LSU opened their 2024 season with an offensive explosion that was much needed. The Tigers scored 11 runs on 12 hits but surrendered 8 runs of their own on 11 VMI hits. In a game that saw Thatcher Hurd knocked out in the Third inning when the Keydets took a short lived 4-3 lead as the rain began that chased Hurd.
It was Nate Ackenhausen that made his Tiger 2024 debut and picked up the win in relief going 3 innings striking out 6 of the 13 batters he faced. The middle innings saw the Tigers get the lead back that they would not relinquish and get Ack his first Win of the year.
The 6th inning was one of the more peculiar ones seen through the years. The Tigers scored 5 runs on 5 hit batters and only 1 hit in the inning. All total the Champs were hit 8 times in the ball game.
Jared Jones provided the great Lyn Rollins his first opportunity to let us all know it was time to “Pucker up and kiss that baby goodbye” as the Sophomore launched a 3-run bomb to get the Tigers on the board.
Jones finished 2-4 on the afternoon with 4 RBIs to lead LSU at the plate. The middle of the Tigers’ order packed a lot of opening day punch as Pearson was 2-5, Bingham 2-3 and H8den Travinski provided some power of his own on this big fly
Gage Jump pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning to pick up the Save in Game 1.
For the Tigers defensively, keep an eye on Paxton Kling in Centerfield. With his speed and glove, he is poised to be another in a long line of great Tiger Centerfielders. Kling did add a base hit and 2 RBI on the day.
The Tigers will be back in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field, to face Central Arkansas on Saturday at 1 PM CT. The game will be streamed on SECN+ and available on the LSU Sports Radio Network.
LSU 1-0 VMI 0-1
