Sloppy defense allows Houston to take two
Usually, the LSU baseball team relies on home runs and big innings to carry it to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. in June.
However, the 2002 version of LSU baseball is built around good pitching and strong defense.
And while the pitching has been relatively good early in the season, the defense has been one of the Tigers’ weaknesses as of late.
Through 11 games, the Tigers (8-3) have committed a total of 27 errors, including 12 in losing two out of three games this weekend to the Houston Cougars.
The Tigers’ defense was especially brutal in Sunday’s 12-11 loss to Houston at Cougar Field.
LSU committed seven errors in Sunday’s game alone, including three in the bottom of the ninth that cost the Tigers a chance at winning the series.
The Tigers, who dropped from third to ninth in this week’s Baseball America poll, committed three errors with two outs in the bottom on the ninth holding an 11-9 lead.
Overall, the Tigers gave up eight unearned runs in Sunday’s loss to Houston.
The Tigers know they must be more solid on defense.
“You can’t win many games when you commit seven or eight errors,” said senior right fielder Sean Barker. “We just have to play more games and get more experience and the defense will be there.”
The pitching staff seems to be coming around.
Friday starter Bo Pettit has a 1-1 record with a 3.66 earned run average, and Saturday starter Lane Mestepey, a freshman All-American last year, recorded his first win of the season Saturday over Houston, pitching a complete game in an 8-4 win and giving the LSU bullpen a much needed rest.
Sunday starter Jake Tompkins could not make his scheduled start over the weekend because of a strained oblique muscle, so freshman right-hander Clay Harris made an emergency start. Harris gave up six runs in two innings but only two of them were earned.
As a staff, the Tigers possess a 4.25 ERA with a .281 batting against average.
“The pitching overall has done real well,” junior pitcher Brad David said. “We want to keep getting better so we are pitching our best in May and June.”
Offensively, the Tigers are hitting the ball all over the park. They collected 38 hits in the three game series against the Cougars.
“Coach Laval has been moving around the lineup and everyone has been seeing the ball better,” Barker said. “The lineup has been working well and we are getting better every game.”
Barker leads the pack with a .422 batting average and 17 runs batted in.
Junior third baseman Wally Pontiff raised his average to .324, and as a team, the Tigers are batting .297.
However, the Tigers are still searching for a consistent power threat with six players tied for the team lead with one home run each.
The Tigers begin an 11 game home stand this weekend with a three game series against Long Beach State.
Dave Theard