Despite a rough first inning from another LSU starting pitcher, the bats didn’t fail the Tigers leading to a 14-6 defeat of UNO.
The Tigers were already down shortstop Josh Smith, but it was announced that center fielder Zach Watson was injured in pregame warmups. Watson did not play and junior outfielder Antoine Duplantis took over in center while Beau Jordan moved to right field.
LSU went with Cam Sanders on the mound looking to find some answers after a rough opening weekend for the starters.
Hitting the first batter you see on your first pitch of the game isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. Sanders began the game walking the first two batters including seven straight balls to open the game.
A blooper between the second baseman and center fielder dropped for a single, scoring UNO left fielder Jay Robinson before a single out was recorded. A passed ball two pitches later scored a runner from third, extending the first inning lead to 2-0.
Sanders was pulled for Trent Vietmeier without recording a single out, giving up three runs on two hits and one walk.
Vietmeier came in and once again impressed, striking out the first three batters he faced and more importantly, getting LSU out of the inning.
Neither starter wanted to throw strikes as UNO starter Zach Thompson came out and threw eight straight balls of his own, putting runners on first and second with no outs.
“I was really proud of the guys tonight,” Mainieri said. “Tonight I thought we swung the bats with great aggressiveness and I thought the guys really rose up and did a great job.”
A successful hit and run from junior center fielder Antoine Duplantis brought home two runs and catcher Hunter Feduccia brought home Duplantis on his first single.
One of the question marks LSU had coming into the game was how Hal Hughes would adjust to the starting shortstop job after Josh Smith went down with an injury. Hughes looked comfortable at short, making every play hit his way and went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
“It was pretty awesome to come out here and play in front of this crowd,” Hughes said. “I was trying to relax at the plate and I’ve been trusting my preparation and it worked out well tonight.”
Third baseman Jake Slaughter was on point defensively in his return to the lineup. The sophomore did go 1-for-4 but made two key throws to end innings for the Tigers.
LSU fell into a heavy slump offensively, not recording a hit from the second inning to the sixth inning. Slaughter and freshman left fielder Daniel Cabrera each picked up their first hit of the season and the Tigers poured it on UNO. The four runs scored in the sixth tied a season high for LSU and had them in front 8-5.
Four more runs in the seventh anchored by the bottom of the lineup sealed the deal for the Tigers.
Up next for LSU is a weekend series with Texas starting Friday at 7 p.m. with Zack Hess taking the mound for the second time.
