Senior Buzzy Haydel made his pitching debut.
Sophomore Chad Jones got his first at bats since returning from spring football.
And LSU coach Paul Mainieri coached third base for the first time this season with hitting coach out Javi Sanchez recruiting.
But on a night of many firsts at Alex Box Stadium, it was two of LSU’s most steady players that carried the Tigers to their sixth straight win.
Thanks to a combined 7-for-8 performance with four combined home runs and six RBI from junior left fielder Ryan Schimpf and junior designated hitter Blake Dean, the Tigers pounded Tulane, 13-2, on Wednesday night.
“Those kids have something special about them,” Mainieri said. “Not only do they have the talent, but their attitude, self confidence and approach to the game are so exemplary.”
The game was called after the top of the seventh inning, and the 10-run rule was implemented.
Both coaching staffs met and decided it was best to save their pitchers for the weekend with LSU holding a large lead.
The game was just 3-2 in the fifth inning when Schimpf and Dean sparked a 10-run LSU rally. The duo combined to hit back-to-back home runs twice in the inning, pushing the game out of reach.
Dean now has 37 career home runs, moving him into 10th place on the all-time LSU home run list.
But LSU’s junior said he just hopes to catch Schimpf for the team lead in home runs before the year ends.
“I think that first homer might have been the farthest I’ve hit since I’ve been at LSU,” Dean said.
 
—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]