LSU baseball tied a program record, reaching 27 hits as a team in its 7-inning 27-5 win over VMI at Alex Box Stadium on Sunday.
The Tigers’ bats showed up against VMI after an underwhelming performance in Friday’s opener. LSU tied its hits record that was set on March 14, 1990, against Evansville. Not only was the program hits record tied, but LSU set a program record of 20 singles in a game and came up just shy of the program runs record.
The whole lineup was involved in the team’s offensive success, with 15 players getting on base throughout the game. Catcher Brady Neal turned in a particularly dominant performance.
Bats were hot in the first, with unneeded help from VMI’s sloppy defensive play, which plagued it all game. Neal drove in the first two runs of the game with a double down the first baseline. First basemen Jared Jones, left fielder Mac Bingham and right fielder Jake Brown drove in the rest, ending the inning up 5-0.
After a scoreless second inning, LSU put up seven runs in the third. Shortstop Michael Braswell III and second baseman Steven Milam both drove in runs with doubles. Neal then added on with a two-strike grand slam.
LSU added three runs in the fourth off five hits and a walk.
The Tigers had their biggest inning in the fifth with eight hits, an error and two walks, adding nine runs.
The final three runs of the game came in the sixth from three hits, a walk and an error.
Though Neal had a season-ending back injury in April of last season, he went 3-for-3 with six RBI on two doubles and a grand slam. He also delivered behind the plate, throwing out two runners.
“I think he’s one of our best players to be honest with you,” head coach Jay Johnson said. “He’s got ability and most importantly he really believes in himself.”
Another notable performance came from Milam, a freshman, who went 4-for-6 with three RBI and a double.
Javen Coleman started on the mound and shutout VMI in his three innings, with three strikeouts and two hits allowed in his 59-pitch performance.
In a highly anticipated freshman debut, left-hander Cam Johnson came out shaky, walking three of his first four batters, leading to VMI’s first run. In the fifth, Johnson walked three more, and Will Hellmers eventually came in to replace him on the mound. Johnson allowed four runs in his collegiate debut.
“My guess is he probably hasn’t pitched in front of a crowd of that size, just got a little sped up,” Jay Johnson said. “I had three guys that pitched in Omaha last year that were also sped up in their first appearance.”
Hellmers finished with one strikeout and two walks in his one inning pitched. He was followed by transfer Kade Woods, who allowed one run on two walks and a strikeout in his one inning. Aiden Moffett took the last inning, striking out one batter and allowing no runs.
Despite imperfect performances on the mound, record setting offense brought the Tigers the win over VMI.
“That’s really cool when you think about the history and only getting six times at the plate on offense,” Johnson said.