was sick of the politics of the G League, it has some pros being in the states. I figure my market was overseas, and that is where my game belonged. Going into my third season, after another failed summer of European recruitment, it was going to be my last season playing because it was nightmarish for me going back to the Legends for a third season, but it just so happens that year happened to be my best year. My shot had clicked at that point, and I led the entire G League in 3 point percentage that year at 49%. I had the best year of my career, and I'm like okay well I'm done with the G League for sure, but now its time to go overseas. I had made an agency switch, which is very necessary. Then it was tough for me to go to Europe even after that. Europe does not respect the G League, especially if you have not been to Europe before. First of all, you are not going to get paid much your first year, unless you are some high prospect with some NBA time. It is rare that you get a great European job your first year.


In 2019 you make a transition into overseas basketball, what was that transition like? What is the main difference between basketball in the States and overseas, if any?


Keith: After another terrible summer of just kind of getting looked over, just hoping for a chance at an appropriate level that I did think I deserved, I landed in Poland. The first two weeks there were very eye opening. I came alone, my wife came a little bit later. You basically fly there, jet lagged, you get dropped off, the team greets you, and they give an apartment, they give you your car and say " Good luck, practice is at 6.". Then you are on your own. I was in this town called ToruĊ„, which ended up being a great town that we ended up enjoying, but I'm having to go to the grocery store where everything is completely foreign. I didn't even know how to cook at the time. The first few nights I was like what the heck have I done. But as I learned, the more time you spend somewhere, gradually it becomes comfortable. Basketball wise, I made an instant impact on the European scene. I was lucky enough that my team qualified for the Basketball Champions League, which is a European wide league, which is great proving grounds for a first year player like myself. I had a big time year. I thank the G League experience for that because I played against such high level players the last three years. For one of the first time, I was given a major role. Despite some learning curve, I was an instant hit. Every year the contracts kept getting better, I kept getting better, my game kept developing, and I became an overseas player very quickly. I went to different countries, went to Germany next, went to Paris the next two years for different teams, I played for the Metropolitans, the same team Victor Wembanyama played for. That is where I had my first child. My wife, it was still Covid times, giving birth alone basically in a place with not much English. It was unheard of. She has been incredible! This year, I went to great team in Lithuania, Rytas. It didn't exactly work out. European basketball in it's entirety is more similar to college than it is NBA. I really enjoy the spirit of it.


You signed with Surne Bilbao Basket of Liga ACB this season, how is your current season going?


Keith: I end up in the best league in Europe, ACB, just a dream. Now I am finishing my season in Spain, year 8. I had always wanted to play in Spain. The league of ACB it is the best country league in Europe, I am playing against Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Its a different level, and the German league and the French league that I played in are also high on the totem pole in Europe, but ACB is no doubt the best. It is extremely hard to get to, to play on an ACB team because they only accept two Americans per team. The fact that this team, Bilbao Basket its a middle level team in the league, took a chance on me, I am tremendously thankful. It is almost like I would have the sense of pride that I had at LSU again. Playing in the ACB is similar, not since I have left LSU have felt like I've played in an environment sometime that rivaled the SEC, and here in the ACB that is the closest I have felt to that. Don't get me wrong, the French league I was in it is a great league too, just the venues are a bit smaller. My arena here is a 10,000 seater, and we average 8.5 thousand a night, which in Europe is big. I am very thankful to have this opportunity. It is the first time I switch teams in the middle of a season, I've always played for the same team my entire career. That was for the best, and hopefully I have a great last two games.


What is it like having a Grammy Award winner as a Dad?


