Lost in the excitement generated by sweeping the No. 3 team in the country was the continuation of a disturbing trend.
LSU’s hitters grounded into two double plays Sunday, one of which killed a potential rally in the 10th inning.
The Tigers have now grounded into 21 double plays this season, including 13 in conference play.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri used several different techniques to avoid the double play, from sacrifice bunts to the
hit-and-run.
“I’m trying everything I can do to stay out of the double plays,” Mainieri said. “I’ve got to try to get the runners moving for that reason. … We don’t have a power hitting team, so we’re going to hit a lot of ground balls. Obviously it’s going to set you up to hit into double plays if you don’t start the runners.”
Mainieri was certainly trying to avoid a double play after junior outfielder Raph Rhymes’ leadoff single in the 11th inning.
Senior shortstop Austin Nola couldn’t put a bunt down in fair territory, and sophomore catcher Ty Ross whiffed on a slider down and away on a hit-and-run attempt. Rhymes was dead meat at second base for the second out of the 11th inning.
“We’ve just got to stay aggressive,” Mainieri said. “The guys have done a really good job with the hit-and-run plays for most of the year. It’s been a big reason for our success.”
CLUTCH COTTON
Junior left-hander Chris Cotton was the only pitcher Mainieri used in every game for the series, and each instance was a pressure situation.
Each time Cotton defused the situation with little to no damage for LSU, collectively throwing 2 2/3 shutout innings while giving up just one hit.
Cotton’s longest outing came in Saturday’s one-run game, when he relieved sophomore Ryan Eades with one out and a runner on first in the eighth inning of a tie game.
“I do feel a little something on my shoulder if other pitchers’ runs are on the bases,” Cotton said. “Obviously you don’t want to give them up.”
The Shreveport native earned his third win of the season after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings.
In 14 innings this season, Cotton has only allowed 11 base runners while posting a 1.93 ERA.
CHASING HISTORY
Rhymes padded his lead for the conference batting title when he went 7-for-12 this weekend with six RBIs and his first home run of the season.
The Monroe native actually improved his batting average from .479 to .491 and had an opportunity to raise his batting average above .500 in Saturday’s contest.
Rhymes is on pace to shatter the LSU single-season batting record of .410, set in 1994 by Russ Johnson.
But he’s got some work to do if he wants to set the all-time Southeastern Conference record, which David Magadan set in 1983 when he hit .525 for Alabama.
STATS
LSU’s pitchers recorded 40 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched this weekend, including career highs from sophomore Kevin Gausman (12) and freshman Aaron Nola (9).
The Tigers hit three home runs in Friday night’s contest. It was the first time LSU hit three home runs in a game since May 21, 2010.
Rhymes has 17 multiple-hit games this season and an active nine-game hitting streak.
 
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Luke Johnson at [email protected]