And The Valley Shook - WEEKEND GAMETHREAD: LSU vs. Boston CollegeLSU Tigers Blog of the Week for 52,136 Weeks in a Row and Countinghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46725/andthevalleyshook_fave.png2015-02-21T14:14:36-06:00http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/rss/stream/78421582015-02-21T14:14:36-06:002015-02-21T14:14:36-06:00GAMETHREAD: LSU vs. BC, GM3, 3pm, SECN+
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<p><b>LINEUPS</b></p>
<p><b>LSU</b></p>
<p>LF Foster<br>RF Laird<br>SS Bregman<br>DH Chinea<br>1B Hale<br>C Scivicque<br>CF Stevenson<br>3B Zardon<br>2B Robertson</p>
<p>RHP Jake Godfrey</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Boston College</b></p>
<p>CF Hernandez<br>2B Butera<br>3B Cronin<br>RF Shaw<br>1B Strem<br>LF Hoggarth<br>SS Adams<br>C Sciortino<br>DH Palomaki</p>
<p>LHP Nick Poore</p>
https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2015/2/21/8082751/gamethread-lsu-vs-boston-college-gm3-3pm-secnPodKATT2015-02-21T12:50:03-06:002015-02-21T12:50:03-06:00LSU Sweeps Boston College Double Header
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<figcaption>via Watson Tiger</figcaption>
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<p>Dodging light sprinkles and the tough test of a day/night double header, LSU showed strength in standing behind their starting pitchers as the Tigers swept their first DH since a set against William & Mary back in the 2010 season.</p>
<p>In Game 1, the Eagles jumped on Jared Poche early, notching 2 runs off of 3 hits and an errant pick off throw to 1B by Poche. With 18 innings to complete on Friday, that start made you think we were in for the worst, but the Tigers offense went out and pulled Poche back from the brink, with 4 runs on 10 hits over the frost 5 innings, including an RBI triple from Andrew Stevenson in the 2nd that really set the tone for how aggressive LSU was going to be at the plate. Poche left the game after 5 2/3rds and the bullpen combo of sidewinder Collin Strall, Zac Person, and Alden Cartwright kept Boston College from scoring again. Danny Zardon blasted a lead off HR in the 6th as LSU continued to inch their lead away. The Tigers scored 4 runs over their final 3 frames, using good base running and taking advantage of some BC errors to take a comfortable 8-3 win.</p>
<p>The Tigers continued their assault in Game 2, scoring runs in the 1st and 2nd innings with a Jared Foster triple and some more good baserunning. In his 2nd start, Alex Lange appeared to be cruising for another great performance until hitting a wall in the 5th allowing BC to load the bases on singles and walks, even walking in a bases loaded run. Mainieri allowed Lange to stay in to clear up his own mess, but not before allowing BC to take the lead with 4 runs on 3 hits. Once again, the Tigers offense got vengeance for their starting pitcher, taking the lead right back in the bottom of the 5th with back to back RBI doubles and scoring from 3B on a wild pitch. They continued to pull away, adding an additional run in the 6th and 7th, each time using BC field mistakes to put runners in scoring position and sac flying them home. The relief combo of Parker Bugg, another Alden Cartwright outing, and closer Jesse Stallings kept BC off the board for the 7-4 final.</p>
<p>What impressed me most on the day was how LSU backed up it's starting pitchers. In both games after Boston College had taken leads that chased away the LSU starters, the Tigers answered back immediately in the next half inning, allowing both Poche and Lange to come away with the wins yesterday. LSU also cut back on the errors, notching only 2 over the 18 innings of defense played. They'll need to continue that improvement in the final game and seal the sweep over BC</p>
<p>Game 3 is set for 3pm on SECN+. Cross your fingers that the rain holds off long enough.</p>
https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2015/2/21/8082191/lsu-sweeps-boston-college-double-headerPodKATT2015-02-20T18:16:02-06:002015-02-20T18:16:02-06:00GAMETHREAD: LSU vs. BC, GM2, 7pm, SECN+
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<p><b>LINEUPS</b></p>
<p><b>LSU</b></p>
<p>LF Foster<br>RF Laird<br>SS Bregman<br>1B Chinea<br>2B Hale<br>CF Stevenson<br>3B Zardon<br>DH Br Jordan<br>C Papierski</p>
