POSTGAME: Baseball defeats McNeese, 13-3

LSU recorded its third consecutive win as it breezed past the McNeese Cowboys, 13-3 in Baton Rouge on Wednesday night. With the win, the Tigers improve to an overall record of 29-20.

McNeese was quick to the scoreboard, with Provenzano and Bourque putting up a run each to kick off the first inning. LSU promptly responded with an Austin Bain double to right field, scoring right fielder Antoine Duplantis. Left fielder Daniel Cabrera was next to score on an error by the centerfielder, with a run by Bain to follow and put the Tigers up, 3-2.

The Cowboys opened up the second inning with a hit to right field by Whelton that scored Rogers and brought the game to a tie. But the bottom of the inning would see the momentum shift heavily in LSU’s favor, where it would remain for the rest of the night. A double to right field by Beau Jordan allowed Hal Hughes to score, and LSU to take the lead. Brandt Broussard scored next, following a Duplantis single to shortstop. A homer by Cabrera scored both Duplantis and Beau Jordan, allowing LSU to surge ahead, 8-3. This made for the freshman’s sixth home run of the season.

In the third inning, LSU made it 9-3 on a throwing error reached by Broussard that scored Jake Slaughter. Broussard then advanced to third after Beau Jordan flew out to right field, scoring Hughes. Broussard was the next man to make it to home base, extending LSU’s lead, 11-3. Cabrera singled up the middle to score Duplantis and make it 12-3 at the end of the inning.

The Tigers racked up yet another run in the fourth inning, as Broussard hit an infield single to shortstop and sent Slaughter home. Neither team scored for the remainder of the game, with both coaches agreeing to end the game before playing a seventh inning, settling the score at its final of 13-3.

As for pitching, RHP Caleb Gilbert started the game off hot by striking out Selman, McNeese’s first player up to bat.

But by the second inning, it was clear Mainieri had seen enough from Gilbert and replaced him with freshman RHP Trent Vietmeier during the second inning with bases loaded. Gilbert pitched 1.2 innings, retiring 3 batters and allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks.

Vietmeier pitched 1.1 innings, allowing just 1 hit and no runs. Freshman RHP Nick Storz would take over for Vietmeier at the top of the fourth inning. Storz pitched 2.0 scoreless innings of work, allowing 1 hit, 2 walks and striking out 2 batters.

Storz definitely put on a solid first performance since sustaining a shoulder injury, but he promises there’s even better to come.

Ten times, to be precise.

“I just need to get a little bit more comfortable on the mound, get some more appearances out there,” he said. “Next time it’s going to be 10-times better.”

Cam Sanders and Austin Bain followed, both pitching scoreless innings as well.

The Tigers will get back to action when they open a three-game series against Alabama at The Box on Friday at 7:00 p.m. CT.