Keith: The question that I was always get, my Dad. For most of my childhood I didn't even realize that he was famous. He was just my Dad. My life was all I knew, me and my twin brother's. It was normal, and you know you live and you learn. Once I got to my teens I could start to grasp the gravity/magnitude of his career. I was lucky and blessed to do some really cool things throughout my childhood from his contacts that he had, some amazing sport amazing sport experience, and just in general, taking some amazing trips. Looking back now I am completely thankful! Even then I don't think I really took it for granted, but I knew it was cool stuff, but they say youth is wasted on the young, you are just kind of going through the motions, living. My Dad is still working, he is actually flying out to Bilbao where I'm at now in Spain. He will arrive tomorrow to see the last games of my season. It is pretty cool that he is still playing, still working. He has always been a motivator for me because I have always seen first hand his own work ethic, and the joy he gets out of working on his craft, and witnessing the strides that are made from his work. He has been a huge figure in my life for basketball as well, just based off of that base work ethic and other advice as well.


Including yourself, pick 4 other players to fill out your dream starting 5 to play with.


Keith: My All Star Five lol


PG: Braydon Hobbs

SG: Keith Hornsby

SF: Lebron James

PF: Miralem Halilovic

C: Nikola Jokic


Hobbs and Halilovic were some of my favorite teammates over here.


Plug your social media handles, tell everyone where they can follow you!


IG: khornz04

Twitter: KHornsby4


Follow me on X (the artist formerly known as Twitter): @eazytro

A quick share helps us a lot!

