The LSU baseball team tries to extend its string of unbeaten games to seven tonight as the Tigers face the University of New Orleans at Zephyr Field at 6:30 p.m. in Metairie.
Ironically, the last time LSU (16-7-1) lost was at Zephyr Field against Tulane March 11.
The Tigers are coming off a road sweep of Southeastern Conference foe Georgia. In the series the Tigers’ bats warmed just as spring temperatures rolled in, scoring 28 runs in the three-game set.
“The weather is warming up a little bit, and it has a lot to do with swinging the bat,” said hitting instructor Turtle Thomas. “Now you’re getting guys that are getting into the 80s in the number of at-bats. They have faced some quality pitching in games against Houston and Long Beach State. The more often you see that type of pitching, the more ready you are to handle good pitching when you see it.”
Second baseman Blake Gill said the team believes in itself when each player steps into the batter’s box. Gill is batting .277 on the year.
Shortstop Aaron Hill leads the club with a .373 average and 21 RBIs. Outfielder Bruce Sprowl is hitting .341, followed by third baseman Ivan Naccarata who is at .337.
“It’s the confidence factor,” Gill said. “When a few guys get hot, it carries on to the rest of the team.”
One player who hit well this weekend was catcher Matt Liuzza. Liuzza, a true freshman who was pressed into the full-time catcher’s role because of a season-ending injury to regular Dustin Weaver, hit two home runs against UGA.
His solo home run Sunday in the ninth-inning gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead that would stand.
“It was good to help the team out,” Liuzza said. “It was a curveball — I was looking fastball — I adjusted quick enough to get the fat part of the bat on the ball.”
Thomas, also the catching coach, said Liuzza struggled defensively Saturday, and it carried over to the plate where he struggled.
“What Matt has to do is he must improve receiving, blocking and throwing; he’s very capable of that,” Thomas said. “He has to be able to separate offense from the defense to be good.”
Thomas said UNO (14-2) is a solid ballclub. The Privateers feature a crafty left-hander in Brandon Kling(2-4) who has a 4.62 ERA. UNO has lost six of its last nine.
“Their No. 1 pitcher, Kling is going to pitch against us,” Thomas said. “He’s very much like Joey Charron [of Tulane]. He’s a three pitch guy: fastball, curveball and change up. He’ll throw it away from you, he’ll come inside, and he’ll keep the ball down.”
Head coach Smoke Laval said Justin Meier (3-0, 1.21 ERA) will start and relief pitcher Brandon Nall (two saves, 2.45 ERA) could pitch for the first time since March 2.
“We’re trying to get some work in with some of our other pitchers,” Laval said. “We’re trying to keep a consistent offensive approach and keep the offense rolling and maybe try to step it up a notch.”