Saturday’s double header against the Fordham rams was started with an offensive drubbing., That, combined with John Valek III’s third solid start of the year, made Saturday exactly the kind of afternoon the Tigers wanted.
Through his first two innings, John Valek III was as good as you could hope for. He struck out one while only allowing one runner, which he walked. He only went through 30 pitches in those first two innings, which he meant he didn’t have to work tire himself out going through the Forham lineup for the first time. Ram’s pitcher Joseph Serrapica didn’t have to so easy early on. After giving up a single and a base on a wild pitch to Jake Fraley, he surrenderred the first run of the game on a Beau Jordan double. Although that would be all the damage done in that inning, his troubles would be far from over. In the second, Jordan Romero would hit a homerun, which would start a five run rally that would include a couple more base hits and yet another homerun, the later by Jake Fraley. After two innings, Serrapica threw 45 pitches, gave up six runs on six hits. He would come back in for the third, where he had a much easier time.
Valek would continue to cruise, giving up only one run on one hit in the fourth. With only 68 pitches through the first four innings, he was doing a good job of controlling his pitch count. That continued into the fifth, where he would only give up a single. Serrapica would be done after four innings, ending his day with six earned runs on seven hits. His replacement, Ryan Davis, struggled right away, putting on three while only getting one out. That would come to hurt him, as Beau Jordan would score on a wild pitch, followed by a grounder that would score Bryce Jordan. After a walk, he would be taken out. His replacement, Moshup Galbraith, would get the Rams out of the jam. LSU would also start to use its bullpen, as Hunter Newman came in to replace Valek after 5 innings. Valek only gave up one run while only allowing three hits.
Newman would go through his first innings without allowing a hit. Galbraith would be back in for the sixth, although an error and a base hit put him in trouble almost immediately. A Bryce Jordan single would score two. Jordan would come around to score on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 11-1. For LSU, Riley Smith would be brought in to pitch in the seventh, where he had no issues and was able to put away the side in order. For Fordham, yet another pitcher would come in to try and reign in the Tiger offense. This time it was Ryan Remo, who would give up an inside the park homerun to Chris Reid. For the Tigers, Austin Bain would come in for the eighth inning. Fordham’s bullpen would use yet another arm, as Anthony Zimmerman came in to replace Remo. He would give up two more runs on a couple of hits and walks. The two bullpens could not have performed more differently.  Fordham’s couldn’t get out of innings and seemed to always give up big hits and long stretches of scoring. Through the five innings that it was used, it gave up nine runs on six hits and four walks. For the Tigers, relief pitching was spectacular. LSU’s relievers gave up no runs and no hits, with all four relievers seeing an inning of action. The reason for so many LSU arms’ seeing so little action was that there was a game still to be played later that night.
LSU showed some muscle in the first game of Saturday’s double header. It jumped ahead early and never looked back. 15 runs is a big offensive accomplishment, no matter who you’re facing. The pitching was spectacular. When your entire staff only gives up three hits and one run, there really isn’t much more you can ask for. John Valek now has three wins on three appearances. Through the first three weeks of the season, he has solidified himself as a part of the top three in the LSU rotation.