During the 2013 season, LSU coach Paul Mainieri concocted a specific lineup formula that carried his squad to the College World Series.
Creating the perfect batting order has been more of a challenge in 2014.
Last season, the Tigers’ lineup carried the squad through Southeastern Conference play. Sean McMullen, Mark Laird, Alex Bregman, Raph Rhymes, Mason Katz, Christian Ibarra, JaCoby Jones, Ty Ross and Andrew Stevenson used a combination of power and speed to strike fear into conference pitchers on a weekly basis.
The lineup was perfected on March 30, 2013, in the second contest of a three-game series at Missouri. Mainieri decided to bat then-junior designated hitter McMullen in the leadoff spot.
LSU proceeded to go 9-1 over its next 10 games, scoring 86 runs in that span.
In 2014, early struggles in the lineup removed McMullen from the leadoff role. Sophomore center fielder Andrew Stevenson took on the role last weekend against Tennessee, going 5-for-12 (.416).
McMullen said he doesn’t care who assumes the leadoff role. He said he trusts whoever his head coach decides to pencil in before the game.
“This year, we have a lot of versatility, and I think we have a more speedy team. So the fact that [Mainieri] could put some speed at the top and the bottom helps out a lot,” McMullen said. “I think wherever coach puts someone in the lineup, they’ll have success.”
Further down in the order, Mainieri has continued to shuffle with the names available to yield the best possible results.
Three different hitters — McMullen and junior infielders Kade Scivicque and Conner Hale — have all hit in the cleanup spot in 2014. Seven Tigers’ regulars have gotten an opportunity to bat in the No. 6 and No. 7 holes.
Six LSU regulars have taken turns in the eighth and ninth spots in the order.
Needless to say, the lineup is still a work in progress.
One hitter in particular, freshman left fielder Jake Fraley, has inserted himself into the lineup with his recent string of impressive performances at the plate over the past month.
Fraley has hit 15-for-49 (.306) since LSU’s loss at Tulane on March 25.
Mainieri has used the Middletown, Del., native in seven of the possible nine spots in the batting order.
“Early in the year, we had to answer a lot of questions like, ‘Why are you playing so many different guys?’ This is why,” Mainieri said. “You get to this point in the year, and you don’t want to look at them as freshmen anymore. They have almost a full season under their belt. I don’t treat them as inexperienced players. They’ve been out there plenty, and they’re expected to do the job.”
Fraley batted in the No. 5 spot twice and the No. 6 spot once during the squad’s series against Tennessee, collecting five hits.
LSU sophomore right fielder Mark Laird says Fraley’s success shows how versatile the Tigers’ roster can be.
“You’ll see big hits coming from people coming off the bench all the time,” Laird said. “It shows how ready everybody is to play and step up and prove themselves. You can put anybody on the bench in and they’ll be ready to come up with a big hit.”