LSU baseball icons Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes faced off for the first time in the MLB after playing at LSU together for a season.
Skenes and Crews were crowned national champions at LSU in 2023 and were both drafted in the 2023 MLB draft. Skenes was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No. 1 pick and Crews was selected by the Washington Nationals with the No. 2 pick.
Skenes got the best of Crews the first time facing him, forcing a ground right back to the mound. In the second time around, Skenes got ahead 0-2, but Crews worked a full count before grounding out to third base.
Skenes exited after throwing 99 pitches through 6.0 innings of work. He forced Crews to hit into two groundouts in two at-bats.
However; this wasn’t the first time they faced off. In the second game of the 2021 season, No. 12 LSU took on Air Force at Alex Box Stadium.
Crews’ first career home run was also Skenes’ first career earned run.
Skenes came into the game in the ninth inning to hold a 6-4 lead over the Tigers. Crews took a 95 mph fastball deep to left field. Skenes proceeded to shut down the Tigers and record his first career save.
Throughout his major league start against Crews’ team, Skenes allowed just three hits and two runs, only one earned, while striking out six batters.
Crews ended the game 0-4 amidst a sluggish start to his season. He’s hitting .161 thus far and was the last qualified player to tally a hit to begin the season.
