LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri announced the starting lineup for Friday night’s season opener against Villanova earlier today at LSU’s baseball media day.The lineup could possibly include the first all-black starting outfield in LSU baseball history — sophomore Leon Landry (centerfield), sophomore Chad Jones (left field) and junior Jared Mitchell (right field).Mainieri said Jones may get the start in left field instead of junior Blake Dean, depending on which Tiger’s “minor injury” heals faster. Jones has a “sore throwing arm” and Dean has a “sore quadricep.”Whichever player does not start in the outfield will be the team’s designated hitter.Landry will lead off for the Tigers. He will be followed by junior second baseman Ryan Schimpf.Sophomore catcher Micah Gibbs will bat third, followed by Dean at clean-up.Sophomore shortstop DJ LeMahieu will bat fifth, Mitchell will be in the six hole and junior Sean Ochinko will play first base and bat seventh.Jones will bat eigth, and senior third baseman Derek Helenihi will finish off the lineup for the Tigers.Senior Louis Coleman will start the game on the mound for LSU. Mainieri said Coleman will go “four or five innings” for the Tigers and be on a 75 pitch pitch count.Mainieri expects senior Nolan Cain to come in to either finish the game or get the Tigers into the eigth inning.
 
 
 
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