The baseball team started the season as many expected it would this past weekend, sweeping Nicholls State in two games.
LSU was hoping for a three game sweep, but the wet weather held off the third game until tonight.
Friday night’s game was the season debut for the Tigers, and the team proved just how ready it was for the season starter. With four homeruns on the night, LSU crushed not only the ball, but also the Colonels in a 12-1 victory.
“The poise of the older guys kind of excited me here tonight,” said head coach Smoke Laval. “With this first game, you get behind and you boot a ball, but it seemed like the older guys didn’t show any panic whatsoever. That is a good sign.”
One of those older guys who took charge was senior left-hander Lane Mestepey. In his first season opener start, Mestepey pitched 7 innings without allowing any earned runs on two hits and striking out four batters before being relieved by true freshman Eric English.
“It feels great to get back out there with no pain,” Mestepey said. “I felt like my old self out there, competing and getting groundballs. I knew when I threw strikes the defense would do the job for me.”
While Friday’s game was led by several veterans, game two proved to be an opportunity for the underclassmen to stand out, leading the Tigers past Nicholls in another blowout 19-2.
Sophomore Clay Dirks took the mound in Saturday’s match up and pitched six innings only giving up one run on two hits and striking out five.
“Dirks did what he was supposed to do and could have done better as the game went on,” Laval said. “He got into a groove, and I was satisfied with his first outing.”
Freshman Jordan Mayer snagged his first homerun of the season in the fifth inning and by that time the victory was sealed. Also contributing to the win was Michael Hollander — another true freshman.
The two freshmen debuted their collegiate career combining in four runs and seven RBIs, adding to the team’s 20 hits on the day.
“We figured going into the season we are going to swing the bats well through the year,” Laval said. “I like us offensively, but we still have a few question marks defensively. Our plan at the plate was good and our outs were hard.”
With the second win, LSU won the three game series. Due to heavy rain around Alex Box Stadium the final game against Nicholls State has been postponed until tonight at 6:30 p.m. Purchased tickets for Sunday’s game will be active for Monday’s match up.