<p><span>RHP Alex Lange</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Boston College</b></p>
<p>CF Hernandez<br>2B Butera<br>3B Cronin<br>RF Shaw<br>1B Strem<br>LF Hoggarth<br>SS Adams<br>C Sauter<br>DH Palomaki</p>
<p><span>RHP Jeff Burke</span></p>
https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2015/2/20/8079877/gamethread-lsu-vs-boston-college-gm2-7pm-secnPodKATT2015-02-20T13:36:56-06:002015-02-20T13:36:56-06:00GAMETHREAD: LSU vs. BC, GM1, 2pm, SECN+
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<p><b>LINEUPS</b></p>
<p><b>LSU</b></p>
<p>RF Laird <br>LF Fraley <br>SS Bregman <br>DH Chinea <br>1B Hale <br>CF Stevenson <br>C Scivicque<br>3B Zardon<br>2B Robertson</p>
<p><span>LHP Poche'</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Boston College</b></p>
<p class="p1">CF Hernandez<br>2B Butera<br>3B Cronin<br>RF Shaw<br>1B Strem<br>LF Hoggarth<br>SS Adams<br>C Sciortino <br>DH Palomaki</p>
<p class="p1"><span>RHP Gorman</span></p>
https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2015/2/20/8078167/gamethread-lsu-vs-boston-college-gm1-2pm-secnPodKATT2015-02-20T13:26:15-06:002015-02-20T13:26:15-06:00BC @ LSU - News, Pitching Matchups, TV Times
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<figcaption>Crystal Logiudice-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<h4>LSU News</h4>
<p>Advocate - <a target="_blank" href="http://theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/11647578-123/a-day-after-nicholls-state">A day after Nicholls State loss, LSU gets new batting order, new mindset at the plate</a></p>
<p>Times-Pic - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2015/02/lsu-boston_college_features_an.html">LSU-Boston College features another native taking on the homestate Tigers</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2015/02/espn-disneyabc-television-group-launch-watch-authenticated-products-directv-customers/">ESPN and Disney/ABC Television Group Launch WATCH Authenticated Products to DIRECTV Customers</a></p>
<h4>National Previews</h4>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2015-02-19/weekend-preview-gators-canes-set-annual-meeting-both-top-11">NCAA.com</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/weekend-preview-feb-20-22/">Baseball America</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.d1baseball.com/weekend-preview/weektwopreview2015/">D1Baseball.com</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209898496&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=5200">LSUSports.net</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bceagles.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/021915aaa.html">BCEagles.com</a></p>
<h4>Pitching Matchups</h4>
<p><strong>Game 1 - Fri. 2pm, SECN+</strong><br>LSU – So. LHP <a class="biolink" href="http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=208688070&DB_OEM_ID=5200">Jared Poche'</a> (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 1 BB, 5 SO)<br>BC - Sr. RHP John Gorman (0-0, 5.06 ERA, 5.1 IP, 1 BB, 8 SO)</p>
<p><strong>Game 2 - Fri. 7pm, SECN+</strong><br>LSU – Fr. RHP <a class="biolink" href="http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=209600434&DB_OEM_ID=5200" id="biolink_1">Alex Lange</a> (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 1 BB, 7 SO)<br>BC – Jr. RHP Jeff Burke (0-0, 9.00 ERA, 4.0 IP, 2 BB, 4 SO)</p>
<p><strong>Game 3 - Sat. 3pm, SECN+</strong><br>LSU – Fr. RHP <a class="biolink" href="http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=209599918&DB_OEM_ID=5200">Jake Godfrey</a> (0-0, 2.45 ERA, 3.2 IP, 3 BB, 3 SO)<br>BC – Sr. LHP Nick Poore (0-0, 5.06 ERA, 5.1 IP, 1 BB, 5 SO)</p>
<h4>Weather Forecast</h4>
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<h4><span>Baseball America Top 25 In Action</span></h4>
<p><span>Indiana State vs. (1) Vanderbilt</span></p>
<p><span>Boston College at (2) Louisiana State</span></p>
<p><span>Alabama at (3) Houston</span></p>
<p><span>Marist vs. (4) Virginia</span></p>
<p><span>Northern Illinois at (5) Texas Tech</span></p>
<p><span>(8) Miami at (6) Florida</span></p>
<p><span>(7) Texas Christian at (18) Arizona State</span></p>
<p><span><b>Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge, Surprise, Ariz.</b></span></p>
