By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
ATHENS, Ga. – The line of demarcation for an SEC baseball team to receive consideration for an NCAA tournament invite is usually 13 conference victories.
Two seasons ago, after coming off its 2023 national championship, LSU’s furious rally in the second half of SEC play led to a 13-17 regular-season league record. The Tigers clinched an NCAA tourney by advancing to the SEC tournament finals, where they lost to eventual national champion Tennessee.
Even with last weekend’s sweep of South Carolina to break a school-record nine-game SEC losing streak, LSU’s string of 13 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances remains on life support.
The Tigers (28-21 overall, 9-15 SEC) play their last conference road series of the season at No. 5-ranked and league leader Georgia (38-11, 18-6 SEC) starting tonight, followed by next week’s last regular-season SEC series at home vs. No. 21 Florida.
LSU’s five-game win streak (three vs. South Carolina, non-conference wins vs. Southeastern and Tulane), the Tigers’ longest since starting the season 8-0, has suddenly infused fifth-year Jay Johnson’s team with a feisty confidence.
“We’ve taken the bullets, been dragged through the mud, stepped on, all of those things, and we’re still alive,” Johnson said. “You know who the best soldier is? The best soldier is the one who’s not afraid to be killed. There’s literally nothing to be afraid of.
“So go in there, guns blazing, with a lot of confidence and play. And if it’s good enough, it’ll be good enough. If it’s not, it won’t. But there’s literally nothing to be afraid of at this point for this team.”
After almost a month of inconsistency in every phase of the game (hitting, fielding, starting pitching, relief pitching, base running) that led to being swept by Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Tennessee, the Tigers emerged from their coma last weekend.
Granted, it was against South Carolina, which has been scuffling in the SEC cellar along with LSU and Missouri.
Facing Georgia is a challenge on a vastly elevated level.
The Bulldogs lead the NCAA in home runs (131), and slugging percentage (.622), are third in scoring (9.5 runs), fourth in batting average (.325), which leads the SEC, and sixth in fielding percentage (.983).
It’s a daunting task, but the youthful Tigers (with one sophomore and four freshmen position starters) have a hint of momentum after a month-long drought.
“Two weeks ago, we were talking as a team that we have nothing to lose,” said sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide, who’s hitting .365 in SEC play. “Let’s go out there, let’s play hard, and let’s have fun. I definitely think it took some of the pressure off the young guys who are in the lineup now that weren’t there to start. We just need them to go out there and have fun and compete.”
This weekend will be the first time LSU’s Johnson faces Georgia head coach Wes Johnson in a series. Wes Johnson was the Tigers’ pitching coach for the 2023 national championship team.
“It’s a good team that has played good at home,” said the Tigers’ Johnson of the Bulldogs, who are 28-7 at home. “It’s an experienced team playing consistently well. But our guys are playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
Arrambide agreed with his head coach.
“If we go out there and play our brand of baseball and compete to our best ability,” Arrambidie said, “I think we can hang and beat anybody in the country. I’ve never given up on this team, and no one in the locker room has given up on the season. It’s just a matter of going out there and doing it.”
LSU (28-21 overall, 9-15 SEC) VS. NO. 5 GEORGIA (38-11, 18-6 SEC), FOLEY FIELD, ATHENS
GAME 1: Today, 5 p.m. CT (SEC Network)
LSU – So. RH William Schmidt (5-4, 3.90 ERA, 60.0 IP, 26 BB, 79 SO)
UGA – Jr. RH Joey Volchko (7-2, 3.63 ERA, 62.0 IP, 32 BB, 76 SO)
GAME 2: Saturday 6 p.m. CT SEC Network)
LSU – Fr. RH Marcos Paz (1-2, 6.08 ERA, 23.2 IP, 19 BB, 34 SO)
UGA – Jr. RH Dylan Vigue (4-1, 2.35 ERA, 46.0 IP, 25 BB, 56 SO)
GAME 3: Sunday, 2 p.m. CT (SEC Network)
LSU – TBA
UGA – TBA
LSU VS. GEORGIA SERIES
LSU leads the all-time series, 73-26-3. The teams last met in the opening round of the 2024 SEC tourney with the Tigers winning 9-1. . .LSU head coach Jay Johnson is 5-2 vs. the Bulldogs.
A LOOK AT LSU
The Tigers are No. 8 in the SEC with a .286 batting average. They have 87 doubles, 7 triples, 80 homers and 37 steals in 49 attempts. . . Sophomore centerfielder Derek Curiel is tied for No. 3 in the SEC in base hits (68), No. 7 in runs scored (54) and triples (2). LSU’s pitching staff is 13th in the SEC in ERA at 5.05 and has 592 strikeouts in 433.2 innings while allowing a .230 opponent batting average and 52 home runs.
A LOOK AT GEORGIA
Georgia is No. 1 in the SEC with a .325 team batting average. It has 96 doubles, 5 triples, 131 homers and 56 steals in 61 attempts. . .Junior Daniel Jackson (23-21) is the first catcher in SEC history to post a 20-20 season (23 home runs and 23 stolen bases). He ranks in the top six nationally in homers, total bases (152), RBI (67) and runs scored (65). . .Georgia’s pitching staff is tied for 11th in the SEC in ERA (4.83). and has 513 strikeouts in 417 innings while allowing a .240 opponent batting average and 58 home runs.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com