LSU baseball has had a tough time in SEC play in 2026, and the thing that has hurt this team the most has been what gave it hope at the beginning of the season: underclassmen talent.
It’s no secret that the Tigers have struggled on all sides of the ball at different times, and the most consistent issue throughout the season has been defense. Unfortunately for LSU, it is hard to put defensive replacements in when the hitters are as hot as they have been at times this season.
In just one inning versus Ole Miss on Sunday, the Tigers scored seven runs in one inning after being no-hit for the first six.
That offense is part of why LSU head coach Jay Johnson has started splitting positions defensively. Unfortunately for Johnson and the Tigers, it has come back to hurt this team more than it’s helped.
During the rough stint during nonconference play, Johnson has gotten away with utilizing his underclassmen when the starters haven’t pulled through. In the Tigers’ matchup versus the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and the second game versus Northeastern, Johnson put nonstarters in, and they held their own in a comeback attempt.
When Johnson made this same decision in the latter innings of SEC games, the illusion was shattered.
In Game 3 versus Oklahoma, Jack Ruckert was put in to play second base for the final innings of the game. The starter at the time was Trent Caraway, who was arguably playing the best defense and providing the most consistent offense from the position for the Tigers after John Pearson took over at third base.
But nonetheless, Johnson pulled Caraway to bet on the freshman Jack Ruckert, whom he has admitted to having the best defense at second base.
It wasn’t the first time Ruckert was put into the mix late in the game. The first time he went into a close contest was Game 1 versus Northeastern, and it continued into the first stint of SEC play, until he bobbled a ball at second base that should have ended the inning.
The Tigers would go on to lose that game and thus the series to Oklahoma on a 4-3 loss.
After this, Ruckert didn’t see the field as often in such leverage situations. Johnson had been bitten once, and the Tigers began to win more consistently with their trusted upperclassmen in the lineup.
Until Game 1 versus Ole Miss on Friday.
Johnson went back to putting an underclassman in for a better defensive alignment later in the game. This time it was Ethan Clauss. The freshman got put in to pinch run for John Pearson, and would remain in the field defensively when the innings changed.
He took second base, and the starting second baseman, Seth Dardar, would shift over to third base for the tied ballgame.
Pitcher Zac Cowan delivered three-straight routine outs that would be misplayed by the defense, and the go-ahead run would score on a sacrifice bunt later that inning.
Clauss made a throw up the first-base line on the first ball put in play in the inning, and that would be the first error.
The second mistake wouldn’t be written down as an error, but a ground ball hit to shortstop Steven Milam was thrown perfectly to second base. Clauss missed the bag, and the Rebel baserunner would beat his throw to first.
The play should have been deemed at least a fielder’s choice out. Instead, it was ruled a fielder’s choice with no out on the play.
This put two runners on base, and Johnson switched Dardar and Clauss, putting Clauss on the hot corner. Another infield single that probably should have been out loaded the bases.
After a base hit to score the go-ahead run, the Rebels would bunt to try and force another run home, and with Clauss at third, the ball would be missed and the run would be noncontestable.
The Tigers were bitten three times in the same game by the depth that was supposed to set this team worlds above the others.
It’s time for Johnson and staff to find what works and stick to it, and so far this season, it’s been the trusted starters that came out of the transfer portal with experience.
This depth has proven to be a double-edged sword, and if it can’t be controlled, this roster loaded with talent will be watching the College World Series from the couch in 2025.
This roster needs to be contained to show the strength that comes with depth and rest days, but if routine plays cannot be made, then this team’s depth is really just a “potentially loaded roster.”