<p><span>(9) Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Utah, Washington, Washington State</span></p>
<p><span>Minnesota at (10) Texas</span></p>
<p><span>(11) UCLA vs. (17) North Carolina (moved from UNC to UCF due to snow)</span></p>
<p><span>Arkansas State vs. (12) Louisville</span></p>
<p><span>Northeastern at (13) South Carolina</span></p>
<p><span><b>Mississippi State Tournament, Starkville, Miss.</b></span></p>
<p><span>(14) Mississippi State, Alabama A&M, Marshall</span></p>
<p><span>(15) Rice at Arizona</span></p>
<p><span><b>South Alabama Tournament, Mobile, Ala.</b></span></p>
<p><span>(16) Maryland, (22) Central Florida, Arkansas, South Alabama</span></p>
<p><span>(19) Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State</span></p>
<p><span>New Mexico State at (20) Oregon</span></p>
<p><span>(21) Florida State at Georgia</span></p>
<p><span><b>Caravelle Resort Baseball at the Beach, Conway, S.C.</b></span></p>
<p><span>(23) Florida International, Albany, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Tech, North Carolina Central, North Carolina State</span></p>
<p><span>Kentucky at (24) UC Santa Barbara</span></p>
<p><span><b>Keith LeClair Classic, Greenville, N.C.</b></span></p>
<p><span>(25) Liberty, East Carolina, UNC Greensboro, St. John’s</span></p>
<p> </p>
<h4><span>SEC Slate</span></h4>
<p><span>Indiana State vs. (1) Vanderbilt</span></p>
<p><span>Boston College at (2) Louisiana State</span></p>
<p><span>Alabama at (3) Houston</span></p>
<p><span>(8) Miami at (6) Florida</span></p>
<p><span>Northeastern at (13) South Carolina</span></p>
<p><span><b>Mississippi State Tournament, Starkville, Miss.</b></span></p>
<p><span>(14) Mississippi State, Alabama A&M, Marshall</span></p>
<p><span>(21) Florida State at Georgia</span></p>
<p><span>Kentucky at (24) UC Santa Barbara</span></p>
<p><b>South Alabama Tournament, Mobile, Ala.</b></p>
<p>(16) Maryland, (22) Central Florida, Arkansas, South Alabama</p>
<p><span><b>Kleberg Bank College Classic, Corpus Christi, TX</b></span></p>
<p>Mizzou, Texas A&M-Corpus, Sam Houston State, Purdue</p>
<p>Auburn vs. Radford</p>
<p>Tenessee vs. Lipscomb (1 game, scheduled series with Rutgers canceled)</p>
<p> </p>
<h4>
<span>College Baseball on TV and Online (All Times ET)</span><span><br></span>
</h4>
<p> </p>
<p><b>FRIDAY, FEB. 20</b></p>
<p>Boston College at LSU (Game 1) 3 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Rutgers at Tennessee 3 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Radford at Auburn 4 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Northeastern at South Carolina 4 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Rice at Arizona 5 p.m. | Pac-12 Network<br>Florida State at Georgia 5 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Wright State at Mississippi 5 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Marshall at Mississippi State 5 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Miami (Fla.) at Florida 7 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Minnesota at Texas 7 p.m. | Longhorn Network<br>Penn State at Texas A&M 7:30 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Boston College at LSU (Game 2) 8 p.m. | SEC Network+</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>SATURDAY, FEB. 21</b></p>
<p>Northeastern at South Carolina 2 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Rice at Arizona 2 p.m. | Pac-12 Network<br>Wright State at Mississippi 2:30 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Grambling vs. Alcorn State (at New Orleans) 3 p.m. | MLB Network<br>Penn State at Texas A&M 3 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Stony Brook at Louisiana-Lafayette 3 p.m. | ESPN3<br>Radford at Auburn 4 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Minnesota at Texas (Game 1) 4 p.m. | Longhorn Network<br>Boston College at LSU 4 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Florida State at Georgia 4:30 p.m. | SEC Network<br>Southern U. at New Orleans 7 p.m. | MLB Network<br>Minnesota at Texas (Game 2) 7 p.m. | Longhorn Network<br>Miami (Fla.) at Florida 7:30 p.m. | SEC Network</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>SUNDAY, FEB. 22 </b></p>
