The LSU baseball team jumped six spots in the latest Baseball America Rankings, released Monday.
The Tigers (39-16-1, 18-11-1) were ranked No. 16 in this past week’s rankings. LSU closed the regular season with 16 straight wins — the third-longest win streak in LSU history — and wrapped up a Southeastern Conference Western Division title this past weekend with a sweep at Auburn.
LSU made an even bigger jump in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll, moving up eight spots from No. 21 to No. 13.
The Tigers are also ranked No. 8 in Collegiate Baseball’s latest rankings.
The Tigers, who are a No. 2-seed in the SEC tournament, face South Carolina in the first round of the tournament Wednesday morning.
LSU swept South Carolina in Alex Box Stadium earlier this season.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said in an SEC coaches’ teleconference Monday morning that he does not have an answer as to what has changed about his team in the past few weeks.
“If you look at our statistics, nothing really jumps off the page at you,” Mainieri said. “I think the kids are just playing great baseball in every phase, and it’s been a total team effort.”
Eight of the Tigers’ regular starters are batting over .300 this season, led by sophomore Blake Dean, who is batting .340.
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