LSU Sweeps the Week in Texas; Recapping the Past Week for the Tigers and What's Next

From Jay Johnson X Account (@LSUCoachJ)

By Andrew Riedell

As LSU Assistant Coach Marc Wanaka fulfilled his promise and jumped into the pool at Riders Field in Frisco, it completed an incredible week for the LSU Tigers, as they went 4-0 in the state of Texas against their first look against Power 4 competition and one of the best mid-major teams in Dallas Baptist. The Tigers ended their week in Texas with a 12-8 win over Sam Houston State on Sunday, and Jay Johnson loved what he saw from his team this past week. Coach Johnson believes the successful weekend will help his team down the road, saying: "This weekend was a good step in the right direction of them playing in a way or a manner that they can look back on and go like 'that's what we need to do' and that'll be enough."

There have been multiple questions regarding certain situations in the LSU lineup, but I think we are finally getting an answer to one of those situations. In Right Field, we have seen a rotation between Jake Brown and Josh Pearson, who won the Frsico Classic MVP this past weekend after he went 6-9 with 3 doubles and 2 RBIs and also walked 3 times this weekend. On the other hand, Brown went 3 for 10 with a trio of singles, but he played a key role in the come back vs Nebraska and defensively has played very well in RF. The at bats this week in Texas looked much better, especially after struggling against Summit League Omaha-Nebraska. The Tigers were led offensively by the top of their lineup which consists of the freshman Derek Curiel (7-15 3 XBH 4 RBI) and Daniel Dickinson (7-18 2 HR 2 2B 9 RBI), who has been moved behind Jared Jones (8-19 4 2B 5 RBI 4 BB). Coach Jay Johnson moving Daniel Dickinson behind Jared Jones forces the opposition's pitching to throw strikes to Jared Jones because, if they walk him, Daniel Dickinson will make them pay. Steven Milam and Chris Stanfield both had great weeks in Texas as well, as Milam hit a home run in the finale vs Sam Houston and Stanfield came up clutch in the comeback vs Nebraska with two RBI in clutch moments to help the Tigers comeback.

Pitching this week was good as well; Connor Ware set the tone against DBU, and it started the week nearly perfectly for the Tigers. Ware took a perfect game into the 5th inning before surrendering a long home run to lose it. The weekend rotation got its first look at Power 4 hitting this weekend in Frisco, as Kade Anderson set career highs against Kansas State. He went 5 1/3 innings and struck out 10 before he surrendered two home runs and was taken out. He looked dominant before that though, and I believe he will continue to be one of the best Friday night starters in the SEC and in the country this season. Following Anderson, it was Anthony Eyanson, and it was a story of two seperate three innings for him. In his first three innings, he was getting attacked by the Nebraska hitters and had multiple wild pitches that put Nebraska runners in prime scoring position. His last three innings, he looked like his first two starts, as his off speed pitches were nearly unhittable and he was able to control his entire repertoire. Chase Shores got the start on Sunday, and he looked ok. He struggled with his command, and Sam Houston took advantage of it, tacking 7 hits and 4 earned runs against him. The bullpen was phenomenal in Texas, and they are only going to get stronger; Jay Johnson hinted at the possible return of Gavin Guidry, who has not thrown this year because of a middle body injury. The bullpen has been filled with younger arms so far and some key transfers, so the return of Guidry will make an instant impact for the Tigers.

Up next for #2 LSU is a midweek series with North Dakota State on Tuesday and Wednesday (Weather permitting) and one final tune up series against North Alabama before they begin SEC play on March 14th vs Missouri.