<p>Rutgers at Tennessee 1 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Miami (Fla.) at Florida 1 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Rice at Arizona 1 p.m. | Pac-12 Network<br>Northeastern at South Carolina 1:30 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Minnesota at Texas 2 p.m. | Longhorn Network<br>Radford at Auburn 2 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Penn State at Texas A&M 2 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Wright State at Mississippi 2:30 p.m. | SEC Network+<br>Alabama A&M at Mississippi State 4 p.m. | SEC Network+</p>
<h4><span></span></h4>
https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2015/2/20/8074325/bc-lsuPodKATT2015-02-20T08:00:05-06:002015-02-20T08:00:05-06:00Chalk Talk: Previewing Boston College
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<p><span><i><b>LSU invites another snow-addled team down to the toasty (and somewhat damp) confines of Alex Box Stadium this weekend as the ACC's own Boston College comes to town. To get some perspective on the Eagles, I talked to Dan Rubin of </b></i></span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bcinterruption.com/">BC Interruption</a><span><i><b>. He shared his takes on the BC roster and the prospects of keeping college baseball alive in lacrosse and Red Sox country.</b></i></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>PodKATT: BC seems to be returning just about everyone from last year. The battery looks to be loaded with experienced pitching both starting and in relief. Who’s starting this weekend and who should we fear seeing coming out of the pen?</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>Dan Rubin: John Gorman and Jeff Burke are back from last year, so they're absolutely starting the weekend. After them, it'll either be Jesse Adams or Nick Poore. Both guys pitched well last weekend and earned another look in the rotation. It all depends if Mike Gambino (the BC head coach) thought one threw exceptionally better than the other. No matter who it is, the starters will probably be on a stricter pitch count around the 85-95 level. They were on an 85 pitch count or so maximum last weekend, which meant the bullpen got a lot of use in the sixth and seventh innings.</span></p>
<p><span>Out of the pen, I'm really encouraged by Justin Dunn and Mike King. Dunn combined with Adams to kick some tail and take some names against USC Upstate, throwing five-plus innings to pick up the win. King threw 2-plus to pick up the save over Xavier. After that, there's experience, but there's also some mega concerns. Bobby Skogsbergh needs to be better than his first inning of work against Wofford (he didn't record an out), and John Nicklas got shelled. Luke Fernandes should probably be the first man up out of the pen since he can be a solid innings eater, but my concern is that the coaching staff doesn't clearly define the role. Nobody really had a defined role last year, and likewise, it didn't look like they had a seventh or eighth inning bridge guy to the closer last week.</span></p>
<p>Last year's pitching gave up a ton of runs, so returning everyone comes with a concern. Then it went and lost its staff ace and its pitching coach (Andrew Chin was drafted and signed with the Yankees; Scott Friedholm is now in UNC-Asheville). But Jim Foster came over from Rhode Island, and he's going to be an asset, and as you mentioned, there's a plethora of experience coming back, which means guys can only get better with their roles. If the pitching can develop into those roles, BC can challenge. If it's as disjointed this year as it was last year, though, especially in that bullpen, then they could be in trouble.</p>
<p>One thing about the BC bullpen is that you're always kind of holding your breath hoping that the big inning doesn't happen.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span><b>PK: With 301 teams in D1 college baseball, it’s hard to pay close attention outside of your own conference. What kind of offensive team is BC (power, small-ball, hit and run) and where do returning batters Chris Shaw (.329 in 2014) and LA native Blake Butera (hitting .438 so far in 2015) fit in those plans?</b></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>DR: The top half of the Boston College lineup is very good with the capability of playing the small ball or the power game. Chris Shaw had a monster summer on Cape Cod after a very good season last year, and he's very easily the focal point of the lineup. Unfortunately, that means pitchers are going to throw around him unless their stuff is nasty enough to attack him, which requires BC to build out from there and get guys on the move.</span></p>
