By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – When Jay Johnson was named LSU’s head baseball coach on June 25, 2021, it was a dream come true.
He was joining a program that had already amassed six national titles, five of which were under the retired legendary head coach Skip Bertman.
“When I took the LSU job, I thought there’s nothing bad about LSU,” Johnson said. “It’s LSU. It’s Skip, it’s the championships.”
What Johnson didn’t understand until the end of his second season in 2023 was the impact of a loud, packed Alex Box Stadium crowd when the Tigers hosted the NCAA Tournament regionals and Super Regionals en route to winning their seventh national championship.
He found out in the Super Regionals opener against Kentucky when a crowd of 12,452 packed the Box despite the game being delayed six hours due to rain. In the first inning of an eventual 14-0 victory, the crowd noise reached rocket liftoff level when Tigers’ first baseman Tre’ Morgan hit a two-homer.
“I thought that (sound) was what everybody had been telling me about,” Johnson said.
Johnson expects the sellout crowds at this weekend’s Baton Rouge Regional, starting with today’s 2 p.m. game between No. 3-ranked LSU (43-14) and Arkansas-Little Rock (24-32), to reach the same noise level proportions as two years ago.
“When we’re up to the plate and it’s a big spot, they (the crowd) know when to get into it,” said LSU junior first baseman Jared Jones, one of just seven Tigers of the 40-man roster who has experienced Alex Box’s accelerated NCAA tourney crowd noise. “There’s a ton of energy. You’ve got to let the crowd feed you when you need.”
Except for Jones and the interchangeable designated hitter duo of senior Josh Pearson and junior Ethan Frey, no one in LSU’s starting batting lineup has played a home NCAA tourney playoff game in Alex Box.
The same goes for Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, the Tigers’ top two starting pitchers, and most of the relievers.
Anderson, a Louisiana native from Madisonville who has thrown in front of sellout crowds in all five of his SEC home starts this year, said playing postseason home games is a huge advantage.
“The fans have helped us out more than they realize,” Anderson said.
LSU led the nation in home attendance this season with 387,484 fans and in average home attendance (11,071). The Tigers are 30-5 at home this season.
“I don’t think anywhere is like this,” Johnon said. “The care level (from LSU’s fan base) makes it awesome. This team has played really well at home and when it’s had its legs underneath it. We had a couple of rest days this week. We’re fresh and rested, and our energy is high.”
The LSU vs. Arkansas-Little Rock winner will play a 5 p.m. Saturday contest against the winner of today’s second game between Dallas Baptist and Rhode Island.
As a No. 6 seed national seed, the Tigers will host a Super Regional next weekend against the winner of the Clemson Regional if LSU wins its regional this weekend.
No. 3 ranked LSU (43-14 overall, 19-11 SEC) vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (24-32, 8-16 OVC), NCAA tournament Baton Rouge Regionals, today, 2 p.m., Alex Box Stadium (SEC Network)
HOW THEY GOT HERE
LSU – Awarded the No. 6 overall national seed.
Arkansas-Little Rock: No. 4 seed in the Baton Rouge Regionals, received an automatic NCAA tournament bid for winning the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.
LSU IN THE SEC THIS YEAR
Series wins (7): 3-0 vs. Missouri, 3-0 vs. Mississippi State, 3-0 at Oklahoma, 2-1 vs. Alabama, 2-1 vs. Tennessee, 2-1 vs. Arkansas, 2-1 at South Carolina. Series losses (3): 1-2 at Texas, 0-3 at Auburn, 1-2 at Texas A&M
ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK IN THE OVC THIS YEAR
Series wins (2): 3-0 at Morehead State, 2-1 vs. Western Illinois. Series losses (6): 0-3 vs. Tennessee Tech, 1-2 at Southern Indiana, 0-3 vs. SIUE, 0-1 vs. Eastern Illinois, 1-2 vs. UT Martin, 0-3 at Southeast Missouri. Series ties (1): 1-1 vs. Lindewood.
LSU vs. ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK SERIES
LSU leads 3-0, sweeping a home series 4-2, 11-8 and 15-9 on February 18-20, 2005.
LSU IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
Through 1998, regional winners advanced to the College World Series. Starting in 1999, regional winners advanced to the Super Regionals.
Overall NCAA tourney record: 177-65 (.731), including 108-26 at home (.806), 23-19 away (.548), 46-20 neutral site (.697). Won 32 of 39 home regionals and Super Regionals, won 3 of 13 away regionals and Super Regionals, won 7 of 19 College World Series.
Regionals: 36 (27 as host), 26 regional championships, 111-29 (.793) including 89-17 at home (.840) and 22-12 away (.647). Won 23 of 27 home regionals, 3 of 9 away regionals.
LSU advanced to the CWS 10 times and 16 times to the Super Regionals.
Super Regionals: 16 (12 as host), 9 championships, 20-16 (.555) including 19-9 at home (.679) and 1-7 away (.125). Won 9 of 12 home Super Regionals, Won 0 of 4 away Super Regionals.
Advanced to CWS 9 times.
College World Series: 19 CWS appearances, 7 national titles, 46-20 (.697).
CWS finishes: 1st (2023, 2009, 2000, 1997, 1996, 1993, 1991), 2nd (2017), 3rd (1998, 1990, 1989), 4th(1987), 5th (2015, 2008, 1986), 7th (2013, 2004, 2003, 1994)
ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
Regionals: 1, 0-2 (.000) in 2001 Corvallis Regional, losing to host Oregon State and Georgia
A LOOK AT LSU
LSU is No. 5 in the SEC in team batting average (.301), No. 3 in on-base percentage (.412), No. 4 in runs scored (450), No. 4 in hits (566), and No. 5 in doubles (116). The LSU pitching staff is No. 2 in the league in team ERA (3.72) and No. 3 in strikeouts (641) and opponent batting average (.221). Junior designated hitter Ethan Frey is No. 5 in the SEC in batting average (.358) and No. 4 in slugging percentage (.693), Junior first baseman Jared Jones is No. 3 in RBI (66) and in total bases (147), No. 4 in home runs (19), No. 5 in hits (76), and No. 8 in slugging percentage (.645). Freshman outfielder Derek Curiel is No. 9 in the SEC in hits (73), No. 7 in walks (41), and No. 8 in doubles (16). LSU sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson is No. 1 in the nation and in the SEC in strikeouts (145) and No. 2 in the league in innings pitched (89). Junior right-hander Anthony Eyanson is No. 4 in the nation and in the SEC in strikeouts (125), and No. 3 in the league in innings pitched (84.1).
A LOOK AT ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK
Arkansas-Little Rock is hitting .271 with 93 doubles, eight triples, 46 homers, and 55 steals in 81 attempts. The Trojans are led at the plate by designated hitter Ryan Geck, who is batting .301 with 15 doubles, six homers, and 48 RBI. Senior pitcher Jackson Wells (3-6, 5.24 ERA, 79 innings, 90 strikeouts, 32 walks) leads the OVC in strikeouts. Senior pitcher Jack Cline (8-5, 4.83 ERA, 82 innings, 62 strikeouts, 32 walks) is the only UALR hurler with a winning record. Coach Chris Curry, a Little Rock native, is a former Northwestern State assistant coach.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com