LSU freshman third baseman O’Neal Lochridge is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his back, coach Paul Mainieri confirmed Wednesday night.
After Lochridge underwent an MRI on Wednesday prior to No. 6 LSU’s win against the University of New Orleans, Mainieri was told Lochridge’s stress fracture was due to preexisting injury and the severity of it is unknown. Lochridge has missed the last three games after feeling tightness in his back last week.
“I couldn’t tell you how severe it is because I don’t know that kind of medical background,” Maineri said. “All I was told was that a preexisting stress fracture had flared up on him. He’s going to have figure out how much pain he could put up with.”
On Tuesday, Lochridge said he suffered a similar injury in his senior year at St. Thomas More High School. However, the Lafayette, Louisiana native felt his current injury was steadily improving with rehabilitation and the MRI was precautionary
After some initial uncertainty at the position, Lochridge had cemented the starting third baseman role, batting .229 with 10 RBIs and two home runs. In 10 starts at third base, he’s recorded .950 fielding percentage with just one error.
“I just feel very bad for the young man,” Mainieri said. “He was doing well and had established himself as our starting third baseman. Now, he’s got to deal with this as a setback.”
Freshman third baseman Chris Reid has started the last three games in Lochridge’s place, going 3-for-10 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Reid has also been errorless in those three starts.
“In the meantime, we have to kind of take the next-man-up mentality, and I think Chris Reid has done a really nice job in the three games that he’s played at third,” Mainieri said. “He’s gotten a few hits. He’s made some plays at third and we’re going to continue to work Trey Dawson at third base, as well, to have another option there. We’ll just take it day-by-day and see what the best plan is and go from there.”
Mainieri names Lange Friday starter against Alabama
Following LSU’s win against the Privateers, Mainieri named sophomore right-hander Alex Lange his Friday night starter against Alabama, which will open up Southeastern Conference play.
Junior left-hander Jared Poche’, who will start Saturday, had been the Friday night starter throughout nonconference play, but Mainieri believes the reigning National Freshman Pitcher of the Year is ready to assume the coveted role.
On top of that, Poche’ has experience being the Tigers’ Saturday starter, serving that role in his freshman season.
“Opening night in the SEC is going to be very electric, and I think he’s our top guy,” Mainieri said. “He has the best chance to go out there and dominate a game. I feel like he made a step forward with this last game…Jared is in familiar territory pitching on Saturday. He did that all year with [former LSU pitcher] Aaron Nola pitching on Friday nights.”
Lange (2-0), a preseason All-American from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, has had a couple of rocky starts in his second year with the Tigers (13-3). Though he has yet to be charged with a loss in purple and gold, Lange allowed the most runs and earned runs of his career during his third start, a comeback win against Fordham on March 5.
Backed by LSU’s eight-run fourth inning, Lange bounced back in his fourth start against Ball State last Saturday, recording his second win of the year. He struck out five while conceding only three earned runs in six innings.
Lange’s struggles against Fordham made Mainieri reconsider moving him to the Friday spot against Ball State, but the 10th-year coach believes one less day of rest will actually benefit his ace.
“It might actually help his command, getting out there more frequently,” Mainieri said. “He’ll do the same next week against Texas A&M. Actually, his bullpen that he threw yesterday was the best bullpen he’s had command-wise. So maybe there’s something to it – that if he gets out there a little bit quicker, maybe his control will be a little bit better.”
Senior left-hander John Valek III will start in his normal spot on Sunday against the Crimson Tide.