<p><span>The BC lineup has the potential to be very good, especially at the top. Gabriel Hernandez batted leadoff last weekend, and he showed he has the ceiling of a guy who can get on base while spotting some decent power. Guys like Butera and Logan Hoggarth are getting good contact on the ball, and it's boiling down to a scenario of "hit 'em where they ain't."</span></p>
<p><span>They have decent speed on the basepaths, but it usually looks better than it is because of timing. They're not going to be a go-go, sprint team, but they're also not going to get thrown out often. They play smart in that regard.</span></p>
<p>The bottom of the lineup is a work in progress, which is a nice way of saying they struggle at the plate.</p>
<p><span>What'll be interesting this weekend is how or if BC can get in the LSU pitching staff's head. They need to be better with men on - something that's been a big time issue over the past couple of years and the main reason they've lost games. If they're able to put that together, they'll be able to drive in some runs and produce some big innings. But they need to do it early.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span><b>PK: Bottom 9, Two out, down 1, 1 on. Who do you want to come to the plate for Boston College?</b></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>DR: I'm giving the bat to Shaw or Hernandez. Shaw is obviously the best pure hitter in the BC lineup, and he has that natural swagger of a guy who can drive in the run in that situation with a flair for the dramatic. I feel like he's the type of guy who would watch the homer sail over the fence with a smirk. Hernandez might not drive them in, but he's your next best option in terms of keeping the inning alive.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>PK: We hear a lot about northern schools that don’t put a lot of emphasis on baseball, or worse think about plans to close programs. Certainly BC benefits from being in a strong baseball league like the ACC, but how would you say your program is doing these days and where do you see it headed?</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>The Boston College baseball program is anything but a source of 100% pride among its fan base. That's just the honest truth.</span></p>
<p><span>The last few years have been really tough to follow. The team lost a heckuva lot more than it won, and the days of the berth to the NCAA Tournament and ACC Tournament are long gone. The head coach is in his fifth year and has never gone to a confernece tournament. The baseball field itself doubles as a tailgate lot during football season, and last season, the weather forced BC to play the first five or six of its home games at Rhode Island, Bryant University (in Smithfield, RI), and Northeastern (up the street in Boston). It's a cold field with wind that whips off minimal stands. The parking ramp from Alumni Stadium is where fans will stand to watch a game, if they even come out. BC won't play its first home until around St. Patrick's Day in mid-March, and honestly, that's looking pretty grim this year since we're pushing 100 inches of snow in the month of February and it's all freezing over. By the time it melts and the field is playable, it might be 2016.</span></p>
<p><span>As a result, there's a vocal part of the populace that really wants to see BC go in another direction, that views baseball as beyond salvation. They want to cut the program, add lacrosse, and compete with the ACC programs like Syracuse and North Carolina in that regard. They want that because that, quite honestly, is the easy way out and it's a lot easier to just get rid of the program than to address what's wrong from the dugout up. That vocal population also account for the same people who lack true vision as to how to fix the programs. That's not a knock against lacrosse; it's more of an endorsement of the potential for baseball.</span></p>
