LSU (8-1) wanted to have a quick rebound against Yale on Friday night in Alex Box Stadium following the Tigers’ 4-1 rain-shortened loss to University of Louisiana-Lafayette on Tuesday.
It only took the home squad one inning in a 19-0 victory against the Bulldogs (0-1).
Senior left fielder Sean McMullen lead off the bottom of the first inning with a walk, and after sophomore right fielder Mark Laird struck out swinging, the scoring barrage began.
Sophomore shortstop Alex Bregman walked, then junior first baseman Conner Hale hit an RBI single to center field to give LSU a 1-0 lead.
It wouldn’t be long until the Tigers would break it open as junior designated Kade Scivicque launched his first home run in Alex Box Stadium, a towering shot that hit off the top of the left field foul pole.
“If it’s not the hardest [ball I’ve ever hit], then it was right there with them,” Scivicque said. “I thought for a second that it was going to go foul, but once it hit the pole, I was a little relieved. I think we come in locked in. The whole team has been focusing on hitting the hard line drives.”
Eight more LSU hitters would reach base in the inning, and five would pick up RBIs.
When the first inning finally came to a close, the Tigers had a whopping 10-0 lead against the Bulldogs.
“I challenged the guys yesterday,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “One of the things I was talking to the guys about yesterday and this week was about how important it is in this so-called “dead bat” era to start off in games and get a lead. Let’s focus in that first inning, and we were a lot more selective today at the plate. I think that made a big difference in the first inning.”
Hale would add an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning, then LSU continued their power streak when it came back to the plate in the fifth.
With one on and one out, senior third baseman Christian Ibarra lifted his first home run of the year into the left field bleachers. Freshman second baseman Kramer Robertson added an RBI double later in the frame to make it 14-0 LSU.
One inning later, freshman third baseman Danny Zardon launched his first career home run, a grand slam over the left field wall to give LSU an 18-run lead.
Freshman outfielder Jake Fraley added one more with an RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth.
That was more than enough run support for junior right-hander Aaron Nola (3-0).
The LSU “ace” tossed six innings of scoreless baseball, surrendering five hits and recording a season-high 10 strikeouts.
He said the early lead helped his mentality on the mound.
“It definitely takes a lot of pressure off myself,” Nola said. “I had never seen anything like that from our team. We went out and hit the ball all over the field. My only job is to throw a zero up.”

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Taylor Balkom

LSU junior pitcher Aaron Nola (10) throws between innings Friday, Feb. 28, 2014 during the Tigers' win against Yale in Alex Box Stadium.