To see a slideshow of the LSU vs. UL-Lafayette game, click here.METAIRIE — LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri knew the Tigers’ bats would have to come alive if they wanted to beat Louisiana-Lafayette with less than his full arsenal of pitchers available for Wednesday night’s game.The Tiger hitters answered the challenge and pounded the Ragin’ Cajun pitchers and hit three two-run home runs in a 10-6 Tigers win.
“Coach told us going in that we had to bring our bats if we wanted to win the game,” said junior outfielder Blake Dean. “We were relaxed at the plate and were able to take advantage of what their pitchers gave us.”The game was part of the annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic. Wally Pontiff’s younger brother, LSU senior outfielder Nicholas Pontiff, started for the Tigers and was 1-for-3.”It was my final game playing for Wally,” Nicholas Pontiff said. “All I wanted to do was remember all of the fun times we had when he was still living as far as going to the park and doing what typical big brothers and little brothers do.”With LSU having a shortage of available arms, sophomore pitcher Austin Ross started his first weekday game of the season for LSU and was effective and allowed just one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings.Freshman Chris Matulis and sophomore Jordan Nicholson were less successful and allowed five runs in 2 1/3 combined innings.But junior reliever Paul Bertuccini cooled the Louisiana-Lafayette hitters to secure the win and pitched a career-high 3 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit.”I told him in the dugout after we took him out that there was the Paul Bertuccini that I’ve always known and loved,” Mainieri said.Sophomore Daniel Bradshaw closed the door on Louisiana-Lafayette and pitched the ninth inning and allowed a run.After a scoreless top half of the first, LSU struck for two runs off Louisiana-Lafayette pitcher Matthew Lackie.Sophomore second baseman DJ LeMahieu hit an RBI single with runners on the corners to score freshman shortstop Austin Nola, who had a base hit in the inning.Junior first baseman Sean Ochinko also scored on the play on a fielding error by Ragin Cajuns catcher Thad Griffen.Dean continued his torrid pace in the bottom of the third inning and hit a towering two-run home run just inside the right field foul pole to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead.The LSU junior was 2-for-3 on the game with two RBI.”Right now, I’m feeling pretty good,” Dean said. “I’m seeing the ball pretty good, and I’m taking some pitches that I shouldn’t be swinging at.”The Ragin’ Cajuns narrowed the gap to three runs in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by second baseman Kyle Bostick off Matulis, who relieved Ross in the top of the third inning.The Tigers added two runs in the fourth inning to give LSU a 6-1 lead.Sophomore catcher Micah Gibbs added a two-run home run for LSU. Gibbs was struggling coming into the game and was hitting just .240 on the season.But Louisiana-Lafayette’s bats were blazing in the top of the fifth inning and the Ragin’ Cajuns laced five two-out hits to score four runs and cut the lead to 6-5.But Bertuccini came into the game and cooled the rally and kept Louisiana-Lafayette off the scoreboard throughout his outing.”It’s good when you get ahead in the count because I was able to use all of my pitches,” Bertuccini said. “I’ve had problems with control this year, so it was good to get some first-pitch strikes.”Junior designated hitter Ryan Schimpf hit his team-high 12th home run to give LSU insurance again in the bottom of the sixth inning to put LSU ahead 9-5.LSU added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI fielder’s choice by Nola.—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]