<p><span>For starters, the school's administration is planning on building a new stadium facility for the baseball and softball programs as part of a new recreational complex, starting in 2016 (at least that's what they announced). It'll be on a different part of campus, which will allow BC to improve its baseball image from the tailgate area it currently plays on by making it a centerpiece of its new developments. In addition, the Boston College baseball team really embraced former captain Pete Frates (the guy behind the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from this past summer). He's a constant fixture, and baseball is really a centerpiece in our collective fight, both at BC, in the stands, and with the media, against Lou Gehrig's Disease. BC baseball has really been a rock for years since Pete was diagnosed.</span></p>
<p><span>Recruiting wise, the talent consistently ranges from good to better than average. Playing in the ACC, you're going to get good talent that's a little less regarded than the kids going to Miami or Florida State. By the same token, Coach Gambino talks about getting a certain type of scrappy player, a guy with a high baseball IQ and high motor. Obviously, with the results not being there, you ask yourself if he's a) right or b) able to develop those guys. I know I've questioned it at length, and there's a part of everyone, some larger than others, who thinks he might not be the guy to take BC back to even a conference tournament. There's always a difference between talking about potential and the reality of the situation, and the results simply don't support that type of a vote of confidence. But at the end of the day, this is still Red Sox country - one of the most fertile baseball supporting grounds in the country, not just the north, and with the ACC branding and backing, even mediocrity could start to lead to something special. The league is that powerful, and the door is open since BC is a part of it.</span></p>
https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2015/2/20/8074301/chalk-talk-previewing-boston-college-with-bc-interruptionPodKATT2015-02-20T07:30:02-06:002015-02-20T07:30:02-06:00Weekend Preview: Boston College (2-2) @ LSU (3-1)
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<img alt="Mark Laird will be happy if the Tigers can cut down on the errors" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/btepgiZczZlVLvbD0JgyvjwRhAA=/0x356:4320x3236/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45732568/P1230489.0.0.JPG" />
<figcaption>Mark Laird will be happy if the Tigers can cut down on the errors | via Watson Tiger</figcaption>
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<p>The Eagles come to town for a weekend series against the Tigers. </p> <p>I'm sure the team got lit into pretty hard about their effort against Nicholls. It was a lackluster night all around, and LSU paid the price for its sloppy performance.</p>
<p>It's time to flush that performance, and move on to the next opponent, Boston College. The Eagles come to Baton Rouge after going 2-2 in a tournament in South Carolina to start the season.</p>
<p>The schedule for the weekend has been jumbled a bit due to weather. Friday features a double header with games at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. CST, and the finale will be played Saturday at 3 p.m. CST. All games will air on the digital service SECNetwork+.</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<h3><b>The Bats</b></h3>
<p><b>Gabriel Hernandez - 0.364/0.364/0.545 (2014: 0.242/0.337/0.291)</b></p>
<p><b>Blake Butera - 0.438/0.550/0.563 (2014: 0.269/0.399/0.332)</b></p>
<p><b>Chris Shaw - 0.250/0.550/0.500 (2014: 0.329/0.393/0.502)</b></p>
<p><b>Michael Stream - 0.389/0.450/0.611 (2014: 0.237/0.327/0.376)</b></p>
<p>BC returns their entire starting lineup from last season, and it appears that they are improving at the plate. Blake Butera, Chris Shaw, and Joe Cronin were the top three hitters on the team a year ago, and Butera and Shaw are off to strong starts this year. Shaw's batting average is a bit deceptive because he's drawn 7 walks in only four games. Teams are pitching around Shaw, and it's been to the benefit of Michael Stream who hits behind Shaw. Stream leads the team in doubles with four and is making teams pay for pitching around Shaw. Gabriel Hernandez is the leadoff man, and he's been on a tear to start the season. Hernandez leads the team in RBI (6) and runs scored (6), so he's a threat every time he gets to the plate.</p>
