LSU's pitching prowess has been the talk of college baseball over the past couple of seasons, leading the nation in strikeouts. And while Paul Skenes’ record-breaking year in the SEC might not be part of that streak, it’s clear Jay Johnson has a penchant for pitchers who can make bats miss. But there's a flip side to having a roster full of flamethrowers with wicked breaking balls-sometimes, the strike zone becomes elusive.
That was the story on Tuesday night when LSU faced off against McNeese State, resulting in a narrow 7-6 loss at Alex Box Stadium. The issue?
Too many free passes. LSU’s pitching staff struggled with control, handing out walks and hit-by-pitches like they were going out of style.
“We gave them too many free bases. It's basic baseball,” Johnson said. “Against a good team, that makes it tough to win.”
The Tigers came close to a comeback in the ninth inning, putting two runners on with one out. But freshman Omar Serna struck out, and Kansas State transfer Seth Dardar's deep fly to left ended the rally. Earlier, sophomore John Pearson had kept hope alive with a solo homer in the eighth, narrowing the gap to a single run.
However, Pearson’s heroics couldn’t mask the pitching staff’s struggles. By the end of the fifth inning, LSU’s pitchers had walked four and hit five batters. The Cowboys capitalized, building a 7-2 lead despite managing just five hits, none for extra bases.
“There’s a reason these guys weren't first-round picks out of high school,” Johnson remarked about the control issues. “Whether it’s control, command, or pitchability, there's always something to improve.”
Freshman right-hander Marcos Paz started strong but lost his command in the second inning, loading the bases with two walks and a hit-by-pitch before giving way to sophomore Cooper Williams. Williams, too, struggled, hitting the first batter he faced and allowing a two-run single that put McNeese ahead.
“Cooper’s usually reliable, but hitting that batter put their best hitter in a prime spot,” Johnson noted. “That two-run single was a game-changer.”
The troubles didn’t stop there. Angelo State transfer Dax Dathe hit two batters, and a throwing error by sophomore Jake Brown in right field contributed to McNeese’s scoring. Sophomore Mavrick Rizy, pitching on short rest, also struggled, allowing two more runs on a sacrifice fly and a single.
“That’s a tough ask for Mavrick, pitching again so soon,” Johnson said. “But that’s the life of a big-league reliever.”
Offensively, LSU’s bats were mostly silent after a two-run homer by Grand Canyon transfer Zach Yorke in the first inning. Pearson was the standout, collecting multiple hits.
“Baseball’s about bouncing back,” Pearson said. “We’ll hit the training field tomorrow and be ready for the weekend.”
Injuries also took their toll on LSU. Sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide left the game with a foot injury, joining senior left fielder Chris Stanfield on the injured list. Stanfield, out since the third game, is recovering from a left-hand injury.
“Cade couldn’t continue, and we’re still assessing,” Johnson said. On Stanfield, he added, “The swelling’s down, and we’re working on getting his strength back. I’m optimistic.”
LSU looks to regroup as they continue nonconference play against Dartmouth on Friday at 6:30 p.m., with streaming available on SEC Network+.