4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU baseball begins a do or die series tonight against 5th ranked Georgia. The Tigers have to win four of their last six games for a shot at making the NCAA Tournament. There is some good news, one of LSU’s best hitters is healthy enough to play after missing Tuesday’s game with a back injury. That’s Omar Serna. Before leaving for Athens, Coach Jay Johnson was optimistic Serna could play….

Cut 18 (19)   (chuckles’

Starting pitcher Casan Evans is questionable for tonight’s game. The sophomore right-hander has missed the last two weekends with arm soreness. William Schmidt gets the start on the mound and he’ll face an offense that leads the nation with 131 home runs.

Another basketball player in the transfer portal has committed to Will Wade and the LSU men’s basketball team. His name is Abdi Bashir who averaged 13 points a game last season at Kansas State and made 44-percent of his three-point shots. The six-foot-seven shooting guard will be senior next season and he’s Wade’s fourth commitment.

Louisiana Tech begins a three-game series tonight against Liberty. The Flames are second in the Conference USA standings with an 18-6 record. The Bulldogs are 15-9. Liberty has won its last seven Conference USA weekend series and they have one of the best pitchers in the league in Ben Blair.

ULM is also out east as the Warhawks are visiting Marshall. ULM is batting to get in the Sun Belt Tournament. The top ten teams make the league tournament and the Warhawks are in a four-way tie for tenth place. Marshall is in 9th place in the league standings with a 11-13 record.

The Ragin Cajuns who are 12-12 in league play are at App State, who is 15-9 in the Sun Belt and in third place.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Tigers begin a three-game series at 5th ranked Georgia tonight. The Bulldogs are 18-6 in the SEC and they are likely a national seed in the NCAA Tournament. LSU is 9-15 in the league and considered a longshot to make an NCAA Regional. Coach Jay Johnson says his team has nothing to lose…

Cut 17 (24)  “…this team.”

Omar Serna is not on the injury report, which is a sign he’s good to go for this series after missing Tuesday night’s win against Tulane with a sore back. Pitcher Casan Evans is listed as questionable.

 

Louisiana Tech begins a three-game series tonight against Liberty. The Flames are second in the Conference USA standings with an 18-6 record. The Bulldogs are 15-9. Liberty has won its last seven Conference USA weekend series and they have one of the best pitchers in the league in Ben Blair.

ULM is also out east as the Warhawks are visiting Marshall. ULM is batting to get in the Sun Belt Tournament. The top ten teams make the league tournament and the Warhawks are in a four-way tie for tenth place. Marshall is in 9th place in the league standings with a 11-13 record.

The Ragin Cajuns who are 12-12 in league play are at App State, who is 15-9 in the Sun Belt and in third place.

Southeastern Louisiana is all alone in first place in the Southland after beating Nicholls 12 to 2. The Lions will be one of two host sites for the Southland tournament that begins next week.

And McNeese softball is one win away from an NCAA Tournament after beating Lamar 1 to nothing in 10 innings last night. Game two of the best of three series is tonight at 6 PM.

6:45 LRN Sportscast May 8

For LSU to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive, the Tigers need to win this weekend’s series against fifth ranked Georgia. After losing nine straight SEC games, LSU has won five in a row overall. Catcher Cade Arrambide says the Tigers have found their confidence…

Cut 19 (17) “…doing it.”

It will not be easy for the Tigers, the Bulldogs have one of the best offenses in the country and they lead the nation in home runs with 131. Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson has 23 home runs and 23 stolen bases.

Last night, Southeastern Louisiana clobbered Nicholls 12 to 2 and McNeese blanked Northwestern State one to nothing. Easton Dowell’s RBI double in the 11th inning was the game winner.

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Michigan State point guard Divine Ugochukwu (OO-goh-CHOO-koo) has committed to the LSU Tigers. He’s six-foot-three and averaged five points a game last season for the Spartans. Ugochukwu started 12 games for Michigan State and the Spartans went 11-1. He suffered a foot injury in early February that ended his season.

The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments are expanding from 68 teams to 76. That means Tuesday and Wednesday of men’s tournament will feature 12 games played by 24 teams in two different cities.

ULM softball ended the Cajuns season last night with a three to nothing victory in the Sun Belt Tournament. Ashanti McDade won her 18th game in the circle. The Warhawks will face South Alabama in the semis tonight.

La Tech stayed alive in the Conference USA tournament by beating New Mexico State three to one in 11 innings.

And McNeese took game one of their best out of three championship series by beating Lamar one to nothing in 10 innings.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team begins a three-game series against the Georgia Bulldogs tomorrow. Sophomore right hander William Schmidt will get the start on the mound for the Tigers. Schmidt has had his struggles this season, but last time out, he allowed just one run on five hits in six innings. Tigers Pitching coach Nate Yeskie…

Cut 17 (21) “…of the stretch”

Schmidt and the rest of LSU’s pitchers will face a dangerous line-up in Athens this weekend. The Bulldogs team batting average is fourth best in the nation and they lead the country in home runs with 131. A series win for the Tigers and it puts them back on the bubble to make the NCAA Tournament.