Vanderbilt - 11, LSU - 3

By David Billiot Jr • March 15, 2026
The big question following LSU’s heartbreaking loss on Friday night was how they would respond. Game 1 was a rollercoaster of emotions, starting with the Tigers scoring first, giving up the lead, Jake Brown crushing a homerun to retake the lead, then the pitching staff collapsing to fall behind 10-4, followed by 8 unanswered runs by LSU, only to be walked off in the 9th inning while being just an out of securing the dramatic comeback victory. Having that happen will test a team mentally under normal circumstances, but considering the timing, it was an even bigger challenge. It happened on the road, in the first game of SEC play, and on the heels of a pretty bad multi-week stretch for the Tigers. LSU was going to need a quick start on Saturday night to regain momentum, but Vanderbilt beat them to it by scoring first while Wyatt Nadeau carved up Jay Johnson’s lineup the first time through the order. The Tigers answered back to tie the game, but as Cooper Moore battled through the early innings, he was also playing with fire. He finally got burned in the 5th inning and things went downhill in a hurry for LSU. Before you knew it, they were down 10-1 and, again, in deep trouble. What was most concerning was Saturday’s results seemed to indicate that what we watched transpire on Friday had more to do with the Commodores choking, rather than the Tigers storming back on their own merit. LSU would go down quietly this time, dropping their first series of conference play. Pitching Cooper Moore entered Saturday coming off of his worst start of the season thus far. It wasn’t bad last week, but it was a far cry from his first three. He looked good early against Vanderbilt, breezing 1-2-3 through the 1st inning. Despite getting in to early trouble in the 2nd, Moore battled out of a 2nd and 3rd with 0 outs situation by only allowing 1 run. That was a massive win in the moment. The leadoff hitter got on base in the 3rd, but, again, he fought through it and didn’t allow the baserunner past 2nd base. We saw more of the same in the 4th, as the inning started with an infield hit, a single, then the chopper that bounced high over Zach Yorke’s head and rolled down the 1st baseline to give Vanderbilt a 2-1 and, once again, put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 0 outs. Moore struck out Ryker Waite, who came in to the series with a .560 on base percentage. Then, thanks to the magician that LSU has playing shortstop, a double play ended yet another big threat. Korbin Reynolds hit a laser right at Steven Milam, who was playing on the grass with the infield in. The ball go on to Milam so quickly, he had to fall backwards to catch it, but his impeccable reaction time somehow allowed him to snag the ball, fall to his butt, and toss it Trent Caraway at 3rd base. Unfortunately for Moore, the trouble would catch up to him in the 5th, though. A four pitch walk to the Commodores 9-hole hitter was the omen of bad things to come, as that was followed with a perfect sacrifice bunt attempt that no one fielded as they hoped it would roll foul, and then another single loaded the bases with 0 outs and Moore’s night was over. The first inning was the only inning that he was able to pitch from the windup, as the leadoff hitter was on base for the next four innings. Despite the talent of starting pitchers, that will forever be tough to overcome, especially against good teams. Final line: 4.0 IP / 7 hits / 5 runs / 4 Ks / 2 BBs / 79 pitches (48 strikes, 61%) Ethan Plog entered in an impossible situation and promptly got he ball he was hoping for. A high chopper ground ball made Yorke leave his feet, but he snagged it and fired home for the force out attempt. Unfortunately, the throw was poor and Omar Serna was unable to go down and get it, scoring a run and the bases remained loaded with no outs. Plog would then walk a hitter and give up a sacrifice fly, pushing Vanderbilt’s lead to 5-1. Chris Maldonado then stepped to the plate to pinch hit and blasted a 3 run homerun over Derek Curiel’s leaping attempt in dead center and the Commodores had blowing things open with 6 run 5th inning. Plog has been fantastic, but that’s where his first SEC appearance would come to an end. Final line: .1 IP / 1 hit / 3 runs / 0 K / 2 BBs Freshman Zion Theophilus was called upon to try and finish off the disaster of an inning for LSU pitching and he did just that, recording a strikeout and a flyout to end the 5th. Back for the 6th, he recorded the leadoff hitter for the first time since the 1st inning, but was unable to record another out after that. He then issued 3 walks (1 intentional) and a hit by pitch and his day was done. Final line: 1.0 IP / 0 hits / 2 runs / 1 K / 3 BBs From one high promise freshman pitcher to another, Reagan Ricken entered with the bases loaded and 1 out. He did exactly what Jay Johnon called upon him to do, drawing a ground ball to record an out and striking out Waite looking to keep the damage from getting worse. Even though a run scored on the groundout, LSU pitchers have struggled to simply record outs in some of these tough spots, which allows things to get worse and worse, much like we saw in the 5th. Ricken returned for the 7th and despite allowing a solo homerun and 2 two out walks, was able to navigate through the entire inning and get out of trouble. Ricken continues to flash plenty of traits to very excited about as he grows as a Tiger. Final line: 1.2 IP / 1 hit / 1 run / 2 Ks / 2 BBs With LSU down 11-3 and the tensity of the moment being low, Jay Johnson inserted Marcos Paz for the 8th inning in a great spot to get his feet wet. As he continues to come back from Tommy John surgery, he’s flashed his talent that made him a possible draft risk, while also battling through rust. In his first SEC appearance, he looked fantastic. Despite a walk, Paz struck out the side, including Maldonado that hit the big homerun earlier. Final line: 1.0 IP / 0 hits / 0 runs / 3 Ks / 1 BB Hitting There isn’t a lot of offensive production to get to, so this will be quick. Steven Milam followed up his 3 hit performance on Friday with a 1-4 game, including a fantastic piece of opposite field hitting for a double. Derek Curiel, Cade Arrambide, and Omar Serna each had a single hit, to give you the 4 total LSU hits. Arrambide’s was a double and Serna’s was a 2 run single that brought his RBI total for the week up to 6. Jake Brown entered the game with only 9 strikeouts so far this season, but Nadeau’s stuff was so good, he was able to get LSU’s offensive MVP twice. Brown did draw 2 walks, finishing the night 0-2. Up Next LSU and Vanderbilt will wrap up SEC opening weekend tomorrow. First pitch will be at 3 pm central. William Schmidt will take the mound for the Tigers as they look to avoid being swept on SEC opening weekend for the first time since 2006 when Arkansas took three in Alex Box during Smoke Laval’s final season. The Tigers have fallen to 13-7, which matches Vanderbilt’s record after back to back wins to start the series. The Commodores will send Nate Taylor to the mound on Sunday, who has started all four Sundays for them this season. Taylor has a record of 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA. His batting average against is the highest of any of the top Vanderbilt pitchers that LSU has seen so far at .242. Taylor has given up 12 runs in 18.1 innings of work, so the opportunities for the Tiger offense to get back on track could be there.

