He got pulled, freshman Forrest Garrett (6-3, 175 lefty) is in now. Cotton gave up 5 hits and 3 runs Bourgeois gave up 5 hits and 6 runs
Top of the 5th, Forrest Garrett on the mound for LSU --walk --double to right-center, run scores from 1B (Run #10 for KU) --bunt to 3B Dozar, another error by Dozar, bad throw. Runners at 1st and 3rd, no outs. --sac fly, runner from 3B tags and scores (Run #11 for KU) --HBP, runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out --6-4-3 double play to end the inning 11-3 KU
well, hate to say that LSU gave up, but CPM threw in the towel early after the second inning. we're short on arms so it's as good a time as any to give some freshmen some exp. we'll get the series win saturday and sunday... and if not, oh well. GEAUX TIGERS!!!
LSU gets one in the bottom of the 5th. LSU loaded the bases with 1 out. Then cleanup hitter Gibbs hit a sac fly to score Watkins from 3B. 2 outs. Then Hanover grounded out to end the inning. 11-4 Kansas
Top of the 6th, Garrett on the mound for LSU, and almost knocks them down 1-2-3: Groundout to Dean, HBP (runner to 1st), popout to Hanover, groundout to Garrett to end the inning.
Bottom of the 6th... the KU starting pitcher strikes out all three LSU batters: Landry struck out. Mahtook struck out. Gaudet struck out. The Kansas starting pitcher is junior T.J. Walz out of Omaha, Nebraska (pitched 6 innings tonight so far): 2010 (jr) -- 1.80 ERA, 2-1 record -- during 20.0 innings pitched to begin 2010 2009 (so) -- 4.70 ERA, 8-3 record 2008 (fr) -- 5.00 ERA, 4-1 record 2007 (senior in high school) -- 1.81 ERA, 11-1 record Kansas' T. J. Walz pitches against Texas in the fourth inning of a Big 12 baseball tournament game in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 21, 2009.
That's not being fair to Mainieri. Not a lot of depth in pitchers this year. If Renaldo had been healthy we would be doing a lot better.
I don't see anything wrong with Maineiri throwing freshmen to get them more experience in a Friday night pressure situation against a major opponent. That also means we are saving our better guys for Game 2 and 3 versus Kansas. Also, right before the season started, Mainieri said we have better pitching depth this year than we had last year. Everyone knows that Anthony Ranaudo will be at the head of the pitching rotation. If everything falls into place, Matty Ott will once again be the closer. There are still some decisions to be made, but the talent is present. "We have better quality pitching depth," Mainieri said. "What we don't have is a Louis Coleman who can go seven innings. We may ask our starters other than Anthony to just go five innings this year. Then, we can use our bullpen. We've got guys." "We don't have two aces like last year. But, I am really confident in our pitching depth. It may be a little different this year. After Ranaudo, I may have a quick hook and use our depth." ... One returning pitcher who impressed Mainieri during fall practice was Ben Alsup. Two freshmen - Jordan Rittiner and Michael Reed - also were effective in the intrasquad games. "Alsup threw the ball extremely well," Mainieri said. "Maybe he can make a big jump. He's not a physically imposing guy, so his velocity fluctuates. "Rittiner threw as well as anybody in the fall. He knows how to pitch. He could be a midweek starter. Reed will get some innings. He has some potential. He reminds me of Austin Ross as a freshman." Paul Bertuccini will be a set-up person in the bullpen. Mainieri anticipates having Chad Jones (now gone) as a reliever...Chris Matulis and junior college transfer Mitch Mormann need to show more improvement in preseason practice. http://lsu.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1020853
