The Major League Baseball draft does not begin until June 4. LSU head coach Paul Mainieri isn’t waiting until then to predict where sophomore ace Kevin Gausman will be selected. After watching Gausman stymie Vanderbilt hitters in a complete game 2-1 victory Friday night, Mainieri asserted that Gausman won’t have to wait long to hear his name called. “That’s what the top pick in the [MLB] draft looks like,” Mainieri said. Gausman dazzled the 6,535 Tiger fans in Alex Box Stadium with 11 strikeouts, while giving up only five hits in his second career complete game, helping the Tigers (39-11, 17-8 Southeastern Conference) clinch at least a share of the SEC West crown. “I think this is the best my stuff, combined, has been,” Gausman said. “I felt really comfortable out there throwing any pitch on any count.” After throwing three straight balls to start the game and struggling to find consistent control through the first three innings, Gausman went on a tear, retiring 17 of the next 19 batters with his trademark overpowering fastball. With the Tigers clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, Gausman gave up a one out single to Commodore shortstop Anthony Gomez, prompting a visit from Mainieri. “I was like ‘Coach, I know you’re not going to take me out here,'” Gausman said. Mainieri stuck with his ace, who got Conrad Gregor to bounce into a double play to preserve the win for the Tigers. Senior designated hitter Grant Dozar sparked the otherwise anemic Tiger offense in the second inning with an RBI single that scored junior left fielder Raph Rhymes. Sophomore catcher Ty Ross followed suit with an RBI single that scored Dozar, which would be all the run support Gausman required. Vanderbilt (24-25, 11-14 SEC) had a sophomore ace of their own in TJ Pecoraro who matched Gausman pitch for pitch, throwing eight innings and surrendering only five hits in a losing effort. “The guy threw three pitches for a strike, and pretty much threw them whenever he wanted,” Dozar said. “He kept us off balance.” The Tigers will look to clinch the outright SEC West title Saturday when they face the Commodores at 7 pm on senior night at Alex Box Stadium. ____ Contact Chandler Rome at [email protected]
Baseball: Gausman throws complete game in 2-1 victory against Vanderbilt
May 10, 2012