Sean McMullen was seething. So much so, the senior outfielder couldn’t talk to his extended family and friends in attendance at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.
Kyle Bouman didn’t make the trip. A sprained ankle kept the junior college transfer from boarding the New Orleans-bound charter bus. He watched on television as his Tiger teammates dropped a 3-2 decision to Tulane in 11 innings, the first of four consecutive losses at the end of March for LSU.
“The fact that they beat us did affect us,” McMullen said. “It made us open our eyes and decide where we’re going to go with this season.”
Winners of 10 of their past 12, McMullen and the Tigers (30-10-1) said there’s an abnormal midweek intensity in the air for the rematch with the Green Wave at 6:30 tonight in Alex Box Stadium.
“We have an extra focus to get this game,” McMullen said.
Bouman will get the nod for the Tigers on the mound, two weeks removed from his worst start of the season against Arkansas. He gave up four runs and three hits in one inning, including a first inning grand slam.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said it’s Bouman’s game to pitch and he won’t put any inning restrictions on the southpaw like he tends to do with most midweek games.
Now fully recovered from his ankle injury, Bouman said it’s his responsibility to keep momentum going after a series win against Ole Miss that Mainieri termed “pivotal.”
“It’s going to be important to keep the ball rolling,” Bouman said Monday. “I just made a couple bad pitches [against Arkansas]. Stuff like that happens, so I just need to overcome it and come out tomorrow and be ready to go.”
Opposing Bouman is Tulane senior right-hander Tyler Mapes, the Green Wave’s Friday night starter who missed his turn in the rotation last weekend after a rainout on Saturday against Charlotte.
Mapes boasts a 1.97 ERA in eight starts, and teams are hitting .251 against him.
“That gives [Tulane] a good situation,” Mainieri said. “They have to be thrilled to have Mapes pitching. I’m sure we’re going to get their very best shot. I can tell you our players will be ready to play.”
Mainieri shuffled his batting order in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Ole Miss, moving sophomore center fielder Andrew Stevenson to the leadoff spot, dropping McMullen to clean-up and slating sophomore shortstop Alex Bregman and junior catcher Kade Scivicque at sixth and seventh, respectively.
Done in part to counter Ole Miss starter Sam Smith’s patented cutter, Mainieri said he liked some facets of the new lineup but wasn’t sure how much of it he’d stick with during tonight’s game.
No matter where he hits, Stevenson said his mindset remains the same.
“Doesn’t really matter,” Stevenson said. “Just try to get on base and let guys drive me in.”