The No. 1 LSU baseball team’s current 12-game winning streak has as much to do with its arms as its bats.
Following a 6-3 loss to Nicholls, the Tigers came out in their series against Boston College motivated, outscoring the Eagles, 31-9, during the weekend while exploding for 16 runs and a plethora of extra base hits in Game 3 of the tie.
Since then, the re-energized Tigers have breezed through their last 12 games with Southeastern Conference play looming on the horizon.
But credit for the resurgence must also go to the bullpen.
LSU’s bullpen has been nearly unhittable in the win streak. The pen has given up 34 hits with 73 strikeouts and only nine extra base hits this season. The bullpen has combined for only 10 earned runs, and of those earned runs, only sophomore Russell Reynolds has given up more than two.
Five of the 11 bullpen pitchers for the Tigers have yet to allow a run this season, four more allowing only one on the year.
“Our bullpen is going to tell the tale of our season. So far, I like what I’m seeing,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “Guys are starting to settle in to some roles and doing a really nice job, and everybody I brought into the game [against Grambling State] did fantastic. All of the guys did a really nice job out of the bullpen.”
The Tigers’ bullpen has been nearly lights out, with a prime example coming out of the Tigers’ 7-1 victory against Grambling State. After four innings from freshman pitcher Doug Norman, the Tigers’ bullpen followed with five innings of no-hit baseball, allowing a single base runner on a hit-by-pitch from sophomore pitcher Collin Strall.
Grambling State had no answer for LSU’s relievers, tallying seven strikeouts against the bullpen on 64 pitches.
“We always expect them to do the job,” Mainieri said. “You can see the [pitching coach] Alan Dunn influence there, the way he brings those guys along, and when we all call on them, they’re ready to do the job.”
LSU’s pitching staff leads the SEC in strikeouts looking with 58 and is sixth in the conference in total strikeouts with 147. The Tigers’ strikeout total is largely due to their shutdown freshman closer Jesse Stallings.
Stallings’ 11 strikeouts on the year is tied for fourth on the team, and his seven saves are ranked first in the SEC. Stallings has allowed only two hits in his eight appearances, and his opposing batting average is .083.
His ability to no-hit opponents has made him a hot commodity at the tail end of the Tigers’ rotation, and it came to fruition in a save attempt in Game 1 of LSU’s series against Princeton. Stallings took the mound with a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth and struck out all three batters, keeping the Tigers’ win streak alive.
“It felt great,” Stallings said after the save. “I was really fired up. After [the Southeastern game] I was still fired up from then, and I just carried it onto the field today.”
Stallings exited the mound pumping his fist and shouting in his accomplishment. The same lineup tallied six hits off the Tigers prior to Stallings’ entrance.
Junior shortstop Alex Bregman said the bullpen has been a real boost for the team so far, and said he’s grateful for its ability to up the intensity on nights when the bats stay quiet.
“They’re doing really well. They’re just competing,” Bregman said. “That’s all you can ask from them, giving us a chance to win every single time they take the field. They’re stepping up and pitching really well.”
You can reach Jack Chascin on Twitter @Chascin_TDR.