Saturday Afternoon Recap

Entering the weekend, LSU pretty much needed a sweep. While they aren’t mathematically condemned without one, it would be even tougher than it already is to find a way in to the postseason. Considering LSU’s final two opponents are significantly better than South Carolina, it’s almost a must. The Tigers got off to a fantastic start on that journey on Saturday afternoon. Their pitching was already banged up with the loss of Cooper Moore, but took an even bigger hit with Casan Evans missing last weekend at Mississippi St. Whether or not he pitches this weekend is still a question, which puts the staff at a massive disadvantage. William Schmidt and Grant Fontenot combining for 9 innings of work in game 1 was about as perfect as a realistic start that one could ask for. Both were fantastic and did not allow anything to come easy to a bad Gamecocks offense.

Throughout a season of playing behind due to early struggles from the offense, the Tiger bats had shown up in a big way the past 5 games entering this series. They provided 3 runs in each game in Starkville last week and scored 8 in each. LSU’s pitching was finally able to pitch from ahead. Unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough, but the question was could the offense keep it up. They did just that on Saturday afternoon, putting up crooked numbers in each of the first two innings and getting out to a 5-1 lead. The bats did cool off later, but an 8 hit game is still solid. As the Tiger pitching gets deeper in to their pen as the weekend goes on, Jay Johnson will look for his lineup to continue to produce early and often.

Pitching

Things got off to a bumpy start for William Schmidt in the 1st inning when his 4th pitch was popped up on the infield. Despite four Tigers surrounding the ball, it fell to the grass. He was quickly able to erase the “hit” with a 6-3 double play turned by Steven Milam, but with 2 outs, the Gamecocks went to work. Consecutive doubles put South Carolina on the scoreboard first for a 1-0 lead, before a strikeout ended the inning. Facing 3 games in 2 days and missing 2/3s of their rotation, LSU needed Schmidt to eat up more innings than he has recently. The 23-pitch 1st was not ideal, but he bounced right back in the 2nd with a 3-up, 3-down on only 10 pitches. He looked on his way to having another efficient 3rd by retiring the first two hitters of the inning and then getting the third down 0-2, but ended up losing him to give up a walk. Although he avoided damage, it costed him an extra 10 pitches and brought his total to 53 through 3 innings. His 4th inning was great. Despite a 2-out single, Schmidt struck out the side to bring his total up to 6 through the first 4 innings. He recorded his second 1-2-3 inning of the game in the 5th, largely thanks to some impeccable infield defense. Milam made a barehanded play on a slow-roller to start the frame on a ball that looked like a sure infield hit. After another strikeout, freshman Jack Ruckert made a slow-roller play of his own. South Carolina started the 6th with a leadoff single, but a beautiful 6-4-3 double play by Milam and Ruckert quickly erased it. Another groundout to Milam would end the 6th and the outing for William Schmidt after 97 pitches. Today was his second longest outing of the season, the longest since going 7.1 innings against Dartmouth in pre-conference play.

• Final line: 6.0 IP / 5 hits / 1 run / 7 K / 1 BB / 97 pitches (61 strikes, 63%)

Grant Fontenot took over for the 7th and picked up right where Schmidt left off. He recorded two groundouts and a flyout for a quick 1-2-3 inning on just 9 pitches. He gave up a hard hit single to lead off the 8th, but then induced a tailormade double play ball. Shockingly, it was bobbled by Milam and although he recovered in time to at least get one out at 2nd base, Ruckert dropped the rushed throw. The senior fought back, though, drawing a flyout and then two massive strikeouts to keep the two lead off runners right where they were on 1st and 2nd base.  

• Final line: 3.0 IP / 1 hit / 0 runs / 4 K / 0 BB / 44 pitches (28 strikes, 64%)

Hitting

Steven Milam and William Patrick were the only two Tigers to record multiple hits. Milam drove in 2 RBI, along with this typically stellar defense. They both finished 2-4.

Derek Curiel and Cade Arrambide both finished 1-4 with just a single each, but both of them recorded 2 RBI. Curiel also scored once.

Mason Braun reached base four times today, despite only recording a single hit. He drew 3 walks at the top of the lineup and scored twice. He entered today with a team-leading .461 on base % and that only elevated even more.

Omar Serna finished 1-3 and had LSU’s only extra base hit of the day with his double. He also drew a walk and scored 3 runs.

Up Next

LSU and South Carolina will return to the diamond later today for game 2. First pitch is for 6:30. Marcos Paz will take the mound for the Tigers for his second SEC start. The Gamecocks will send out Brandon Stone, a junior RHP with a 5-2 record. He holds an ERA of 3.60 through 55.0 innings pitched and has struck out 52, while walking 14 and hitting another 6 for a 1.42 WHIP. LSU’s staff is in great position, all things considered, after getting through game 1 with just William Schmidt and Grant Fontenot.

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