A lot of baseball has yet to be played for LSU, and while the Tigers are hoping to finish their season in Omaha, Neb., they can look back on what they have already accomplished with some satisfaction.
The Tigers (38-11, 16-8 Southeastern Conference) have already exceeded their win total from last season and could be in position to host their first regional since 2009.
The consensus on the Tigers at the beginning of the season was that their starting pitching was going to have to do all the heavy lifting to overcome the lack of offensive pop and bullpen experience.
While the starting pitching has been as good as advertised, LSU has put together a winning formula that includes just enough offense and a rock-solid back end of the bullpen.
The Tigers stumbled in SEC play last season, struggling in close games. LSU dropped seven SEC games by one run and two others by two runs.
With bullpen pitching a priority in 2012, the Tigers have been on the complete opposite end of the spectrum this season.
With juniors Nick Goody and Chris Cotton and sophomore Nick Rumbelow holding down the games late, teams haven’t had much opportunity to score after LSU pulls one of its starting pitchers.
In 72.4 innings of work, the three have combined to allow just 15 earned runs.
The effect has been tangible, propelling LSU to a 10-3 record in one-run games in SEC play this season.
At the beginning of the season, it looked like the fears about the offense might have been all too real.
After a 5-0 start to the season, the bats went cold in the final two games of the Appalachian State series.
The Tigers were shut out for 17 consecutive innings, managing only seven hits in the final two games against a team most thought they would steamroll.
“It’s tough to believe it happened, but it did,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri after the series finale. “So we have to keep our chin up and work every day to get better.”
LSU’s offense has been quietly prolific this season, ranking first in the SEC with 326 runs scored.
Leading the LSU offensive attack have been junior outfielders Mason Katz and Raph Rhymes, batting in the Nos. 3 and 4 spots in the lineup this season.
Katz fell one shy of tying an NCAA record when he reached base in 17 consecutive plate appearances.
Rhymes, meanwhile, has been a near impossible out, posting a .500 batting average in 45 games this season. He is a near lock to shatter LSU’s prior single season batting average record, which is .410.
 
____ Contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]