While many University students were floating in the ocean during spring break, the LSU baseball team was sinking.
The Tigers were swept by No. 4 Vanderbilt this past weekend and lost their series to Auburn the first weekend of the break.
LSU (24-17, 4-14) sprinkled in a win in the Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic against No. 15 Southern Miss between the two Southeastern Conference series losses but has now dropped eight of its last nine SEC games.
“As far as I’m concerned there’s no tomorrow,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “There’s no moral victories. It’s time to go out there and get the job done.”
LSU sits in last place in the SEC West, three games behind fifth-place Mississippi State (24-16, 7-11). LSU shares the same record as Kentucky for last place in the entire SEC.
“I’m a little ashamed that we’re in the position we’re in right now,” Mainieri said. “I’m sure I’ve let a lot of people down, but this season’s not over, and we’re going to fight right to the end.”
Before LSU can possibly redeem itself in the SEC it will play Nicholls State tonight with freshman pitcher Ryan Eades on the mound.
LSU traveled to Nicholls for its first road trip this season March 16. The Tigers battled back for a narrow 12-8 victory after falling behind, 6-0, in the first inning.
Eades is in the middle of the pack among Tiger pitchers with a 5.68 ERA in 19 innings. His 10 walks are the second most among pitchers not in the weekend starting rotation, but Mainieri still has confidence in his young hurler.
“I believe Ryan Eades has the ability to be an impact pitcher in this program,” Mainieri said. “I’m talking about a weekend starter next year.”
Starting pitching, which had been one of the few consistencies for LSU to start the season, struggled mightily against Vanderbilt. Each LSU starter allowed five runs or more in each game this weekend.
Freshman Kurt McCune surrendered eight runs in 3 2/3 innings Friday, freshman Kevin Gausman held Vanderbilt to one run until allowing four in the sixth inning Saturday and senior Ben Alsup lasted only 2 2/3 innings Sunday, giving up six runs on nine hits and three walks.
“The way Alsup pitches there’s just a very small margin for error,” Mainieri said. “He wasn’t hitting spots and got behind in counts.”
The pitchers received no help from the Tiger bats until late in the third game. LSU hit .212 and registered 11 runs to Vanderbilt’s 31 in the series. The Commodores scored at least 10 runs in each game.
Sophomore right fielder Mason Katz wasn’t available in the series and is out at least two more weeks after fracturing his hand in the third game of the Auburn series.
“We were outmanned this weekend,” Mainieri said Monday. “There’s no question about it. They had a pitching staff that rivaled Florida’s.”
LSU won’t have to play another top-10 team this season. The Tigers already faced Vanderbilt and then-No. 1 Florida and won’t see No. 2 South Carolina in the regular season.
The final four SEC teams LSU plays this season — Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi State — are all unranked.
“Other teams in the Western Division have very tough schedules ahead of them,” Mainieri said. “I guess you could say probably more difficult schedules than we do.”
Mainieri said he’s still hopeful about making the postseason, and a late push could define the Tigers’ season.
“If we’re worthy of being in the SEC tournament and being in the NCAA tournament, we’re going to prove it over these next four weekends,” he said.
Follow Rowan Kavner on Twitter @TDR_Kavner.
 
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Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]