By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE — Don’t bill this weekend’s LSU vs. Florida series in Alex Box Stadium as a rematch of last June’s College World Series championship won by the Tigers.
There are a few familiar headliner returnees for both the No. 4 Tigers (18-4, 1-2 SEC) led by third baseman Tommy White and the No. 6 Gators (12-8, 2-1) led by first baseman/pitcher Jac Caglianone.
“We’re both different because we’ve both had guys move on (to the pros),” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said. “But we both have guys that weren’t on the frontline that moved up in the pecking order that are finding their way in new roles.”
The Tigers, after breezing through its non-conference schedule, lost its opening series at Mississippi State last weekend with losses on Friday and Sunday and a one-run win on Saturday.
“It was the first time in an environment like that for a lot of guys and the first time against elevated competition,” Johnson said. “I think we learned a lot. Now, it utilizing that to our advantage going forward.”
LSU’s pitching, which had dominated the first month of the season, was tagged for 33 runs and 41 hits. The Tigers’ pitching staff ERA in the MSU series was 10.58 including a combined 8.78 from starters Luke Holman, Gage Jump and Thatcher Hurd.
“Mississippi State’s offense probably played their best baseball of the year,” LSU reliever Gavin Guidry said. “They had a plan going into the weekend and they executed it to a `T.’
“We’re trying to get better at getting that first pitch 0-1 strike. It allows you to do more with your stuff. And then when you get to a 0-2 or 1-2 count you put them away.”
LSU batted just .250 against the Bulldogs. The only Tiger who has been on fire lately is White.
In his last four games besides owning a four-game home run streak, White is hitting .500 (9 of 18) with 9 RBI and 7 runs scored.
He and the rest of the Tigers will have their hands full with Florida’s pitching.
Friday night starter Cade Fisher has struck out 33 batters against just three walks in 20 2/3 innings across his last four starts. Gators closer Brandon Neely, named on Monday as the SEC Pitcher of the Week and NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week, was 1-0 with a save and 10 strikeouts in 6 shutout relief innings last week.
Caglianone leads Florida in batting (.414), on-base percentage (.485) and hits (36) and has 9 homers. He has also been the team’s best pitcher with a 2-0 record, a team-low 1.77 ERA and a .132 batting average against and ranks second in strikeouts with 34 in 20.1 innings.
In his last three starts, Caglianone has allowed one earned run across 17.1 innings on seven hits, 11 walks and 27 strikeouts. He has also improved his offensively, drawing 11 walks against nine strikeouts in 82 at-bats.
No. 6 Florida (12-8, 2-1 SEC) at No. 4 LSU (18-4, 1-2 SEC)
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1: Today, 7 p.m. CT (SEC Network)
LSU – Jr. RH Luke Holman (4-1, 0.63 ERA, 28.2 IP, 5 BB, 43 SO)
UF– So. LH Cade Fisher (2-1, 7.94 ERA, 22.2 IP, 5 BB 37SO)
Game 2: Saturday, 6 p.m. CT (SEC Network +)
LSU – So. LH Gage Jump (2-0, 2.12 ERA, 17.0 IP, 5 BB, 24 SO)
UF – Fr. RH Liam Peterson (1-2, 7.50 ERA, 18.0 IP, 9 BB 22 SO)
Game 3: Sunday, 2 p.m. CT (SEC Network)
LSU – Jr. RH Thatcher Hurd (1-2, 6.55 ERA, 22.0 IP, 10 BB, 29 SO)
UF – Jr. LH Jac Caglianone (2-0, 1.77 ERA, 20.1 IP, 13 BB 34 SO)
LSU VS. FLORIDA SERIES
LSU leads the all-time series versus Florida, 68-53-1, as the series began in 1971. The teams’ last meeting came in the 2023 CWS Championship Series June 24-26, in Omaha, Neb., as the Tigers claimed the national championship by winning two of three games over the Gators. The last regular-season meeting between the teams occurred on March 25-27, 2022, when the Tigers won two of three games over the Gators in Gainesville. Florida holds a 10-9 lead in the 19 meetings between the teams since 2016. This weekend’s series marks Florida’s first visit to Baton Rouge since April 18-20, 2019, when LSU won two of three games over Florida.
A LOOK AT LSU
LSU has won four of its last six games, and the Tigers this week are ranked No. 4 in the nation by USA Today and No. 5 by Baseball America and D1 Baseball. LSU is No. 7 in the SEC with a .300 team batting average, and the Tigers’ 3.74 cumulative ERA ranks No. 6 in the league. Junior right-hander Luke Holman is No. 1 in the SEC with a 0.63 ERA, and No. 2 in the league with 43 strikeouts.
A LOOK AT FLORIDA
Florida opened SEC play last weekend by winning two of three games over Texas A&M, who was undefeated entering the series in Gainesville, Fla. UF is No. 8 in the SEC with a .298 batting average, and third in the league in home runs with 44. Florida’s pitching staff is No. 14 in the SEC with a 5.78 cumulative ERA, but the Gators hurlers have recorded 238 strikeouts, the fifth-highest total in the league. First baseman/LH pitcher Jac Caglianone is hitting .414 on the year with one double, nine homers and 21 RBI. Infielder Colby Shelton, who transferred to UF from Alabama, has 10 homers and 22 RBI, and infielder Tyler Shelnut has nine doubles, seven homers and 24 RBI.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com