What a way to start the NCAA tournament for LSU baseball! After somewhat limping into the post-season, the Tigers significantly picked up their level of play over the last week. Following three straight victories, Jay Johnson and the Tigers find themselves with stars Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews well-rested and ready to go for the Super Regional.
LSU baseball cruises into the 2023 Super Regional
After a somewhat uninspiring SEC tournament showing, many fans began to have doubts about this LSU baseball team. Coach Jay Johnson could feel the doubt creeping in as he devised a bold strategy in game one of the NCAA Regional.
He immediately threw Paul Skenes out versus Tulane on Friday, June 2. He not only started Skenes, but he chose to play him the entire game. Skenes would throw 124 pitches on the day en route to a 7-2 victory for the Tigers.
Emotions came out in full force from the fanbase for the next few days. Many had concerns about Paul Skenes and the amount of rest he’d be able to get before he needed to get game action again. Jay Johnson knew exactly what he was doing.
Skenes didn’t need to throw another pitch for the rest of Regionals as the Tigers cruised past Oregon State in their next two games. The best part of it all, the pitching held together very well the entire time.
Pitchers Ty Floyd, Thatcher Hurd, Gavin Guidry, Riley Cooper, Nate Ackenhausen and Griffin held things down with relative ease. The Beavers totaled 21 hits and 12 runs over their two games versus the Tigers.
Even better was the fact that the Tigers’ offense was fantastic, as always. The Tigers hit nine total home runs versus Oregon State. There was plenty to be excited about over the weekend, and fans of LSU baseball have every reason to be optimistic.
The Tigers are looking like favorites to move on to the 2023 Men’s College World Series
Towards the end of the year, people wondered whether LSU baseball could get out of the regionals. Now, things have changed in a major way for the Tigers.
People no longer have many doubts, primarily thanks to their level of play versus Tulane and Oregon State. Now, Kentucky is on deck, a team the Tigers have already played three times this season.
In their series with the Wildcats, LSU baseball won two out of three matchups. Kentucky is a very good team, so seeing another three-game series wouldn’t be surprising.
However, with the amount of firepower the Tigers have on roster, it’s hard to bet against them. Pair that with the momentum they have, and they’re a scary team, plain and simple.
You can watch the LSU baseball faceoff against Kentucky this Saturday, June 10, at 2:00 p.m. CST.
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