<p>I expect some of these early stats are due to the competition that BC has played (Xavier twice, Wofford, and USC Upstate), but these guys are swinging the bat well right now and confidence plays a large part in how guys perform at the plate.</p>
<h3>Pitching</h3>
<p> </p>
<h4>
<b>Starters </b><b style="font-size: 1.25em;">(as announced by Boston College)</b>
</h4>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>Fri. GM1 RHP John Gorman - 0-0, 5.06 ERA, 5.1 IP, 0.211 BA, 8/1 K/BB</b></p>
<p><b>Fri. GM2 RHP Jeff Burke - 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 4.0 IP, 0.389 BA, 4/2 K/BB</b></p>
<p><b></b><b>Sat. LHP Nick Poore - 0-0, 5.06 ERA, 5.1 IP, 0.158 BA, 5/1 K/BB</b></p>
<p><b>Reserve LHP Jesse Adams - 0-0, 5.79 ERA, 4.2 IP, 0.263 BA, 8/0 K/BB</b></p>
<p> </p>
<h4><b>Bullpen</b></h4>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>RHP Justin Dunn - 1-0, 2.08 ERA, 4.1 IP, 0.143 BA, 5/2 K/BB</b></p>
<p><b>RHP Mike King - 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.1 IP, 0.125 BA, 4/0 K/BB</b></p>
<p><b>RHP Luke Fernandes - 1-0, 4.50 ERA, 2.0 IP, 0.143, 2/0 K/BB</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The starting pitching had a rough opening weekend. All four of BC's starters gave up at least three runs in their first starts of the season. Jeff Burke had a particularly brutal outing against USC Upstate, giving up two doubles, a triple and a homer in four innings. BC didn't give up a lot of walks in the opening weekend, so look for them to throw strikes and allow LSU to put the ball in play.</p>
<p>If LSU can get to the bullpen early against BC, the Tigers should be in good shape. Outside of the three guys listed above, all of BC's bullpen has an ERA over 4.50. The pen has given up 15 runs in only 15.2 innings of work. Not a great start to the season, and hopefully this is an area LSU can exploit.</p>
<h3><b>Keys to the Weekend</b></h3>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>Starting Pitching Stays Hot: </b>Jared Poche, Alex Lange, and Jake Godfrey need to have similar starts to their first outings. All pitched well against Kansas and need to keep it up against BC. They'll need to continue to limit mistakes and keep the ball away from the BC power hitters as much as possible. Not allowing extra base hits to BC's power hitters will be crucial.</p>
<p><b>Error Free Defense</b>: With eight errors in the last two games, LSU needs to clear its head and stop making so many mistakes in the field. The infield defense in particular needs to clean up its act with Bregman, Hale, Zardon, and Robertson all committing errors over the last two games. LSU needs nearly perfect work in the field with young arms on the mound.</p>
<p><b>Clutch Hitting</b>: LSU left 17 men on base, left a runner in scoring position in every inning except the 9<sup>th</sup>, and only managed to score three runs in the game against Nicholls. The leadoff man got on base in the first four innings and LSU failed to score in each inning. You combine that with four errors and you get LSU's first loss of the season. The bats made plenty of noise on the night with 14 hits, but went 4-19 with runners in scoring position. The team needs to convert its chances into runs and put as much pressure as possible on the opposition. The BC bullpen and starting pitching appears prone to giving up runs, so the lineup needs to take advantage of that as much as they can.</p>
<h3><b>Prediction</b></h3>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>If the Tigers can put the defensive issues behind them, they have enough fire power in the lineup to win the series. The BC pitching staff will give them plenty of opportunities to put the ball in play, so LSU needs to capitalize when they get runners on base and in scoring position. If the defense continues to have poor outings, the BC bats have been hot enough that they could get LSU into some long innings and score plenty of runs.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Overall, I think LSU's lineup is too much for the BC pitching staff to handle and the Tigers win the series.</p>
https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2015/2/20/8071347/weekend-preview-boston-college-2-2-lsu-3-1dr.awesome504