While a six-inning scrimmage between the likely LSU starters and the reserves ended with the reserves on top 3-2, the Tigers still had to feel encouraged after a dominating performance by sophomore pitcher Kevin Gausman.
Gausman, who LSU coach Paul Mainieri pegged as his probable opening night starter, did not allow the LSU starters to reach base in four masterful innings.
The Colorado native needed only 42 pitches — 30 of which were strikes — and made the starting hitters look dumbfounded at times.
LSU’s new pitching coach Alan Dunn has been working with Gausman on a breaking ball, and the early signs look positive. Gausman froze junior Mason Katz on a 1-2 curve for a strikeout, and recorded two other strikeouts with the pitch.
Professional scouts were in the stands watching Gausman put on a show with radar guns in hand, one of whom clocked Gausman’s fastball as high as 95 miles per hour.
The batters struggled to come up with much against Gausman, who struck out four.
Mainieri made some lineup changes from Monday’s inter-squad scrimmage, inserting freshman first baseman Tyler Moore — the lineup’s only left-hander — in place of sophomore outfielder Jackson Slaid.
With Moore at first, Katz went back to right field for the scrimmage, where he made several strong throws to keep runners from advancing.
Mainieri also tinkered with his batting lineup from Monday’s scrimmage, moving Junior College transfer Casey Yocom to the second spot in the order, and dropping  junior Raph Rhymes down to the third spot.
Freshman third baseman Evan Powell continued to play well for the reserves, as he collected two more hits in Friday’s scrimmage. Powell went 4-for-4 in the two scrimmages this week, stealing three bases in the process.
Junior utility men Alex Edward and Beau Didier both went 2-for-2 in the scrimmage.