The mustache lives another week.
LSU senior starting pitcher Jared Poche’ extended his streak of scoreless innings to 29 as LSU takes the weekend series against Wichita State, winning 12-5 on Saturday behind 17 hits.
“Poche did what he does, and now it looks like I have to put up with that stupid mustache for another week,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “I thought we played a really super game. We hit in the clutch a lot.”
Poche’ (3-0) pitched a total of seven innings, allowing four hits, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts.
“Today was a grind for me,” Poche’ said. “I didn’t have great stuff today. I didn’t have a putaway pitch early on. I was able to duck through it and make pitches when I needed to and the defense played great tonight.”
Poche’ emphasized that while the streak remains, he just wants the team to win.
“It’s been a great run so far, and I’m just hoping I can keep it going as long as possible,” Poche’ said. “My job is to go out there and put up as many zeros as possible. As long as we’re winning, I’m happy.”
It wasn’t just Poche’s pitching that led the Tigers to victory.
In the bottom of the third inning, LSU loaded the bases with its leadoff hitters.
Senior shortstop Kramer Robertson singled into right field, and senior second baseman Cole Freeman followed with a bunt single that moved Robertson to second base. Sophomore outfielder Antoine Duplantis lined a single to left to finish it off.
Freshman first baseman Jake Slaughter flied out to center field to score Robertson, and an RBI single down the third base line from freshman outfielder Zach Watson put LSU ahead 2-0.
An RBI single from Slaughter in the fifth inning scored another run for LSU and put runners on the corners for the Tigers.
Watson blasted a home run to right field that put LSU ahead 6-0. His first of the season.
“I think Zach Watson provided a real spark for our team,” Mainieri said. “He’s an electric athlete. He’s got a wiry strength about him and I think he deserved himself another start tomorrow for sure.”
Home runs from both junior catcher Michael Papierski and junior right fielder Greg Deichmann helped LSU extend the lead to double digits, 10-0 in the bottom of sixth.
The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the seventh inning, and entered the top of the ninth inning with a 12-0 lead.
Junior pitcher Hunter Kiel loaded the bases in the ninth inning, and walked two runs in. Mainieri brought in senior pitcher Collin Strall to get the final three outs, but all five runs were credited to Kiel in the ninth inning.
LSU now faces Wichita State at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday in the final game of the series.