The LSU baseball team’s game against Georgia on Sunday was more like a marathon than a series finale.
Both squads played 13 innings, and the Tigers sent six pitchers to the mound, which included 11 scoreless frames from the bullpen. Seven of LSU’s nine starting fielders played the entire contest, which ended in a tie.
The Tigers (20-4-1, 3-2-1 Southeastern Conference) only had one day to recover before traveling to Turchin Stadium to play Tulane (12-11) at 6:30 p.m. today.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri held a light practice to give the team a chance to be refreshed for Tuesday’s contest.
“[Monday] is just kind of a re-group day,” said senior outfielder Sean McMullen. “We just want to come out and get all of our work in and not be rusty. It’s going to be a pretty light practice, but we’re going to get a lot done with our defense and hitting drills.”
Though the bullpen tossed 157 pitches on Sunday against Georgia, junior southpaw Zac Person said he isn’t concerned about the endurance of LSU’s relievers. Person, who is unavailable for Tuesday against Tulane, tossed 71 pitches against the Bulldogs in two appearances.
“We work really hard on a daily basis,” Person said. “We run a lot and throw a lot, so I don’t think guys getting two or three innings here and there is going to fatigue their arms in the long run. We do a very good job in between outings of running the soreness out, and we have a great strength and conditioning program.”
Mainieri said he has already dismissed Sunday’s finale against Georgia, and the primary focus moving forward is creating momentum before heading into Gainesville to play Florida over the weekend.
Junior southpaw Cody Glenn will start. He has pitched 20 innings as a starter, allowing 10 earned runs on 27 hits while striking out 10.
Tuesday’s game will be yet another opportunity for Glenn to fight for a starting rotation spot. Junior left-hander Kyle Bouman continues to struggle with an ankle injury and is currently questionable for the upcoming Florida series.
“We’re going to let [Glenn] go,” Mainieri said. “We’ve given him a lot of chances, and here’s another one. He needs to re-establish himself as a guy that we can count on. Hopefully he’ll be on [Tuesday] night.”
LSU will look to Tulane as a game to return to its winning ways, and Turchin Stadium provides a homecoming opportunity for several Tigers.
McMullen, who went to Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, said he knows several players on the Green Wave squad, and senior reliever Nate Fury played at Tulane his freshman year.
Both are expecting family members to be in attendance, adding a little extra meaning to a non-conference midweek game.
“I’m definitely hyped up to play this game, and I expect our entire team to be because we want to get back on a winning streak,” McMullen said. “This midweek game is going to be a good atmosphere in New Orleans.”
Tulane’s pitching staff also had a long weekend, winning two of three games against Middle Tennessee, including a 2-1 11-inning victory on Saturday.
“Everything that happened [on Sunday] was flushed at midnight, and it’s a new day,” Mainieri said. “The sun came up today, and we’re ready to go.”
“Everything that happened [on Sunday] was flushed at midnight, and it’s a new day. The sun came up today and we’re ready to go. Obviously Tulane is a big rival for us, and they are probably limited as well coming off the tough weekend series they had. As far as I’m concerned, it’s even Steven.”