Last season, Quinn Stewart was not happy.
Playing in front of 50 people per game is not how he wanted to display his talents in his favorite sport.
During the offseason, Stewart transferred from Odessa Junior College (Texas) to LSU, where for the past four seasons the average attendance at Alex Box Stadium has surpassed 7,000.
“The best thing I’ve experienced [at LSU] is the fans,” Stewart said. “They come out to every game, and everybody is real into it.”
His nickname is simply “Q.” And the emblem “Q” hangs from a silver chain which stays around his neck at all times.
“I never take it off,” he said. “It’s sort of a superstition. It represents who I am. I am Q.”
Q said he is laid back. He acts like a clown and has a good time.
In his one year at Odessa, Stewart made another name for himself. He earned Third Team All-America honors as well as First Team All-Region credit after batting .420 on the season with 18 home runs and 74 RBIs.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Stewart also roped 21 doubles last season and currently leads the Tigers with four.
Stewart has settled nicely into his role for the Tigers. He has moved back-and-forth from lead off hitter to the two-hole and has produced in each setting.
He opened up the Tigers scoring Friday night versus Kansas with a lead-off, first-pitch home run, the first lead off homer in the first inning for the Tigers since Ryan Theriot’s blast against Alabama in the 2000 SEC Tournament. He complemented his home run with two doubles, finishing the game 3-for-5 in LSU’s 9-6 loss.
Although he came to Baton Rouge as an outfielder, Stewart has predominantly been used as the designated hitter. He has played outfield once this season, coming in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against Kansas.
“It really doesn’t matter where I am,” Stewart said. “Just as long as I can contribute to the team.”
Although lead-off hitters generally are more patient at the plate than other batters, Stewart said no matter where he is in the lineup his approach is the same.
“I just look for a good pitch to hit,” Stewart said. “I expect myself to hit with power.”
And even though power hitters do not normally bat so high in a lineup, Stewart said he believes the coaching staff expects him to hit with power as well as precision.
Entering tonight’s game against the University of Louisiana-Monroe, Stewart is batting .360 with one home run.
He said the team has not lost any confidence, despite being swept by Kansas.
“The whole time the seniors were trying to pick everybody up and keep them into it,” Stewart said. “We’re never out of the game.”
Stewart said he felt comfortable from the beginning as a Tiger because of the way he was received by the veteran members of the team.
“We [the newcomers] came in, and everybody welcomed us with open arms,” he said. “We are very close. We go out to eat as a team every Thursday night at different places in Baton Rouge.”
Stewart and the rest of the Tigers will attempt to get back on the winning track when head coach Smoke Laval’s former team enters Baton Rouge for the 6:30 start in Alex Box Stadium.
Laval coached ULM from 1994-2000. In four meeting against his former team, Laval is 4-0.
LSU pitching coach Brady Weiderhold served the same position in Monroe in 2000 and 2001.