Doug Norman’s season-ending injury leaves LSU’s baseball team without one of its best relievers.
Norman, who will require Tommy John surgery after suffering an injury against Maryland, was supposed to be the Tigers set up man. 
But now, sophomore pitcher Caleb Gilbert could be filling in for Norman’s role.
In LSU’s final game against Maryland, Gilbert pitched two innings in relief and struck out every batter that he faced, which earned him the win.
“Attack hitters and put up zeros,” Gilbert said of his mentality.
Gilbert, who started against New Orleans, said his role on the team, whether it be as a starter or in relief, does not matter to him.
“I’m just trying to go out there and get outs and pass it on to the next guy,” Gilbert said. “Whatever innings they need me for, I’m excited and up for the challenge.”
Following Gilbert, the other two relief pitchers that have seen the most time on the mound are senior pitcher Hunter Newman and freshman pitcher Todd Peterson.
In five appearances, Newman has thrown 4 1/3 innings and picked up two saves. Newman has no earned runs and has given up just three hits.
In four appearances, Peterson has thrown 5 2/3 innings and given up no earned runs and three hits. He earned his first career win with the Tigers against Nicholls State, taking out the order in the seventh inning with only seven pitches.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri is also high on a few other relievers.
Junior pitcher Hunter Kiel, senior pitcher Collin Strall, and senior pitcher Russell Reynolds.
The three relievers combined to give up 10 earned runs, nine hits, and one walked batter each in 1 1/3 innings.
“Russell and Strall are what they are,” coach Paul Mainieri said. “I know what I’m going to get out of those guys, and they can be very effective pitchers for us in the right situations. I think our pitching depth is going to be okay, and our bullpen is going to be okay.”
Despite the rough performance against New Orleans, Mainieri has remained confident in the bullpen ability after they avoided a rally in LSU’s 3-2 slim defeat over Nicholls State.
“As far as what order they go in, I like the way that looked last night,” Mainieri said. “But you don’t know if you’re going to have everybody available every day. It also depends on how deep our starting pitcher can go.”
In nine games, LSU’s bullpen has thrown 24 innings and six pitchers have yet to pick up an earned run.
The bullpen will receive its biggest test so far this season this weekend as the Tigers head to Houston to take on No. 1 TCU, Baylor, and No. 21 Texas Tech in the Shriners Hospitals For Children College Classic.