 

Michigan State guard Divine Ugochukwu (OO-goh-CHOO-koo) publicly committed to the LSU Tigers today. He’s six-foot-three, 195 pounds and averaged five points a game last season for the Spartans. Ugochukwu started 12 games for Michigan State and the Spartans went 11-1. He suffered a foot injury in early February that ended his season.

The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament is expanding from 68 teams to 76 teams. That means Tuesday and Wednesday of men’s tournament will feature 12 games played by 24 teams in two different cities.

McNeese softball is two wins away from reaching the NCAA Tournament. The Cowgirls begin a best out of three Southland Championship series against Lamar tonight.

On the baseball side, The Southland Conference will begin the final weekend of its regular season tonight. First place Southeastern hosts Nicholls at 6 PM and Northwestern State visits McNeese State.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Tigers are preparing for a big series in Athens as they will visit fifth ranked Georgia, who has one of the best offenses in college baseball. Deven Sheerin has emerged as LSU’s best reliever. He has a 3.16 ERA with four saves and has struck out 48 in 31.1 innings pitched. Sheerin missed last season because of a knee injury and pitching coach Nate Yeskie says the big right-hander used the year off productively…

Cut 18 (17)  “…him some perspective.”

Freshman Omar Serna was not in the lineup for Tuesday night’s win over Tulane. Coach Jay Johnson says Serna is dealing with a back injury and he’s optimistic he will play this weekend at Georgia.

Another transfer portal commitment to the LSU men’s basketball program has been made public as Michigan State guard Divine Ugochukwu has committed to the Tigers after averaging five points a game last season at Michigan State.

The LSU softball team’s stay at the SEC Tournament was a short one as they lost to Georgia Seven to three yesterday. LSU is 37-17 and they hope that’s good enough for them to host an NCAA Regional next week.

In the Sun Belt Tournament in Lafayette, top seeded ULM will face eighth-seeded U-L Lafayette at 4 PM. The Cajuns blanked Troy five to nothing yesterday in the opening round. Earlier this season, the Warhawks swept the Cajuns in a three game series.

Louisiana Tech needs to beat New Mexico State today to stay alive in the Conference USA Tournament after losing to Liberty nine to nothing last night.

Tonight, the Southland Conference Tournament championship series begins in Lake Charles as McNeese hosts Lamar.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team will begin a series against sixth-ranked Georgia tomorrow night. It will be a tough test for the Tigers’ pitching staff as the Bulldogs have one of the best offenses in the country. LSU has a team ERA above five, and they lead the league in walks allowed and wild pitches. Pitching Coach Nate Yeskie…

Cut 16 (15) “…and support them.”

William Schmidt is expected to make his second straight Friday night start. He’ll face an offense that’s fourth in the country in batting average and first in home runs with 131.

The Southland Conference will begin the final weekend of its regular season tonight. First place Southeastern hosts Nicholls at 6 PM and Northwestern State visits McNeese State.

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LSU softball lost in the SEC Tournament to Georgia seven to three last night. The Tigers will now wait to see if they’ve done enough to host an NCAA Regional.

The Cajuns blanked Troy five to nothing and will play top seeded ULM at 4 PM today.

In the Conference USA Tournament…Allie Furr’s R-B-I single in the eighth helped Louisiana Tech edge F-I-U two to one. But La Tech played again last night and lost to third seeded Liberty nine to nothing. The Bulldogs play an elimination game against New Mexico State at 4 PM today.

McNeese hosts Lamar tonight in the first game of the Southland Conference Championship series. The Cowgirls have won 25 of the last 27 meetings against their rivals to the west.

A power forward from Brazil who plays professionally in Israel has committed to the LSU men’s basketball. Twenty-three-year-old Marcio Santos reportedly chose LSU over Kentucky. He’s averaging seven points and four rebounds a game and is a good shooter from the perimeter.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team will take a five-game winning streak into its series against sixth ranked Georgia after beating Tulane last night 13 to six. Following the game, Coach Jay Johnson provided an update on starting pitcher Casan Evans, who has missed the last two weekends after experiencing arm soreness..

Cut 19 (19) “…ready to go”

LSU will need to win at least four games over the next two weekends, against Georgia and Florida, to put themselves in position for an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament.

The Ragin Cajuns are a bubble team and they suffered a bad loss last night to UNO, falling the Privateers nine to six in ten innings. U-L Lafayette visits Appalachian State this weekend. The Mountaineers are 15-9 in the Sun Belt.

 

A power forward from Brazil who professionally plays for a team in Israel has committed to the LSU Tigers. Twenty-three-year-old Marcio Santos reportedly chose LSU over Kentucky. He’s averaging seven points, four rebounds a game and he can knock down shots from the perimeter.

Coach Will Wade just told Jon Rothstein from C-B-S that they plan to sign several international players…

Cut 29 (29) “…to us”

Wade also says despite having just two players publicly committed, they have secured commitments from seven to eight guys who plan to play at LSU next season.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team scored nine runs in the first two innings and went on to beat Tulane 13 to six for their fifth win in a row. Cade Arrambide hit a two-run homer in the first inning. West Monroe’s John Pearson also went yard in his first game since April 24th because of a hamstring injury. Pearson had two hits and drove in three runs. Seth Dardar had three hits and two RBIs. Freshman right fielder William Patrick also drove in two runs. Coach Jay Johnson says it was another good night for the freshmen…

Cut 20 (20) “…any game”

LSU’s bats will need to stay hot this weekend as the Tigers visit fifth ranked Georgia. The Bulldogs are one of the best offensive teams in the country.

LSU men’s basketball has received a commitment from a power forward from Brazil. Six-foot-nine Marcio Santos is the second commitment for the Tigers since Will Wade arrived. The 23-year-old averaged close to seven points a game in the Euroleague and shot 40-percent from three point territory.

LSU women’s basketball announces they will play North Carolina State and Villanova in Fort Myers, Florida during the Thanksgiving weekend.

LSU gymnastics has received a big transfer portal addition as Jorden Lyden has committed to the Tigers. Lyden helped Minnesota reach the National Championships last month with her performances on the beam, floor and bars.

Back to baseball…an ugly performance by the Ragin Cajuns last night as they lost to UNO nine to six in ten innings. The Privateers scored three runs and on one hit in the tenth inning. U-L Lafayette pitchers walked ten hitters and hit seven more for 17 free bases.

Also, La Tech over Northwestern State 12 to one and ULM defeated Mississippi Valley State ten to five.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball Tigers scored nine runs in the first two innings on its way to a fifth straight victory, a 13-6 win over Tulane. Cade Arrambide started the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning. His 15th home run of the season. West Monroe’s John Pearson returned from a leg injury to hit his seventh home run of the season. Steven Milam drove in four runs.

UNO pulled off the upset last night in Lafayette beating the Ragin Cajuns nine to six. Tough loss for U-L Lafayette who is on the bubble to make an NCAA Regional.

Louisiana Tech trounced Northwestern State 12 to 1. Sebastian Mexico had two, two-run doubles. The Bulldogs will be at Liberty this weekend.

ULM scored five runs in the eighth inning and defeated Mississippi Valley State ten to five. Jake Haggard had three hits and his two run double completed the scoring.

Eleventh ranked Mississippi State scored a lot and defeated Nicholls 21-to-6.

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Coaches have voiced their opinion. The American Football Coaches Association would like to see an end to conference championship games, expanded playoffs to as many 24 teams, start the postseason in mid-December so the championship game is played in mid-January. Also, start the regular season a week earlier. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey opposes a 24-team playoff and wants to keep the SEC title game.

The LSU softball team begins play in the SEC Tournament against Georgia. The Tigers are 37-16 overall, 13-11 in the SEC and Coach Beth Torina believes that should be enough to host a Regional next week.

ULM Softball Coach Molly Fichtner has been named the Sun Belt Softball Coach of the Year. Fichtner is the first ULM coach to win this honor two times. She won it last year too. The Warhawks are the number one seed in the Sun Belt tourney that begins today in Lafayette. The Cajuns take on Troy tonight and the winner gets ULM tomorrow.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team seeks its fifth straight win tonight when they take on Tulane. The Tigers swept South Carolina last weekend. Koki Riley, who covers LSU baseball for the Advocate and Nola-dot-com, says LSU took advantage of a weak hitting Gamecocks team…

Cut 27 (12) “…they did”

LSU has looked better offensively the last two weeks. Freshman Mason Braun has been really good as a lead-off man. He had six walks against South Carolina and his on base percentage is a team high .474.

In other action tonight…Louisiana Tech hosts Northwestern State. Nicholls is at 11th ranked Mississippi State and ULM hosts Mississippi Valley State.

ULM Softball Coach Molly Fichtner has been named Sun Belt Softball Coach of the Year. The Warhawks are the number one seed in the Sun Belt tourney that begins tomorrow in Lafayette.

 

The Ragin Cajuns have won five in a row heading into tonight’s game against UNO. Coach Matt Deggs likes how his team is playing and he’s trying to stay out of their way…

Cut 22 (12) “….good job of that”

First pitch tonight is at 6 PM>

It’s been reported that La Tech paid at least eight-million dollars to end its relationship with Conference USA. Financial terms have not been released, but Bulldogs athletics director Ryan Ivey says financially it’s a good move, as travel costs will be reduced.

Cut 20 (18) “…a net positive.”