The No. 19 LSU baseball team remained perfect this season with a 7-3 victory against Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday night on the heels of another dominant pitching performance and some shoddy fielding by the Lions.
Junior pitcher Tyler Jones (2-0) looked impressive in his second career start at LSU (8-0), lasting 6 1/3 innings while allowing two earned runs and striking out four.
Jones had command of his fastball early and effectively used all his pitches in nearly every count.
“Last week I only used my fastball and slider,” Jones said. “This week I actually used all my pitches. I threw quite a few curveballs and quite a few changeups. It was definitely a necessity because this was a better team.”
The Tigers didn’t have the offensive explosion they have shown for much of the season, but the Lions (6-2) aided their cause in LSU’s four-run second inning by committing three of their six total errors.
“When the other team makes mistakes, that’s when you really have to jump on them,” said LSU sophomore designated hitter Raph Rhymes.
The Tigers’ opposition has committed 21 errors in eight games this season.
The fielding woes were a boost to LSU’s scoring efforts, as its nine hits were its lowest single-game output this season.
Sophomore outfielder Mason Katz turned in the best offensive performance of the game for the Tigers, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Rhymes also continued his hot start, collecting two more RBIs.
Southeastern pulled within 5-3 in the eighth inning when cleanup hitter Jeff Harkensee crushed his fourth home run of the season into the right field bleachers, which was the first home run hit out to right field in Alex Box Stadium this season.
But a two-run bottom of the eighth pushed LSU’s lead to 7-3, and junior closer Matty Ott entered the game to close the door on a Southeastern rally.
After allowing a leadoff single in the ninth, Ott retired the next three batters in order, tallying two strikeouts and a groundout to seal the game. Ott was the fourth LSU pitcher used.
The Tigers don’t have time to rest, however, as they play host to Mississippi Valley State tonight at Alex Box Stadium.
Southeastern was regarded as LSU’s toughest test in this young season, but the Tigers shouldn’t have a problem with the Delta Devils.
Mississippi Valley State has lost all eight of its games this season while being outscored by 56 runs.
The two teams last met at the beginning of the 2009 season, when MVSU had the Tigers reeling early. LSU erased a four-run deficit to win the ballgame, relying on then-freshman Ott and former All-American Louis Coleman to combine for five shutout innings in relief.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said after the game he is unsure who will start tonight, adding it could be by committee.
 
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Contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]