No. 5 LSU avoided a sweep against Mississippi State by beating the Bulldogs 11-8 on Sunday. The Tigers scored all of their runs in the three middle innings, after falling behind 3-0. Coach Paul Mainieri is happy they pulled off the victory…:
Cut 17 (13) “of em”

Also Sunday, Louisiana Tech blanked Old Dominion 12-0 in 7 innings. UL-Lafayette edged Texas State 1-0. McNeese State edged Southeastern 7-6. UL-Monroe fell to Arkansas State 5-4. Northwestern State beat Central Arkansas 7-5 in 10 innings. Nicholls State fell to Nebraska 4-2.

In NBA playoff local focus news, former Louisiana Tech star Paul Millsap scored a career high 45 points for the Hawks, but Atlanta ended up losing to Boston.

The New Orleans Pelicans cancelled today’s planned news conference with General Manager Dell Demps. There was no explanation about what prompted the change. Demps is expected to return, but the Pelicans fan base is not happy about it.

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly fired former New Orleans coach Byron Scott. While with the Hornets in 2008, Scott was named Coach of the Year.

ESPN is reporting that Clemson assistant basketball coach Richie Riley is expected to be named the new head coach at Nicholls State.

A bill that would force the LHSAA to end its public-private school playoff split will be heard on the House floor today. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says, under his bill, schools wouldn’t get public funds if they belong to an athletic organization with split playoffs. He says the LHSAA’s current playoff split is discriminatory…:
cut 4 (05) “somebody else”
But opponents don’t think the legislature should be involved in this controversy.