After losing two out of three vs. Alabama this past weekend, LSU baseball finds itself in danger of missing the 2024 NCAA Tournament outright for the first time since 2011. In turn, coach Jay Johnson and the Tigers are in must-win territory, and it all starts today vs. Ole Miss in Baton Rouge.
Thirteen might be the lucky number for LSU baseball in their hunt for an NCAA Tournament spot
It’s officially now or never for coach Jay Johnson and LSU baseball. After winning three straight weekend series’ vs. Missouri, Auburn and No. 1 Texas A&M, the Tigers hit a bit of a bump in the road vs. Alabama, losing their first series in nearly a month.
Unfortunately for the program, that loss was tough to swallow for multiple reasons. Not only was it a loss against an in-conference rival, but it put the purple and gold in a position where they are still very much in danger of missing out on the postseason for the first time in over a decade.
With that said, it’s not over yet and this weekend will likely be the determining factor in whether they have a chance or not.
Heading into this weekend, the perfect scenario for coach Jay Johnson and his squad is if they manage to sweep their series vs. Ole Miss. This would bring their conference record up to 13-17 with a chance to earn even more wins during the 2024 SEC Tournament. However, anything outside of a sweep would likely require a win or two in Hoover, AL, if they want to feel good about their chances.
As of yesterday, the purple and gold are on the outside looking in, as Baseball America released their most up-to-date projected bracket, which listed LSU baseball as the No. 67 team nationally – just three spots outside of the tournament.
While it’s not an exact science by any means, three more conference wins would give them a fighting chance at the postseason, but four or more would increase their odds dramatically.
What to look for from the Tigers vs. Ole Miss
Later this afternoon, coach Jay Johnson and his squad will begin their final home series of the 2024 regular season, hosting Ole Miss (27-25) in what almost feels like a winner-take-all scenario.
As we stand today, LSU baseball has an in-conference record of 10-17, ranking them No. 6 in the West Division. The Rebels, on the other hand, are just one slot ahead of the purple and gold with a record of 11-16. With that said, while it’s not something you’d like to write home about, today’s matchup is essentially the start of the battle for fifth place in the West Division.
However, if that’s not enough to make you want to watch, it’s important to note that Ole Miss currently ranks No. 70 in Baseball America’s most recent bracketology, meaning that the winner of this weekend’s series is likely knocking the other out of contention for a postseason berth.
Sophomore shortstop Luke Hill and sophomore designated hitter Andrew Fischer are the main two names to know heading into this afternoon. Hill, a product out of Baton Rouge, LA, has proven to be one of the most consistent batters for the Rebels, averaging .297, while Fischer currently leads the team in homeruns and RBIs with 20 and 57, respectively.
For the purple and gold, keep a close eye on junior third baseman Tommy White and freshman second baseman Steven Milam. One of the leaders of this team, White continues to dominate offensively with a team leading 56 RBIs and 71 hits, while showing massive improvement defensively. Milam, on the other hand, has been a pleasant surprise for the Tigers, logging an impressive .305 batting average while consistently making smart plays all over the field on defense – leading the squad in assists with 111.
LSU baseball vs. Ole Miss is set to take place this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. CST in Baton Rouge, LA. The game will be taking place at Alex Box Stadium for the final home series of the 2024 season, and it will be available to watch live on SEC Network.
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