From top to bottom, the LSU baseball team is producing.
Head coach Smoke Laval started 13 different Tigers in the lineup during the three-game series with Northwestern State, and each produced at least one hit.
For many, it was their first game as a Tiger, and the Alex Box atmosphere is not what they were accustomed to in junior college or high school.
“I really enjoyed the whole weekend,” said left fielder Ryan Patterson, who started his first game for the Tigers Sunday, hitting 2-for-5 and scoring a run. “It’s really exciting getting to play in the weekend series. It is fun to be a part of, especially with all the fans going crazy.”
The emergence of the first year players is something the sixth-ranked Tigers had hoped for but did not expect.
“It seems it doesn’t matter who is in or not, everybody is producing,” said third baseman Aaron Hill. “It’s awesome that you can pinch hit somebody, and you know they can get the job done.”
Center fielder J.C. Holt said even though the Tigers played with two different lineups during the weekend series, they did not miss a beat.
“It’s nice when something like that can happen,” he said. “And I am surprised with the amount of depth we have on the team this year.”
Although they got off to a slow start from the plate Friday, the Tigers (3-0) came away with a .312 team batting average.
“I was surprised with the way we swung the bats,” Holt said. “We didn’t hit very well in fall practices. But I think we have more talent this year, and we’re a better team all around.”
The team travels to Shreveport Tuesday for a matchup with Centenary at 7 p.m, and head coach Smoke Laval is excited about the trip.
“This team is very close,” Laval said. “That’s why it’s going to be a fun ride up to Shreveport. The kids all get along real well, and they all go out to eat on Thursday nights together.”
With so many new players on the team, Laval is pleased that the veterans received them with open arms.
“We are pretty close this year,” Holt said. “We realize that is going to be part of what it takes to win games and a national championship.”
Tuesday night’s game will take place at Fair Grounds Field, the home of Shreveport’s former AA Texas League franchise.
This is the second year of a five-year agreement between LSU and the Shreveport Regional Sports Foundation which sends the Tigers north to Shreveport once a year.
“It’s real nice playing at the Fair Grounds,” Laval said. “It’s great for our fans up there [in Shreveport].”
The Tigers own a 20-game win streak against the Gents, the longest active streak against any opponent.
But the Tigers needed a comeback to pull off the victory in last season’s contest.
Down 6-5 in the top of the ninth inning, then-senior David Raymer stepped up to the plate with two on and two outs. Raymer was down in the count with two strikes before he reeled off a two-run double that put the Tigers ahead for good, 7-6.
Right-hander Justin Meier is the likely starter for Tuesday’s game, but Laval said he may decide to start Billy Sadler.