LSU baseball is running out of time.
The team is projected to miss the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011.
The pitching has been sloppy and permeable, the offense has been inconsistent and often mute. In the most recent series against Texas A&M, maybe three of the 27 innings during the weekend felt competitive.
Cade Arrambide spoke to the media after Friday’s loss to Texas A&M, and he sounded exasperated after the Tigers were beaten in every facet of the game, including by themselves. The frustration was clear on his face as well.
The players are getting into their own heads.
“I feel like too many guys get caught up on their own performances, good or bad, [and] not just get to the next pitch or the next play,” Arrambide said. “A small example is like if there’s a bad strike call from an umpire, guys will kind of react and kind of shut off for the next pitch.”
The team’s confidence seemed entirely shot until Tuesday’s win provided some brief sustenance. LSU mended some issues with two-out hitting, which was a main point after the Friday loss.
But that success was against UNO, whose RPI is 216. For reference, Missouri has the lowest RPI in the SEC at 132, but the lowest SEC team LSU faces this year is South Carolina, which sits at 87.
The small wins might not last through the weekend series in Starkville, where LSU has a three-game bout with No. 15 Mississippi State.
The Tigers haven’t won an SEC game since they stole the rubber match from Tennessee on April 5.
Pitcher Deven Sheerin said that because baseball is a hard game, confidence is something that goes on and off. His confidence hasn’t visibly changed, and he’s trying to make sure the team gets it back.
Sheerin said success on the field is what brings back confidence, and that he doesn’t see the team trending further downward after a harsh series against the Aggies.
“Next time we’re out there, you know, I’m sure the bullpen is going to be excellent next weekend,” Sheerin said.
While whether Tuesday’s successes will last or not is a question to be answered this weekend, some things stood out that give way to beliefs that more SEC wins are coming.
Despite losing Jake Brown for the year with a hand injury, the offense scored 10 runs in nine or fewer innings for the first time since March 31 against Southern. Freshman William Patrick took over right field and had an RBI double, got on from a walk and was hit by a pitch later in the game.
Two other freshmen starred in the win. Jack Ruckert had two singles and two RBI while manning second base. Omar Serna also had a two-RBI single in LSU’s seven-run fifth inning.
The future is bright for LSU. While it might take until 2027 to come to fruition, it gives the Tigers some hope of salvaging this season.
The pitching was also strong in that game, outside of forgettable outings from Santiago Garcia and Gavin Guidry.
But the team absolutely has to clean up its wild pitches.
The staff had four against UNO and is averaging 1.5 a game, way higher than any other mark for a Jay Johnson coached LSU team. It is continuously allowing runners to advance on the bases and eventually score from a position they were gifted.
The season isn’t over. But confidence has to stay high. Pitching has to clean up its act. And the Tigers need to play like LSU Fighting Tigers in Starkville and beyond.
