No one will confuse LSU’s season opening weekend opponent with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But you still must come away impressed with how the Tigers dominated Purdue Fort Wayne, winning by a combined score of 32-2.
The most impressive thing about the weekend was how LSU’s pitchers pounded the strike zone.
Twenty-seven innings pitched, 14 hits, two runs, just two walks and 45 strikeouts. According to former LSU pitching great, Ben McDonald, the Tigers average fastball was 94 miles per hour.
The 45 strikeouts are the most in a weekend by an LSU pitching staff since 1992!
LSU’s three starting pitchers set the tone each day. Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson and Chase Shores pitched 15 innings, allowed two runs, 21 strikeouts and one walk.
The most anticipated start was Shores. The hard throwing right-hander was pitching for the first time since undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2023.
Shores gave up one run in the first inning on Sunday but then faced the minimum number of hitters over the next four innings as he was in complete control.
The bullpen was impressive too.
Some of the highlights.
Casan Evans four strikeouts in two innings. Connor Benge three strikeouts over 1.2 innings. Another big right-hander. Mavrick Rizy struck out two in one inning to close out Saturday’s win and freshman phenom William Schmidt made his debut on Sunday and struck out four in 2.2 innings.
Again, Purdue Fort Wayne is not a difficult opponent.
But go back to last year. LSU opened against VMI and Thatcher Hurd had a rough outing, allowing four earned runs in 2.2 innings.
In the third game of the season, freshman left-hander Cam Johnson walked six in one inning of relief.
The poor performances by Hurd and Johnson were a prelude of things to come as both struggled during the season.
At the plate, last year it was Steven Milam who got off to a hot start to secure the starting second base job.
On Sunday, Ashton Larson finally got his chance to start, and he came through with a three-run homer in the fourth inning to get LSU on the board.
Larson is in a competitive battle with Jake Brown, Josh Pearson and Ethan Frey for starting spots in right field and designated hitter.
Larson went 4-for-6 for the weekend. Brown 3-for-8 and four runs scored. Frey was 1-for-4 and Pearson was also 1-fo-4.
Great LSU debuts for Daniel Dickinson, Chris Stanfield and freshman Derek Curiel.
Dickinson had 5 RBIs in the season opener and was 5-for-9 at the plate with five runs scored for the weekend. Stanfield, a transfer from Auburn, showed he can provide speed at the lead off spot as he was 4-for-10 with 4 four runs scored, including a triple on his first at-bat as a Tiger.
Curiel homered on Saturday and had four hits over the three games.
LSU will have a busy week this week. They’ll play Southern on Tuesday. The Tigers lost to the Jaguars last year and Coach Jay Johnson has not forgotten. LSU will travel to Thibodaux on Wednesday for what could be a very cold game against Nicholls.
The Tigers will wrap up the week by hosting Omaha for a weekend series.
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