Vanderbilt - 13, LSU - 12

By David Billiot Jr • March 14, 2026
Gut-wrenching. There’s no other way to put it. LSU fought all the way back from a 10-4 deficit to have the game ripped from them at the very last second. They say that the 27th out in baseball is the hardest one to get and tonight, we saw why. If you told Jay Johnson that he could be in that situation with the tying run at 3rd base with 2 outs in the 9th inning and Gavin Guidry on the mound, I can guarantee you that he’d take that scenario 10 out of 10 times. In majority of those times, it would work in the Tiger’s favor, too. Not tonight. Sometimes you have to tip the cap to the other team for making the necessary plays and that’s what happened in the final inning on Friday night. Vanderbilt earned their victory. Not without some help from the LSU pitching staff early in the game, but when it mattered most, the Commadores stepped up. Although we learned a lot about the resilience of the Tigers in game 1 with their willingness to to fight back, we will learn even more about their ability to rebound from a tough loss. There were plenty of silver linings despite the L, which could be huge for the future success of this LSU team. Pitching Casan Evans had been on a steady upwards trajectory with his transition from ace bullpen piece to Friday night ace. That trend hit a brick wall tonight. Despite having a lead before stepping on to the mound, Evans was way off from his very first pitch. He walked 3 of the first 4 hitters of the game. Though he was able to strike out two, a two out 2-run single flipped the scoreboard to give Vanderbilt a 2-1 lead. The offense retook the lead, but the struggles remained as the LSU ace gave up another run in the 2nd on walk and a couple of singles. It was more of the same in the 3rd, as Evans continued to battle control problems, allowing another 2 runs on only 1 hit. The free passes were a haunting presence for his entire outing. Surprisingly, he returned for the 4th having already thrown 82 pitches. He’d finish with 83, though, as Braden Holcomb would blast a solo homerun to right center and that would be the end of the night for Casan Evans. Final line: 3.0 IP / 5 hits / 6 runs / 5 Ks / 5 BBs / 1 HBP / 83 pitches (46 strikes, 55%) The expectations for Cooper Williams were high coming in to his sophomore season, but he has failed to come even close to them, so far. That continued tonight when he relieved Casan Evans in the 4th inning. He entered with no one out in the inning, but failed to record an out. Williams walked the bases loaded and then started the next hitter with back to back balls and Jay had seen enough. Williams desperately needs to figure it out. Final line: 0.0 IP / 0 hits / 4 runs / 0 Ks / 4 BBs Jaden Noot inherited the 2-0 count from Williams and promptly allowed the walk with a few more pitches out of the zone. He followed with back to back outs to get close to being out of the inning, but another walk, then a 2 run single, followed by yet another walk would allow Vanderbilt to extend their lead to 10-4 and that would be all for Noot. Final line: .2 IP / 1 hit / 0 runs / 1 K / 2 BB Although it’s fairly subjective, it’s safe to say that Zac Cowan has been the most disappointing pitcher on LSU’s staff thus far in 2026. Considering how dominant he was for almost all of his 2025 season, the coaching staff had high hopes that they were bringing back a pitcher that could be trusted against anyone on the schedule. With the way some of Cowan’s outings had gone through the first four weeks of the season, he was borderline unable to be trusted against anyone. That changed Friday night. He was marvelous. Looking like the rock solid bullpen piece from a year ago, Cowan mowed through the Commadores lineup, allowing just one baserunner. One single was all that he allowed, while striking out 5 and throwing 73% strikes. As much credit as the offense deserves for fighting back in this game, Cowan deserves just as much for stabilizing things for the staff and allowing the bats to go to work. Final line: 3.1 IP / 1 hit / 0 runs / 5 Ks / 0 BBs Once the Tigers took the lead in the top of the 8th, Jay Johnson turned to Gavin Guidry. The argument could be heard that Cowan may have had more in the tank as he was rolling strong, but we’ve seen Guidry come in to close the final 6 outs of a ballgame before. It’s almost never the wrong move to put the game in his hands. At first, he was proving why. He went 3 up, 3 down in the 8th while striking out two hitters looking. But as I said in the beginning, sometimes you have to tip your cap to the opponent and admit that they beat you. In