We got our first look at the highly anticipated 2023 LSU baseball team over the weekend, and it was a mostly stellar debut.
Paul Skenes was fantastic in his Tigers debut on Friday as coach Jay Johnson’s team began the year with a shutout 10-0 win. Saturday’s game was a bit too close for comfort as it ended 5-3, and Sunday’s finale looked like it was shaping up to be the same way before LSU pulled away for a 9-2 win.
The unanimous preseason No. 1 team held serve in its opening series despite losing star third baseman [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] in the first inning of the first game with a shoulder injury that held him out for the rest of the series, though he should return to the lineup this weekend.
LSU looked good despite being tested a bit in Game 2, and the preseason national title favorite remained on top of the On3 SEC power rankings after the first weekend of play.
LSU is one of the favorites to win this year’s College World Series, and the Tigers looked the part on opening weekend. Facing Western Michigan, LSU kicked things off with a 10-0 victory on Friday night. The Tigers got experience in a close game on Saturday, winning just 5-3 before going on to take the season finale 9-2 to earn the season-opening series sweep.
If LSU can stay healthy, this team’s ceiling is very high. The Tigers lost pitcher Grant Taylor to a season-ending injury just before the season started, and transfer third baseman Tommy White left the season opener after dislocating his shoulder, not returning for the rest of the series. Next up for LSU is a midweek matchup against Southern before playing in the Round Rock Classic over the weekend.
It helped the Tigers that the Tennessee team that began the week No. 2 in both the SEC power rankings and the national rankings had a disappointing first weekend, starting the year 1-2.
The Tigers should have White back for this weekend in the Round Rock Classic, and they’ll look to keep up their winning ways when they face Kansas State, Iowa and Sam Houston State this weekend.
[mm-video type=video id=01gr2wm3bjz1tzmp08th playlist_id=01eqbz5s7cf4w69e0n player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gr2wm3bjz1tzmp08th/01gr2wm3bjz1tzmp08th-94ecac2c303bf0527e447a0c1ca9e9f6.jpg]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=611345007 tag=611345009]
Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno