At a university where nearly every athletic program is nationally relevant, there’s never a shortage of options. There are always electric playmakers to be found.
The Reveille Athlete of the Week is LSU baseball pitcher Kade Anderson.
Starting in the series opener against No. 10 Oklahoma, Anderson pitched a complete-game shutout. The last time that happened for LSU was AJ Labas in 2018.
Anderson threw 135 pitches throughout the night, 91 of them for strikes (67%). He notched career-highs in pitches, innings and strikeouts.
The Tiger ace now leads all NCAA DI pitchers in strikeouts with 75. He also ranks eighth in the SEC in ERA at 2.85 and ninth in opponent batting average at .219. Anderson is the only pitcher in the SEC with a 6-0 record.
“I thought Kade just hit another gear tonight,” head coach Jay Johnson said. “That was literally the definition of getting better as the game goes along.”
His nine-inning outing ended with 14 strikeouts, no runs allowed, five hits and two walks. In five of the nine innings he retired the side in order, including the last three.
Anderson repeatedly denied scoring opportunities whenever the Sooners threatened, showing consistent poise and competitiveness.
“He was pitching with great tempo and getting ahead in the count more as the game went along, and I didn’t think their hitters were seeing him very well,” Johnson said.
With the offense only producing two runs, the sophomore’s pitching was pivotal to securing the series opener.
Anderson was even asked to deliver as a fielder in the eighth inning. On a short hop towards third, he rushed to field the ball before turning around and beating the runner for the out.
Going a full game also allowed Johnson to keep both Zac Cowan and Casan Evans in his back pocket. This was a tremendous asset in eventually securing the sweep and moving to 10-2 in the SEC.
This new level seen out of Anderson comes at the perfect time as LSU prepares to take on the tougher teams of the SEC.
The Tigers next weekend series is against No. 16 Auburn on April 11 at 6 p.m.
