Hindered by stifling wind but bolstered by strong pitching, LSU’s bats only mustered 15 hits as it trudged through two victories against Maryland to open the weekend series.
Sunday, as the wind changed directions, so did the script.
Hindered by stifling wind but bolstered by strong pitching, LSU’s bats only mustered 15 hits as the Tigers trudged through two victories against Maryland to open the weekend series.
As the wind changed direction on Sunday, so did the script.
Home runs from juniors Ty Ross and JaCoby Jones, along with an eight-run seventh inning, propelled an offensive outburst as the No. 10 Tigers (3-0) blew by the visiting Terrapins (0-3) 14-3 on a blustery day in Alex Box Stadium.
“The first two nights were really hard on the hitters,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “Today, the wind shifted. … The nerves were gone, and it was a much more normal environment. I think the kids felt great up there at the plate.”
After Maryland showcased stout pitching and mistake-free defense for two games, Sunday had neither as seven Terrapin pitchers combined to surrender 14 hits coupled with head-scratching defensive plays.
Jones opened the scoring in the second inning, lifting Terrapin starter Alex Robinson’s 3-1 fastball over the left field wall for the first LSU long ball of the season.
“I was being patient at the plate,” Jones said. “I was zoning in on that [fastball], and that’s what he threw me. I got a hold of it pretty good.”
The Tigers added another run in the third when freshman shortstop Alex Bregman drilled the first of his three singles on the day, scoring sophomore center fielder Chris Sciambra who reached on a four-pitch walk.
The Terps fired right back with two runs of their own in the fourth, touching up LSU senior starter Brent Bonvillain for two straight singles to lead off the inning.
First baseman LaMonte Wade would follow with a sacrifice fly to center and designated hitter Jose Cuas drove home left fielder Matt Bosse on a can of corn popup that Jones lost in the sun.
In his first career start, Bonvillain held the Terps in check, scattering only four hits over his four innings of work, while wiggling out of some jams along the way.
“It wasn’t too shabby,” Bonvillain said. “My fastball and changeup was there. We kind of stuck to that for the first three innings.”
Knotted at two apiece, Ross broke the game open in the bottom half of the fourth with a three-run home run to left-center field.
“He threw me a good fastball,” Ross said. “I was just trying to look to put something in the air to get the run. It ended up getting out of here.”
Junior righty Nate Fury came on in relief of Bonvillain for the fifth, pitching a perfect inning and picking up his first win as a Tiger.
For the former Tulane player and Delgado Community College transfer who recovered from a torn ACL last season, the moment was part of his lifelong dream.
“It’s awesome,” Fury said. “It’s good to get a win, regardless. I’m not really in here to try to get as many wins as I can get, but it’s a good feeling.”
After tacking on another run in the fifth on Katz’s first hit and RBI of the season, the Tigers opened it up in the seventh, sending 12 batters to the plate as the wheels fell off for Maryland.
Bregman, senior outfielder Raph Rhymes, Jones and sophomore designated hitter Tyler Moore all singled to open the floodgates, with all four scoring to begin the onslaught and let Mainieri empty his bench.
Junior third baseman Christian Ibarra highlighted the massacre with a two-RBI double, good for his first extra-base hit as a Tiger. Freshman outfielder Andrew Stevenson also notched his first RBI as a Tiger on an infield single, pinch hitting for Rhymes.
In a game during which every position player saw action and six different Tigers threw a pitch, Mainieri said he was pleased with the team effort in advance of a strenuous stretch of four games in six days.
“We’re going to need a lot of players,” Mainieri said. “During the course of the year, guys get nicked up. You don’t want to have a drop off coming to the next guy.”
Home runs from juniors Ty Ross and JaCoby Jones, along with an eight-run seventh inning, propelled an offensive outburst as the No. 10 Tigers (3-0) blew by the visiting Terrapins (0-3) 14-3 on a blustery day in Alex Box Stadium.
“The first two nights were really hard on the hitters,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “Today, the wind shifted … the nerves were gone and it was a much more normal environment. I think the kids felt great up there at the plate.”
After Maryland showcased stout pitching and mistake-free defense for two games, Sunday had neither as seven Terrapin pitchers combined to surrender 14 hits coupled with head-scratching defensive plays.
Jones opened the scoring in the second inning, lifting Terrapin starter Alex Robinson’s 3-1 fastball over the left field wall for the first LSU long ball of the season.
“I was being patient at the plate,” Jones said. “I was zoning in on that [fastball] and that’s what he threw me. I got a hold of it pretty good.”
The Tigers added another run in the third when freshman shortstop Alex Bregman drilled the first of his three singles on the day, scoring sophomore center fielder Chris Sciambra who reached on a four-pitch walk.
The Terps fired right back with two runs of their own in the fourth, touching up LSU senior starter Brent Bonvillain for two straight singles to lead off the inning.
First baseman LaMonte Wade would follow with a sacrifice fly to center and designated hitter Jose Cuas drove home left fielder Matt Bosse on a can of corn popup that Jones lost in the sun.
In his first career start, Bonvillain held the Terps in check, scattering only four hits over his four innings of work, while wiggling out of some jams along the way.
“It wasn’t too shabby,” Bonvillain said. “My fastball and changeup was there. We kind of stuck to that for the first three innings.”
Knotted at two apiece, Ross broke the game open in the bottom half of the fourth with a three-run home run to left-center field.
“He threw me a good fastball,” Ross said. “I was just trying to look to put something in the air to get the run. It ended up getting out of here.”
Junior righty Nate Fury came on in relief of Bonvillain for the fifth, pitching a perfect inning and picking up his first win as a Tiger.
For the former Tulane player and Delgado Community College transfer who recovered from a torn ACL last season, the moment was part of his lifelong dream.
“It’s awesome,” Fury said. “It’s good to get a win, regardless. I’m not really in here to try to get as many wins as I can get, but it’s a good feeling.”
After tacking on another run in the fifth on Katz’s first hit and RBI of the season, the Tigers opened it up in the seventh, sending 12 batters to the plate as the wheels fell off for Maryland.
Bregman, senior outfielder Raph Rhymes, Jones and sophomore designated hitter Tyler Moore all singled to open the floodgates, with all four scoring to begin the onslaught and let Mainieri empty his bench.
Junior third baseman Christian Ibarra highlighted the massacre with a two-RBI double, good for his first extra-base hit as a Tiger. Freshman outfielder Andrew Stevenson also notched his first RBI as a Tiger on an infield single, pinch hitting for Rhymes.
In a game during which every position player saw action and six different Tigers threw a pitch, Mainieri said he was pleased with the team effort in advance of a strenuous stretch of four games in six days.
“We’re going to need a lot of players,” Mainieri said. “During the course of the year guys get nicked up. You don’t want to have a drop off coming to the next guy.”
