With all the pomp and circumstance completed after the opening day ceremonies at Alex Box, the Tigers were ready to begin the remainder of their 55 regular-season games in a normal fashion.The first of those 55 went as planned, as the Tigers (2-0) defeated the Wildcats of Villanova (0-2), 11-1.”We got a lot better today,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “Yesterday was a unique day, but today was more relaxed. If we can keep improving like this, we have a chance to be a very special team.”Junior right fielder Jared Mitchell scored the first run of the game from second on a hit-and-run single by junior first baseman Sean Ochinko in the bottom of the second. Two more runs scored later in the inning on a 2-RBI single by junior second baseman Ryan Schimpf to put the Tigers up, 3-0.”That big single early loosened everyone up,” Mainieri said. “When you have a lineup from one to nine that you are confident in, then their pitcher won’t get a rest.”LSU didn’t look back, scoring 2 more runs in the third when sophomore catcher Micah Gibbs tripled off the top of the centerfield wall, scoring junior designated hitter Blake Dean. Gibbs later scored on a single by sophomore shortstop DJ LeMahieu.Villanova (0-2) scored its first run of the game on a home run to left field by first baseman Kyle Carver in the top of the fourth to bring the score to 5-1, but LSU sophomore center fielder Leon Landry answered with a homer to right in the bottom of the inning to put the Tigers back up by five.Landry added another homer in the sixth inning to put the Tigers up 8-1.”I said at the beginning of the year that I wanted to come out and be productive at the plate,” Landry said. “I showed everyone today that I can do that.”Freshman first baseman Beau Didier hit a home run in his first at bat as a Tiger in the eighth inning to put LSU up 11-1. Didier is the first Tiger to hit a home run in his first at bat at LSU since Dean in 2007.Sophomore Anthony Ranaudo (1-0) got the win on the mound for the Tigers in his second career start for the team, pitching 87 pitches in five innings. He gave up one earned run on three hits while striking out seven.Ranaudo struggled in the second inning, loading the bases with only one out after a quick three up-three down first inning. He got himself out of the jam by striking out the next two batters.”It feels good to get that first start under my belt,” Ranaudo said. “I didn’t have my best stuff, but it’s just nice to get that first start and be able to move onto the next one.”Freshman Marry Ott and sophomore Daniel Bradshaw to finished the game on the mound for the Tigers, giving up no runs.GAME NOTESThe game included an all-black outfield to start the game – possibly the first in LSU history. Sophomore Chad Jones played left field, Landry played center field, and Mitchell played right field.The trio combined to go 4-9 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and two stolen bases.
 
 
 
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Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]