The LSU baseball team concluded the cold, wet opening weekend Sunday with a 5-3 victory, completing the three-game series sweep against Northwestern State University in Alex Box Stadium.
The Tigers were more aggressive at the plate this weekend than at this same time last season, according to head coach Smoke Laval.
“I think I can see it in the guys faces,” Laval said. “They have more confidence. We still have a ways to go, and we’ll see if we can overcome [some of those obstacles].”
Right fielder Jon Zeringue had a burst of power this weekend. He blasted a 3-run home run in Saturday’s 10-5 win and hit one to the warning track in Sunday’s game that nearly cleared the fence. Zeringue came away from the series with a .333 batting average, three RBIs and three runs scored.
The play of the Tigers’ newcomers — especially pitchers Nate Bumstead and Brandon Nall — impressed Laval.
Bumstead saw his first action on the mound Sunday, starting in place of Bo Pettit who was sidelined with the flu. He earned the win, giving up two runs through seven innings.
“I kind of got excited and the juices started flowing,” Bumstead said.
He controlled the tempo of the game, using short intervals between pitches and forcing the Demons to bat at his pace.
“I’m really not a strikeout guy,” he said. “I try to hurry up and pitch the ball over the plate and allow my defense behind me to make plays.”
Nall finished opening weekend with two saves to his credit. The side-armed slinger entered the Friday game and recorded the final two outs, securing the 2-1 win. He entered Sunday’s game with runners on the corners in the eighth and forced a crucial double play to get out of the inning.
Left fielder Ryan Patterson started his first game in an LSU jersey Sunday and went 2-for-5, scoring a run.
Laval said he would not be surprised if Patterson becomes the full-time starter in left and hits in the three-hole before season’s end.
      Third baseman Aaron Hill said the play of the new guys was nice but not surprising.
“We know we can rely on our 1-through-9 hitters to make a play or any pitcher to come in and get in some work,” Hill said. “It is good to see them doing it this early in the season in front of this many fans.”
The versatile Blake Gill finished the series batting 6-for-14 (.462) and recording 26 putouts while playing first and second base.
Last season Gill began the season on a 0-for-17 slump and said it was important for him to get off to a good start. His teammates said Gill played like an All-American throughout the weekend.
“It feels good to come out opening weekend and play like I did,” Gill said. He played Friday’s and Saturday’s games at first base but moved to second for the start of Sunday’s game. He moved back to first in the eighth inning.
“I like moving around like that,” Gill said. “It keeps me on my toes, and it makes the game a little more fun.”
Laval said it is always nice to have a player like Gill on the team. Although he usually plays first and second base for the Tigers, Gill was Most Valuable Player of his summer baseball league playing shortstop, but Laval thinks he is best at second.
Gill said he established himself as a leader on the team, along with Hill, and said sweeping the first series of the year gets the Tigers off to the start they were looking for.
“Coming into a series like this, you want to start off 3-0,” Gill said. “Even one loss in the opening series is not good. This puts us on the right track.”
Starting pitchers Jake Tompkins and Brian Wilson answered the expectations this weekend.
Tompkins — Friday’s starter — struck out 11 of the 21 batters he faced in 5 2/3 innings pitched and allowed four hits and no runs.
Wilson garnered the win Saturday, giving up five runs (three earned) through 5 2/3 innings.
The Tigers return to the diamond Tuesday in Shreveport against Centenary. The first pitch is at 7 p.m.