*Wednesday night for the LSU Tigers (12-5) was a somber one inside Alex Box Stadium. Hours before the first pitch, it was announced that head coach Paul Mainieri’s father Demie Mainieri has passed away at the age of 90. His father was a long time coach in the junior college ranks and had won multiple national championships over his storied career.
While Mainieri stayed at the stadium, he stayed put in the dugout for much of the game and the Tigers bats woke up in a 16-5 win over Texas Southern (2-12).
How It Happened:
The Tigers wasted very little time getting on the board when Antoine Duplantis crushed a two-run home run out to right field to give them a 2-0 lead. LSU wasn’t done though as they put up three more runs in the inning including an RBI triple to right field courtesy of Daniel Cabrera.
The onslaught continued in the bottom of the second when Zach Watson drilled one out to left field to give the Tigers a sizable 6-0 lead. Texas Southern got on the board in the top of the third with a two-run double by Christian Sanchez followed up by an RBI single from Victor Cruz made it a 6-3 ballgame. However, the Tigers slammed the door shut in the fifth with a three-run inning highlighted by an RBI double from Brock Mathis.
Big Number: 3
Three was definitely the magic number with Antoine Duplantis, Zach Watson, and Cade Beloso each accounting for three RBIs. If not for Beloso being pulled late in the ballgame there was a chance that all three could have had at least three hits as well.
Player of the Game: Zach Watson
Zach Watson was perfect at the dish with three RBIs and was one triple shy of the cycle and that was no small feat considering how hit or miss this offense had been in recent weeks.
Next Up: Friday vs Kentucky; First Pitch at 7 pm
-Clint Domingue