LSU pitcher Nate Bumstead faced a lot of questions coming into his first start of the season against Texas State.
Consider at least some of them answered.
Bumstead gave up only two runs in six innings and Ryan Patterson had a career-high five RBIs as LSU defeated Texas State (8-6)13-2 Sunday to sweep the three-game series.
The Tigers’ leader last season in wins and innings pitched, Bumstead’s season was in jeopardy after an MRI revealed he had suffered a tear in the labrum of his right shoulder during a intrasquad game Feb. 3.
Following the injury, Bumstead pitched without pain in a workout Feb. 12, but was shaky in his first appearance of the season. He gave up two runs and four hits in two innings of relief during LSU’s 6-5 loss at Central Florida, its only defeat of this year.
LSU coach Smoke Laval said he was pleased with the way Bumstead rebounded Sunday.
“[Bumstead] looked very good,” Laval said. “The good thing is he only gave them two, and that was it. He took the game over right then.”
Bumstead (1-0) said he feels the injury will not prevent him from repeating his 2003 performance.
“I think I can put up the exact same numbers I put up last year,” Said Bumstead. “I’m hoping to put up some better numbers, kind of drop my ERA a little bit. With the run support on Sunday I don’t see any reason why I can’t win 11 or 12 games again.”
The Tigers (9-1) opened the weekend series with a dominating 10-1 victory Friday night. Sophomore pitcher Justin Meier (2-0) allowed just four hits in 7 1/3 innings of work, and the LSU offense lit up the Texas State pitching staff, scoring in double-digits for the third straight game.
NIck Stavinoha, Patterson, and Will Harris homered for the Tigers and catcher Matt Liuzza had three hits while Jon Zeringue added two hits and two RBIs.
Friday’s offensive explosion did not carry over into Saturday’s game, but the Tigers still managed to squeeze out a win 2-1.
LSU pitcher Lane Mestepey allowed Texas State their only run in the top of the third inning when Jose Rodriguez scored on Evan Tierce’s RBI single. With runners on first and third, and two outs Patterson made a diving catch to get the Tigers out of the inning.
The Tigers tied the game on Zeringue’s solo home run in the bottom of the third, and scored what proved to be the winning run on Ivan Naccarata’s ground ball to second base.
Mestepey (2-0), pitching in his third start since missing all of the 2003 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, threw 6 2/3 innings allowing seven hits and striking out three.
“I threw 100 pitches today, and that was a good thing for me,” said the two-time first team All-Southeastern Conference pitcher. “I can gradually feel it getting better, and I’m starting to kind of get in the groove and I’m starting to pitch better now.”
With the sweep, the Tigers, ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball Magazine, extended their winning streak to seven games, their longest string of victories since April 7-19, 2002.
LSU returns to action Tuesday at 7 p.m. when they travel to Zephyr Field to take on No. 13 Tulane.