Author Archives: LRN News

05.16.22
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4:45 LRN Sportscast May 16

LSU will try to bounce back from a rough, three-game sweep at the hands of Ole Miss on Tuesday in their home finale, a midweek matchup with Northwestern State. Coach Jay Johnson says the Tigers need to put the Rebels behind them if they want a chance at what’s still ahead.

Cut 22 (6) “…this weekend.

LSU travels to Nashville this weekend to close the SEC regular-season slate with three games against Vanderbilt. The Commodores have taken series on the road at Georgia and Arkansas the last two weekends. Losing the series would give LSU its first below-.500 finish in the SEC since 2011, the last time the Tigers missed the NCAA tournament.

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The NCAA softball bracket has LSU going on the road for the first time since 2014. The Tigers will be the second seed in the Tempe Regional where they will open against San Diego State this Friday. U-L is headed to the Clemson Regional and McNeese to the Evanston Regional. The Cajuns face Auburn with the Cowgirls playing Notre Dame.

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Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees and NBC Sports have mutually parted ways after one season of mixed reviews for the future Hall of Famer in the broadcast booth. Amid speculation as to what Brees might do next, he took to social media, mentioning that a potential return to football is possible. Saints coach Dennis Allen didn’t appear to take Brees’ comments too seriously…

Meanwhile, Sean Payton will join the Fox broadcast team for the 2022 season. His role isn’t certain, but ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio says Payton will likely serve as a fill-in for Jimmie Johnson on Fox’s NFL Sunday studio show when Johnson is out.

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The last two days have been very good to LSU on the football recruiting front. The Tigers picked up a commitment from four-star Union Parish running back Trey Holly on Sunday.  Holly is rated as the tenth-best back in the nation and rushed for more than 55-hundred yards and scored 78 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Today, “DBU” announced Daylen Austin, a four-star cornerback out of California, made his verbal commitment. Austin is rated as the number 16 corner in the country.

05.16.22
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11:40 LRN Sportscast May 16

For the first time in the history of a series that dates back to 1906, Ole Miss swept the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge…In a Saturday doubleheader, the Rebels picked up 5-3 and 11-1 victories before closing out the sweep with an 8-5 win on Sunday. The Tigers close the regular season at home versus Northwestern State on Tuesday before heading to Vanderbilt this weekend.

McNeese claimed the top seed in the Southland tournament, followed by Southeastern, UNO, Nicholls, and Northwestern State. U-L fell to fourth in the Sun Belt after dropping three to Texas State, and Southern pulled into a tie for first in the SWAC West with a sweep of Prairie View.

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Meanwhile, LSU softball will play on the road in a regional for the first time since 2014. LSU is the two seed in the Tempe Regional and opens play against the third-seeded San Diego State Aztecs this Friday at 7 pm.

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LSU football picked up a commitment from four-star Union Parish running back Trey Holly over the weekend.  Holly is rated as the tenth-best back in the nation and rushed for more than 55-hundred yards and scored 78 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

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Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees and NBC Sports have mutually parted ways after one season of mixed reviews for the future Hall of Famer in the broadcast booth. Amid speculation as to what Brees might do next, he took to social media, mentioning that a potential return to football is possible. Saints coach Dennis Allen didn’t appear to take Brees’ comments too seriously, saying he believes they were made in jest.

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The Saints did make one new addition over the weekend as they announced the signing of former LSU star and five-time Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry to a one-year, $3-million contract. Perhaps no one is happier about the signing of Landry than quarterback Jameis Winston. NOLA-dot-com’s Rod Walker says the Saints have given him plenty of weapons to work with.

Cut 18 (12) “…for success.”

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In the NBA, the Mavs demolished Phoenix 123-90. They advance to face Golden State in the Western Finals. The Boston Celtics knocked out the defending champion Bucks, 109-81. Boston will take on Miami for the Eastern Conference crown.

05.14.22
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10:30 LRN Newscast May 14

The U-S Department of the Interior is canceling oil and gas lease sales scheduled in the Gulf and Alaskan coast due to what it says is a lack of industry interest in drilling near Alaska and conflicting court rulings that have made drilling in the Gulf more complicated. While environmental groups laud the decision Louisiana Oil & Gas President Mike Moncla says it’s disastrous for the state.

Cut 7 (09) “…good for Louisiana.”

Moncla says that the Biden Administration is failing to respond in a time of crisis, with gas prices reaching a record four dollars and forty cents per gallon and consumer prices up 8.3 percent last month from a year ago.

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LSU and Ole Miss will pick up where they left off on Friday after rain put a stop to last night’s game in the bottom of the third with the Tigers trailing 4-2. The teams will complete the series opener starting at 11 am at The Box, with game two to follow 50 minutes after the conclusion. Also starting at 11 am the Division IV state baseball championship between Calvary Baptist and Ouachita Christian.

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An amendment by Republicans led to Oil City Representative Danny McCormick pulling his controversial bill that would have criminalized abortion. LaPolitic’s dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says even with the leak of a possible overturn of Roe v Wade the original bill is considered unconstitutional.

Cut 4  (08) “…race at all.”

Alford says the original bill that would have saddled abortion participants with murder charges will most likely not return for this legislative session since the bill’s criminalization element was removed from the legislation.

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Sunday night should present Louisianans with an ideal view of the lunar eclipse. LSU Astronomy Professor Jeffrey Clayton says it’s a unique occurrence and he highly recommends making plans to stay up a bit later than usual Sunday night. He says as long as you are in a dark location with few clouds you should be able to enjoy the show and you won’t even need a telescope.

Cut 15 (06) “…awesome sight.”

05.14.22
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9:30 LRN Newscast May 14

Thursday’s debate on Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill to charge a woman who has an abortion with murder is met with questions of fallout from the issue among the Republican Party in Louisiana. LaPolitic’s dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says it was Republicans who amended the legislation and pointed out the bill could also punish those who use in-vitro fertilization, and that the bill in its original form is unconstitutional.

Cut 3 (10) “….those amendments.”

If the bill had passed as originally written it was poised to be one of the most aggressive new restrictions on reproductive rights in the country.

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Another homecoming in New Orleans as the Saints sign former Lutcher High School and LSU standout Jarvis Landry to a reported one-year deal. In eight NFL seasons, Landry has been named to the Pro Bowl five times and should give a major boost to the Saints’ receiving corp.

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The U-S Department of the Interior is canceling oil and gas lease sales scheduled in the Gulf. Though new leases won’t have an impact on current gas prices, since it will take years for them to produce oil, Louisiana Oil & Gas President Mike Moncla says that the President’s strategy doesn’t prepare the country to become more “green”, address the current fuel needs of Americans, or take into consideration the wide range of businesses that will be impacted.

Cut 9 (11) “…of our product.”

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Sunday night should present Louisianans with an ideal view of the lunar eclipse. LSU Astronomy Professor Jeffrey Clayton says the earth will travel between the sun and the moon, and the earth’s shadow should be visible beginning at 9:30 and last a few hours.

05.14.22
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8:30 LRN Newscast May 14

A bill that would have charged a woman with murder if she had an abortion was pulled by its author after it was amended to remove criminal charges. The amendment also removed language that would have criminalized in-vitro fertilization. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (43) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The U-S Department of the Interior is canceling oil and gas lease sales scheduled in the Gulf and Alaskan coast due to what it says is a lack of industry interest in drilling near Alaska and conflicting court rulings that have made drilling in the Gulf more complicated. Louisiana Oil & Gas President Mike Moncla says that the Biden Administration is failing to respond in a time of crisis, with gas prices reaching a record four dollars and forty cents per gallon and consumer prices up 8.3 percent last month from a year ago.

Cut 8 (09) “…would do that.”

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Child drownings are on the rise in the state. Louisiana Department of Health regional medical director Martha Whyte warns that drowning isn’t just confined to large bodies of water. For infants and toddlers, there are dangers inside the home as well that adults have to look out for.

Cut 11 (11) “…alone in it.”

05.14.22
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7:30 LRN Sportscast May 14

Game one of LSU’s series with Ole Miss was interrupted by rain, meaning the Tigers and Rebels will essentially be playing a doubleheader today. The game was suspended with the Rebels leading 4-2 in the bottom of the third. Dylan Crews homered in the bottom of the first to give LSU a 2-0 advantage but Ma’Khail Hilliard got off to a rocky start, allowing four runs on four hits in the second. Game one resumes at 11 am with game two to start 50 minutes following the conclusion of the opener.

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McNeese routed Houston Baptist for the second straight game, beating the Huskies 16-6 in seven innings last night after a 23-5 win on Thursday. Kade Hunter homered twice, including a fifth-inning grand slam that put the Cowboys up 14-2. A win Saturday would give McNeese the Southland regular-season title. Northwestern State beat UNO, 14-11, while Southeastern and Nicholls were rained out. UL-Lafayette fell 7-5 at Texas State and Louisiana Tech pummeled Western Kentucky, 16-4.

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Another former LSU Tiger has decided to join the New Orleans Saints. Jarvis Landry confirmed via Twitter that he and the Saints have agreed on a one-year deal. Landry is a five-time Pro Bowler with the Dolphins and Browns and has averaged 86 receptions and 950 yards over eight seasons. Wide receiver, a major weakness for the Saints last season, is suddenly a strength, with the expected return of Michael Thomas to form, and the additions of first-round pick Chris Olave and now Landry.

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Top-seeded McNeese State defeated two-seed Southeastern Louisiana 10-4 to win the Southland Conference softball championship. It’s the eighth title for the Cowgirls; their second in a row, and fifth since 2016. Kendall Talley drove in three and scored two to lead McNeese.

In the Sun Belt, U-L awaits the winner of Coastal Carolina and Texas State in the tournament championship this afternoon at 2:30 pm. The Ragin Cajuns advanced with a stirring 1-0 victory over TSU on Friday. Raina O’Neal’s solo shot to leadoff the eighth was the only run of the game.

05.13.22
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4:45 LRN Sportscast May 13

Shooting guard Adam Miller becomes the latest LSU Tiger to withdraw his name from the transfer portal and remain in Baton Rouge. Miller made the announcement on social media and it was later confirmed by the university. He missed last season after tearing the ACL in his right knee in mid-October but LSU says he has been “medically cleared for all basketball activities.” Miller averaged 8.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 31 games as a freshman at Illinois in the 2020-21 season.

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Top-seeded McNeese State defeated two-seed Southeastern Louisiana 10-4 to win the Southland Conference softball championship. It’s the eighth title for the Cowgirls; their second in a row, and fifth since 2016. Kendall Talley drove in three and scored two to lead McNeese.

In the Sun Belt, Raina O’Neal led off the top of the eighth inning with a solo blast to right field to provide the only run in the Ragin Cajuns’ 1-0 win over Texas State. Meghan Schorman went the distance for U-L, striking out eight and surrendering just one walk to earn her 15th win of the season. The Cajuns advance to Saturday’s championship game.

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LSU baseball starts a big three-game series with Ole Miss tonight. Outside of the action on the field is the story of the Bianco family. Drew is a utility player for the Tigers while his dad, Mike, has been the head man for the Rebels for the past 22 seasons, and played his college ball in Baton Rouge. This weekend is likely the last time father faces son, but Drew will always remember hitting a home run off the first pitch he saw against Ole Miss as a freshman in 2019.

Cut 19 (19) “…see you tomorrow.”

Game time is set for 7:30.

In other games…McNeese and Houston Baptist resume their series as do Southeastern and Nicholls. UNO and Northwestern State continue the battle for second place in Natchitoches. UL opens its road series at 15th-ranked Texas State and Louisiana Tech welcomes Western Kentucky.

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05.13.22
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12:30 LRN Newscast May 13

A bill that would have charged a woman with murder if she had an abortion was pulled by its author after it was amended to remove criminal charges. The amendment also removed language that would have criminalized in-vitro fertilization. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (43) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The U-S Department of the Interior is canceling oil and gas lease sales scheduled in the Gulf and off the coast of Alaska due to what it says is a lack of industry interest in drilling near Alaska and conflicting court rulings that have made drilling in the Gulf more complicated. While environmental groups have lauded the decision Mike Moncla, president of the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association calls it a disaster for the state.

