Tiger Feed: Read blogger Ryan Ginn’s notes on about LSU’s 10-2 win against Cal State Fullerton
Sports
Monday, March 14, 2011
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FALL OF THE TITANS
SOFTBALL
Georgia pounds Tigers, 12-0 David Helman Sports Contributor
the ball over first base and into the stands, trying to pick off Jones. Junior center fielder Mikie Mahtook belted an RBI single to left field after a sacrifice fly brought in another run, and junior shortstop Austin Nola squirted an RBI single past junior second baseman Anthony Trajano, stretching LSU’s lead, 7-0. “When you’ve got a team on your heels, you just need to go for the blow that gives you the
Just five games into Southeastern Conference play, and the LSU softball team has already seen the best competition it will face all year. The results, however, have been far from positive. Just two days after they were swept by No. 2 Florida, the No. 21 Tigers (15-10, 0-5) tried their luck against No. 1 Georgia (19-1, 3-0), only to be swept away again. The 0-5 start in SEC play is LSU’s worst opening in school history. “We knew coming into the weekend that we would have to play our best softball to be successful against a very tough Georgia team that plays extremely well at home,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard in a news release. “Unfortunately, the Tigers weren’t up to the challenge.” The Bulldogs emphasized the sweep Sunday with a 12-0 runrule victory that saw them jump ahead immediately with a fiverun first inning, followed closely by a seven-run third. The Tigers were only able to manage two hits on the afternoon, which ended early when the game was called by run rule. Sunday’s defeat was the most lopsided of a series that got progressively worse as the weekend
CAL STATE, see page 11
GEORGIA, see page 11
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
LSU first baseman Grant Dozar successfully dives into third base Sunday as Cal State Fullerton third baseman Joe Terry commits an error during the Tigers’ 10-2 victory.
Ott becomes LSU all-time saves leader as team sweeps Cal State Fullerton Rowan Kavner Sports Writer
The No. 16 LSU baseball team narrowly missed an opportunity for a sweep last weekend. It wasn’t going to let this one slip away in front of an actual weekend crowd of 27,194 — the largest in Alex Box Stadium history. No. 6 Cal State Fullerton (86) committed at least three errors for the third-straight day and was swept Sunday for the first time since 2008 as LSU (15-1) buried
the Titans, 10-2. “I’m just so proud of the kids,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “They showed tremendous composure and poise in a very highly promoted, highly touted series.” The Tigers went ahead, 2-0, in the first inning for the thirdstraight day. “Skip Bertman always refers to that as the inevitable two,” Mainieri said. “Somebody always seems to give up two runs in the first inning.” Fullerton committed three
of its four errors in the bottom of the second inning as LSU poured on five runs and chased junior pitcher Colin O’Connell. Junior first baseman Grant Dozar and junior catcher Jordy Snikeris both reached on errors to start the inning. Dozar and Snikeris pulled off a double steal, a rare feat for a first baseman and catcher. Freshman second baseman JaCoby Jones poked a single to right field to extend LSU’s lead to 3-0. Snikeris crossed home plate soon after as O’Connell launched
FOOTBALL
Quarterback contest takes center stage at spring practices Michael Lambert Sports Writer
The long-awaited debut of the LSU quarterback show was unveiled Saturday. Media flocked to see their first glimpses of the trio of quarterbacks — sophomore Zach Mettenberger and seniors Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee — who all shared snaps in the limited media opportunity during Saturday’s spring practice. The first two days of spring practice did little to lock in the quarterback depth chart, but some clarity was brought to the hazy situation. Incumbents Jefferson and Lee are using their past years of experience to their benefit. Jefferson, who started 26 games for LSU, hasn’t been
publicly named the starter, but he has the upper hand with three years of playing time. Lee only has nine starts at LSU while Mettenbeger joined the team a few months ago. “The experience under our belt has helped us for our first day,” Lee said Friday after the team’s first spring practice. Mettenberger, the largest of the three quarterbacks at 6-feet5-inches and 250-pounds, drew praise from his teammate. “Zach can definitely throw the ball. He’s a big kid so he’s got that going for him,” Lee said “Competition only makes you better.” LSU coach Les Miles said little to settle the quarterback dispute. “Both guys that are veteran looked to be veteran,” Miles
said. “Jefferson looks much better.” Mettenberger has his own share of college experience, leading Butler Community College to the Junior College National Championship Game last season. “[Mettenberger’s] going to be a nice addition to us,” Miles said. “We’re a team that can throw and catch, and he gives us advantages there.” Though the quarterbacks are in a fierce competition, junior wide receiver Russell Shepard made one thing clear — there’s harmony among the three. “They’re coming together as one,” Shepard said. “At the end of the day you have one quarterback. A lot of times you SPRING, see page 11
DAVID LYLE / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore quarterback Zach Mettenberger throws in spring practice on Saturday. He will compete for the starting job against seniors Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee.