LSU must not have thought its new home was clean enough because it began the inaugural series at new Alex Box Stadium with a sweep. “Coach [Paul Mainieri] stressed that it was going to be a tough ball game with the cold and wind like it is,” said LSU junior second baseman Ryan Schimpf. “Indiana came out last year and beat us in the third game of the series, so he just wanted to make sure we kept our focus and finished the job.” LSU (3-0) defeated Villanova (0-3) on Sunday, 6-3, before a crowd of 5,994. “I told our kids yesterday after the game that we got a lot better from Friday to Saturday and we showed what kind of team we are capable of being,” Mainieri said. Austin Ross earned the victory for the Tigers on the mound. The sophomore pitcher lasted six innings, striking out four and giving up only one earned run on four hits. Villanova got the first hit of the game with a two-out double by senior first baseman Kyle Carver in the top of the second. Kevin Wager drove in Carver with a triple to center field, picking up his third RBI of the series. The Wildcats threatened again in the top third. Villanova freshman third baseman Matt Szczur was hit by a pitch and reached second base on a sacrifice bunt by senior right fielder Joe Cotter. Szczur stole third then tried to steal home but was thrown out, keeping the score, 1-0, after the top of the third inning. Schimpf evened the score when he blasted a solo homer to deep right field with two outs in the bottom of the third. “That home run he hit was very spectacular,” Mainieri said. “I thought it landed on the other side of the railroad tracks.” LSU junior outfielder Blake Dean and sophomore catcher Micah Gibbs then drew consecutive walks, and sophomore shortstop DJ LeMahieu drove them both in with a triple to left center field. The Tigers scored again in the bottom of the fourth after junior Chris McGhee, who started in right field in place of junior Jared Mitchell knocked a double to left field with one out. Sophomore center fielder Leon Landry picked up a RBI with two outs on a ball that dropped just in front of Villanova freshman shortstop Marlon Calbi, stretching the lead to, 4-1. Villanova freshman pitcher Kyle Helisek was pulled after 3 2/3 innings when he gave up five runs on six hits. LeMahieu hit another triple with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. He became the first LSU player to hit game with two triples since Jeff Leaumont did it against Kentucky on May 16, 1999. The two teams combined for eight triples in the first series in the new Alex Box. “The dimensions are the same and everything’s the same,” LeMahieu said. “I guess it’s just luck.” LSU freshman Ben Alsup took the mound in the top of the seventh and struck out one during his scoreless inning. LSU freshman Spencer Matthews replaced Alsup to begin the eighth. Villanova senior right fielder Joe Cotter doubled off Alsup. Junior center fielder Justin Bencsko singled to center to pick up his first RBI of the series. Bencsko was then driven home on a double to left-center field by sophomore Dain Hall, cutting LSU’s lead to 5-3. LSU junior Paul Bertuccini entered the game in that inning and got the Tigers out of the jam striking out two of the batters he faced in the inning. Bertucini earned the save.
 
 
 
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Contact Amos Morale at [email protected]