Back to Back Shut Outs for LSU in Baton Rouge regional

Something was laced in the air on Saturday night in Alex Box, the LSU Tigers were dealing it out not allowing Dallas Baptist the chance to catch up at all. The innings were quick, and the atmosphere was something indescribable as the Tigers clinched a second win in the Baton Rouge regional.

From the first inning, there was something electric in the air, starting with Ethan Frey hitting a double with two runners on base, plating early and plating fast with the fans of Alex Box in an uproar.

"13,000 people are in the stands caring about what you're doing and what a cool deal," said head coach Jay Johnson about the message to his team. "So let's not rush getting that over with, being in the moment, and executing a plan."

With Kade Anderson on the mound for an unusual Saturday start, he had no problem delivering yet another masterclass performance. Seven innings, 11 strikeouts and no runs all in 106 pitches.

Then in the second inning, with one out and a 1-1 count, Chris Stanfield gives one good crack of the bat, sending it down the left field, making that his first homer of the year. Just when people thought he was done in the third inning, he came up to the plate again, singling to left field again, which allowed a run to the tally.

The first three innings were what could be described as us right on the mark, plating six runs in the first three innings. With concern from fans about the bats going cold, as they often do in the back half of the game, the Tigers did nothing but silence the critics.

The 15 non-scoring inning slump was finally over starting Friday night with 11 hits and seven runs, but the Tigers put the final nail in the coffin with 10 hits and 12 runs.

For Dallas Baptist pitcher Micah Bucknam, the former Tiger was no stranger to the regional environment, having been part of the 2023 National Championship team and the 2024 LSU team, but then he hit the transfer portal.

The LSU offense had no problem running up his pitch count to 65 in just 2.2 innings, giving up six runs, two walks and two strikeouts. He was quickly replaced with sophomore ace James Ellwanger

With the relief pitching, it still wasn’t enough to hold off the Tigers' bat, which just kept getting hotter and hotter. In the bottom of the sixth with two outs, Luis Hernandez singles to right field, sending Frey home and Milam home, bringing the score to 9-0.

In the Tigers last chance to score, it was not disappointing Frey hits a triple but then can score on an error but it sent the fans into a roar at 11 p.m. bringing the certainty of a win, but in the ninth inning William Schmidt comes in this will be the final test of being a shutout game.

Schmidt took to the mound and finished the job off for the Tigers and that led LSU to the second shutout within 24 hours with a final score of 12-0.