For the first time in three seasons, the LSU baseball team is the top-ranked team in the nation as Collegiate Baseball ranked the Tigers No. 1 in its latest poll, while Baseball America has LSU at No. 3 and No. 5 by ESPN/USA Today.
But heading into this weekend’s series against Texas State-San Marcos, the rankings and polls are the last thing on the Tigers’ mind this weekend as the focus is on the Bobcats and getting better as a team.
“You can only look at it so much,” said first baseman Clay Harris, who is hitting .375 with a team-high nine RBIs. “It’s nice people think that way of your team, but that’s about all we take out of it. We’ve still got to go out there and play. Sometimes, that No. 1 ranking can be a curse. Probably half the team does not know that we’re ranked No. 1. We’ve just got to go out and play the ballgame no matter what we’re ranked.”
A three-game sweep of Jacksonville State helped the Tigers get its top ranking. The last time the Tigers were ranked No. 1 was April 30, 2001 when USA Today had LSU on top of its poll.
“To tell you the truth, we never ever talk about that,” said third baseman Ivan Naccarata. “Some guys may think of that, but we’re here to play ballgames and get ready for the SEC. If we’re not ready for the SEC then that ranking will fall real quick. We’re concentrating on getting better.”
The Tigers (7-1) swept Jacksonville State 6-1, 14-2 and 19-1 and were scheduled to play Southeastern Louisiana in the first Wally Pontiff Jr. Baseball Classic on Wednesday. However, the game was postponed because of inclement weather and rescheduled for April 14 at Zephyr Field.
LSU came alive offensively in the last two games after Friday’s 6-1 win when the Tigers struck out 13 times. They only had two strikeouts on Saturday and six on Sunday.
“Coach got on us about that and it showed Saturday and Sunday,” Naccarata said. “It’s all about concentration. Sometimes you get out there and you press because you want to do so good. Some guys have low batting averages and you want to try and bring them up, like me, and you try too hard and try to do too much.”
Naccarata came into last weekend in a hitting slump and responded with a 3-for-8 performance, a home run and six RBIs. He raised his average to .192 and looks to keep improving this weekend.
“It seemed like I was pressing too much,” he said. “The thing to do during rough times is stay persistent and work on what you have to work on, then things will fall into place.”
Harris, who had four RBIs against Jacksonville State, said the Tigers have to be ready for today’s 6:30 p.m. opener.
“Last weekend isn’t going to do anything for us this weekend,” he said. “We’ve got to come out with the same intensity and the same focus and try and take three from Texas State and come and swing the bats.”
The Tigers will start Justin Meier (1-0, 2.13 ERA) against left-hander Paul Schappert (1-1, 6.16). Meier has 13 strikeouts in two starts.
The Bobcats (8-3) will send right-hander Brian Hurley (1-1, 6.91) against Tigers’ lefty Lane Mestepey (2-0, 2.86) in Saturday’s 2 p.m. tilt.
Texas State lefty Tom Robins (2-1, 2.86) matches up against Nate Bumstead in Sunday’s game at noon.
Bumstead, who has been recovering from a shoulder injury, was supposed to start Wednesday against Southeastern. His only action of the season was a 2 2/3 inning relief performance against Central Florida where he gave up four hits, three walks and two runs.
Bumstead will replace Clay Dirks. Pitching coach Brady Wiederhold said the move was not made because of Dirks. He said the coaches just wanted to get Bumstead an opportunity.
“We’ve got to get [Bumstead] back out there since he didn’t get to pitch [Wednesday against Southeastern],” Wiederhold said. “[Dirks has] done fine. You can’t complain with his effort. We just need to get Bumstead in there and get him back in the action a little bit.”
Bumstead, who was one of LSU’s leading pitchers in 2003 at 11-4 and a 4.42 ERA, said he is excited about his opportunity.
“I was excited Tuesday for my start on Wednesday,” Bumstead said. “I got up Wednesday morning and checked the Internet for information on the team we’d be facing, and at 10 a.m. it gets rained out. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, and then Brady [Wiederhold] tells me I am going to start Sunday. I can’t wait to throw.”