the 9th, Vanderbilt recorded back to back singles to start the inning. A passed ball then allowed both runners to advance, putting the tying run at 2nd base in a 12-10 ballgame. Guidry was able to record an out, although it was a sacrifice fly that drew the Commadores within a run and top hitter Braden Holcomb coming to the plate. Guidry painted a perfectly executed slider on the outside corner to freeze Holcomb for the second out of the inning, putting LSU just an out away from the comeback win. Unfortunately, an 0-1 slider to Logan Johnstone hung up just a little and the ball took flight in to right center to give Vanderbilt a walk off victory. Guidry just got beat. Plain and simple. Final line: 1.2 IP / 3 hits / 3 runs / 3 Ks / 0 BBs Hitting Moving up in to the leadoff role, Steven Milam acted like he belonged there. He recorded hits in his first three at bats, leading to a 3-6 day with 3 runs scored. Milam has been hitting the ball hard, severely lowering his strikeout rate from 2025. His lone strikeout tonight was only his 4th of the season, showing why concerns of his performance have been largely overblown. This spot for Jake Brown might as well be written in permanent marker at this point. He finds his way on to the top offensive performer list ever single game and he is year yet again. The 3 run homerun in the 2nd seemed like the perfect opportunity for Casan Evans to settle in and roll, but as we know, the offense would be relied upon for even more. Brown’s final line was 3-5 with 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, a walk, the homerun, and also a double. His third hit came on a beautifully executed drag bunt in the 8th inning, helping get the rally together that eventually took the lead. Derek Curiel moved down to third in the order with Milam swapping to leadoff. Curiel has been LSU’s best hitter not named Jake Brown and he continued that on Friday. It doesn’t matter where he hits in the lineup, he’s going to just simply…hit. He finished 2-4, which included the 2 run double over the center fielder’s head to pull LSU within a run with a 10-9 deficit. He finished with 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, and also walked. Cade Arrambide has gone through the bumps on the road as he adjusts to being the primary starting catcher. Both offensively and defensively, LSU has needed him to be better. He was just that on Friday night. His defense was solid, blocking up multiple pitches in the dirt. His 2-4 line with 2 runs scored and a walk further boosted his bounce back game from a rough week or two. Seth Dardar didn’t get the start, but he entered as a pinch hitter in the 5th inning for Brayden Simpson and delivered what I would say was the biggest swing of the night for the Tigers. With the bases loaded and 2 outs in the 5th, Connor Fennell was very close from escaping without damage, but Dardar ripped a base-clearing double to drive in 3 runs and cut LSU’s deficit in half to 10-7. If he doesn’t come through in that moment, who knows how the rest of the night would have went for the Tigers. He finished 1-3 with that double and the 3 RBI. Zach Yorke entered the game with a 4 game hitting streak that started in game 1 against Sacramento St. That streak came to an end on Friday, but he did draw 3 walks, which led to a .600 on base percentage. Last, but certainly not least, is Chris Stanfield, who provided the much needed spark that the lineup had been missing in his absence. In that 9-hole spot in the bottom of the order, his ability to find his way on base is invaluable. He is, essentially, a second lead off hitter. His biggest value in that spot is to be a table setter for the table setters in the top of the lineup and that’s exactly what he did Friday in his first start since opening weekend. Stanfield was 2-4 with a couple of singles, while drawing a walk and scoring twice. Up Next LSU will be faced with the enormous task of bouncing back from that heart breaking loss to try and win the next two games and head back to Baton Rouge with an opening SEC weekend series win. The loss dropped the Tigers to 13-6. Cooper Moore (3-1) will take the mound on Saturday with the goal to go deeper in the game and compete to give his team the best chance to win. Vanderbilt improved to 12-7 on the season and will send Wyatt Nadeau to the mound on Saturday night. Nadeau has made 4 appearances thus far, with last Saturday being his only start. He is filling in for Austin Nye in the weekend rotation, who is injured. First pitch between LSU and Vanderbilt will be for 7 pm central on Saturday night.
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