The LSU Tigers got destroyed by the Northwestern State Demons on Wednesday night, being run-ruled 13-3.
The game got off to a late start after being delayed due to weather, starting at 7 p.m. instead of the 30-minute earlier anticipated start.
Freshman Derek Curiel had a game in the leadoff spot, sending the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first over the right center field fence.
Following suit in the bottom of the second, senior Josh Pearson sent a ball into the Left Field Landing in the Box increasing the Tigers lead to 2-0.
Starting pitcher Jaden Noot entered the night with a 3.94 ERA. Statistically he has the fifth lowest average on the team. His outing was characterized by some wild pitches and just three strikeouts over 41 pitches.
Noot finished his outing with a 4.42 ERA pitching for 2.1 innings, collecting two hits, two runs and three strikeouts.
A lightning delay came in the top of the third inning, pausing the game for an hour. After the game resumed at 9:22 p.m, the Tigers couldn’t get back on track and everything went downhill for the Purple and Gold.
The Tigers would give up 6 runs in the top of the third, handing the ball to three different pitchers in Noot, Cooper Williams and Connor Benge.
The Tigers gave up runs in the third and the 6th on wild pitches and fielding errors. Simple mistakes cost LSU big Wednesday night and caused the run deficit to continue to grow.
The Tigers had no offensive answers to the Demons until the bottom of the fifth when sophomore Jake Brown homered to right field. Unfortunately for LSU, it wouldn’t be enough to keep the Demons at bay.
The Demons would have another 3-run inning in the top of the 7th to give them a 10 point lead over the Tigers, which Jay Johnson’s squad couldn’t come up with an answer for.
The Tigers would cycle through seven pitchers in Wednesday’s game only collecting nine strikeouts, leading to worries about how the bullpen will answer against No. 6 ranked Tennessee this weekend.
Poor offensive and defensive performances will leave the Purple and Gold with a lot to work on before the Volunteers come to town on Friday for a three game weekend series.
The series against the reigning national champions will kick off at 6:30 p.m on Friday, April 25 at Alex Box Stadium.
