With the LSU men’s basketball team’s losing streak reaching double digits, baseball couldn’t come soon enough for most Tiger fans. LSU plowed through opening weekend foe Wake Forest, providing plenty of noteworthy stats and quotes.
NOTABLE
LSU has swept every opening weekend in the new Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers won all three games against both Villanova in 2009 and Centenary last season.
Opening night’s paid attendance of 12,070 was the second-most in LSU history, and the actual attendance of 10,055 was the most in school history.
Junior outfielder Mikie Mahtook slammed four home runs into the leftfield bleachers, his only four hits of the series.
Freshman pitcher Kevin Gausman forced 13 of the 21 batters he faced Saturday into a two-strike count. In the first five instances, he failed to get a strikeout, the last of which resulted in a home run. From that point on, he managed to strike out six of the last eight batters who saw a two-strike count.
More than half of the 25 batters faced by Wake Forest starting pitcher Austin Stadler on Friday scored, as the junior lefty allowed 13 runs to cross the plate.
Junior pitcher Matty Ott made his first appearance of the year in the ninth inning Saturday, inheriting a 2-1 count and a runner on first base. He punctuated the 28th save of his career with a strikeout on a sinker and is now just one save shy of the LSU career saves record.
Gallery: Baseball vs. Wake Forest
The Tigers managed double-digit hit totals in all three games, but spread the success around. No player had multiple hits in every game.
Sophomore outfielder Mason Katz had a weekend of firsts, making his first home start Friday night and bombing the first home run of his career Sunday. He is tied with Mahtook for the team lead in RBIs with six.
Junior left fielder Trey Watkins didn’t record a hit until his ninth at-bat of the series but made his first one count, notching an RBI single that helped jump start the Tigers’ five-run third inning Sunday.
Freshman pitcher Kurt McCune, who made his first career start Sunday, allowed no hits through the first five innings. He finished with just one hit allowed, no runs, and seven strikeouts in six innings.
Freshman outfielder Spencer Ware, fresh off his 102-yard Cotton Bowl rushing performance, opened his baseball career by knocking in an RBI single in his first at-bat and collecting a hit and walk in two other plate appearances.
With two blowout victories comprising most of their weekend, LSU coach Paul Mainieri used 26 different players against the Demon Deacons.
QUOTABLE
Ott on the reception he got upon entering the game:
“I struggled. It’s no hidden secret around here. I struggled last year, and I believe a lot of them want to see me succeed and get back on track. I think they have a little extra support.”
Related Story: Baseball: LSU sweeps Wake Forest in season-opening series, Mahtook slams four home runs
Mahtook on the new NCAA-mandated baseball bats:
“You can’t worry too much about it. You just go up there and try to put a good swing on the ball and see where it goes.”
Katz on his teammates’ reaction to his home run:
“They’ve been bugging me … telling me it’s impossible to hit a home run. It’s good to prove my teammates wrong.”
Gausman on his Alex Box Stadium debut:
“It’s just an unbelievable environment. … [the] respect that they give you, it’s just amazing. It was a lot more than I expected.”
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Contact Ryan Ginn at [email protected]
Baseball: Pitchers shine during opening weekend against Wake Forest
February 20, 2011