Cut 7 (09) “…good for Louisiana.”

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After five consecutive years of decreases in child drowning in Louisiana, the last two years have seen a major uptick in cases. Regional medical director Martha Whyte says there were 24 drownings in 2020, a 60 percent increase from 2019, and preliminary data from the LDH shows 25 drowning deaths in 2021. There have also been several high-profile drownings in recent weeks, increasing the need for awareness.

Cut 10 (11)”…safe around water.”

05.13.22
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11:40 LRN Sportscast May 13

The New Orleans Saints 2022 season schedule has been released. While fans can nitpick the slate of games, Ross Jackson, the host of Locked on Saints, says he likes the overall setup, with the Saints playing six of their first nine games at home. However, if he could make just one change…

Cut 18 (16) “…that London game.”

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The Southland Conference softball tourney wraps up today. At noon, top-seeded McNeese takes on two-seed Southeastern in the championship. Yesterday the Cowgirls overcame a 6-0 deficit to beat the Lions 7-6 on Chislyne Moreno’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. Southeastern bounced back with a 9-1 win over Houston Baptist to stave off elimination, but they’ll have to beat McNeese twice in order to take home the title.

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Both LSU and Ole Miss Baseball enter this weekend’s series with plenty of momentum on both sides. The Tigers have won 9 of 12 and the Rebels have won four in a row. LSU’s Drew Bianco says his team is clear on what it wants to do and what it needs to do this weekend against a dangerous opponent.

Cut 20 (19) “…end of the year.”

First pitch tonight is at 7:30

McNeese went off in a 23-5 win over Houston Baptist last night in the first game of their series. Payton Harden was 5-for-6 for the Cowboys with two doubles, a home run, and six RBI. Southeastern won 3-2 over Nicholls. A sweep of the Colonels would give the Lions the Southland regular-season crown, and UNO topped Northwestern State 6-4.

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05.12.22
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4:45 LRN Sportscast May 12

Details of the Saints’ 2022 schedule are out. New Orleans opens with three straight NFC South matchups; at Atlanta in Week 1, home against Tampa in Week 2, and then on the road at Carolina before heading to London to face Minnesota. Joe Burrow and the Bengals visit New Orleans Oct. 16 and the Super Bowl champion Rams are in the dome Nov. 20. Other notable home opponents include the Raiders on Oct. 30, the Ravens on Monday Night, Nov. 7.

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College baseball series starting tonight include McNeese trying to hold on to first place in the Southland with a road doubleheader at Houston Baptist while Southeastern tries to do the same against Nicholls. UNO and Northwestern State are among four teams tied for second in the standings, and they face off in Natchitoches to jockey for position.

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A bill that would let Louisiana colleges and boosters of their athletic programs pay student-athletes as part of name, image and likeness deals continues to advance through the Louisiana legislature. The head of LSU’s NIL department Taylor Jacobs says the intent of this legislation is not to allow a booster organization to pay a student-athlete as a recruiting inducement.

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In the Southland Softball tournament, 4th-seeded Northwestern State was eliminated after dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker to Texas A&M Corpus-Christi.  With a 1-0 lead following the top of the first, the Demons gave up three runs in the bottom of the frame. NSU scratched out another run in the third to pull within one, but the Islanders matched it again. The Demons had their final opportunity to win or tie in the seventh, but after picking up one run and having the bases loaded…they couldn’t push across another run.

Top-seeded McNeese and number two Southeastern are playing this afternoon. The winner advances to Friday’s championship game, while the loser plays tonight in an elimination game.

UL-Lafayette blew by Troy 9-1 this afternoon in the Sun Belt tournament. Outfielder Raina O’Neal had the big bat for the Cajuns. She went 2-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored, including a two-run home run in the third that put UL up 6-1. Taylor Roman also went yard for the Cajuns and Sam Landry gave up just one run in five innings to improve to 19-3 this season. UL will take on either South Alabama or Texas State in the winner’s bracket final Friday at 10 am.