The Tigers were able to find their footing on offense Tuesday night against Grambling as LSU won 13-2.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri decided to go with a different approach on the mound on Tuesday. Mainieri moved regular midweek starter Zack Hess and decided to majority of his bullpen.
The Tigers used 11 pitchers in the game, which is considered by Mainieri as the ‘Johnny Wholestaff’ approach.
“They all did a pretty good job,” Mainieri said. “We just needed to get all those guys out there and it worked out pretty well for us tonight.”
Freshman pitcher Todd Peterson, who is normally pitches in relief, threw one inning against Grambling before being replaced by sophomore pitcher Caleb Gilbert.
The Tigers also went the game without sophomore outfielder Antoine Duplantis and junior catcher Michael Papierski, who are normal starters, and the defense struggled with the adjustment in the first inning with two errors being made.
Peterson got off to a rocky start Tuesday with Grambling finding offense through multiple errors by the Tigers that led to two first inning runs.
LSU had the offense going right from the start with an RBI single from shortstop Kramer Robertson to cut the lead to 2-1.
Grambling replaced starting pitcher Christian Marquez three batters in, with no outs in the first inning after LSU got their first three batters on base.
With the bases loaded in the second for LSU with no outs, the heart of the LSU offense were unable to produce any runs.
An RBI triple from recently reinstated first baseman Jake Slaughter tied the game and a sac fly from third baseman Chris Reid gave LSU the 3-2 edge.
After a two game absence this past weekend for Slaughter, he was ready to get back on the field.
“I was really itching to get back out there,” Slaughter said. “I had some confidence having a good game at the plate and in the field and I can’t wait to get up there in Arkansas.”
LSU added an insurance run in the fourth off a sac fly from senior second baseman Cole Freeman to extend the lead to two runs and a two-run home run from freshman outfielder Zach Watson in the sixth put the Tigers up 6-2.
Two batters later, Robertson knocked a two run shot out of the ballpark extending the purple and golds lead to 8-2. LSU would lead 11-2 after six innings.
Next up for LSU is a weekend series against Arkansas starting Thursday in Fayetteville with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m.