I’m Erik Piccoli and This Louisiana Radio Network Sportscast is brought to you by tele-leaf-dot-com, Louisiana’s access to medical marijuana from the comfort of your home….

The Pelicans battled last night, but Suns point guard Chris Paul was fantastic in the fourth quarter again as he scored 19 of his 28 points in the final 12 minutes as Phoenix dribbled past New Orleans 114 to 111. The Suns also got a big night from Deandre Ayton (A-ton) who had a playoff career high 28 points and 17 rebounds. Brandon Ingram had 34 points for the Pels, but it was not enough. New Orleans will try even the series at two games apiece on Sunday when the two teams meet again in the Smoothie King Center.

Spring football games take place in Baton Rouge and Ruston today. A lot of attention will be on the quarterbacks during LSU’s spring game which gets underway at 1 PM. Louisiana Tech’s spring game begins at 11 AM.

Louisiana Radio Network sports.
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In college baseball, there were three walk-off wins involving Lousiaina teams and a perfect game last night. LSU’s Cade Doughty slammed a single into left center field to score the winning run in the tenth inning as the Tigers defeated Missouri four to three to take the series. LSU will go for the sweep this afternoon.

Kade Morris mashed a grand slam in the eleventh inning as McNeese defeated Southeastern Louisiana seven to three. Gary Rowlett drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Northwestern State defeated Houston Baptist four to three.

Grambling State’s standout pitcher Shemar Page threw a perfect game as the Tigers trounced Alcorn State 16 to nothing. Page struck out 13 and it goes down as the 34th perfect game in NCAA Division One history.

Also last night, the Ragin Cajuns defeated Georgia State five to four, Appalachian State downed ULM five to one and Middle Tennessee knocked off Louisiana Tech seven to three.

This sportscast was brought to you by tele-leaf-dot-com, I’m Erik Piccoli Louisiana Radio Network sports.

The New Orleans Pelicans will be looking to take a two games to one lead over the Phoenix Suns in their best-of-seven opening-round playoff series tonight. Game three is typically pivotal, with the victor going on to claim the series 77 percent of the time. Pelicans guard CJ McCollum has stressed to his teammates the importance of taking care of business.

Cut 18 (15) “…of this game.”

Rebounding has been key to the Pelicans’ success, as they have beaten the Suns on the glass by 15 boards per game. Forward Trey Murphy says that’s just what they do.

Cut 21 (13) “…too different.”

Tip-off is set for 8:30 pm.

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Brian Kelly makes his unofficial debut at Tiger Stadium tomorrow when the National L Club Spring Game kicks off at 1 pm. Rather than a traditional scrimmage, it will be offense versus defense. There are plenty of plot lines to follow, from the quarterback position…where Jayden Daniels and Myles Brennan fight for the starting spot, to a new-look defense and new faces all over on both sides of the ball. The Tigers are a work in progress but fans will get their opportunity to see what the new LSU could look like this fall.

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LSU baseball continues its series with Missouri tonight at The Box. The Tigers topped Mizzou 5-3 in game one behind seven strong innings from Ma’Khail Hilliard and two home runs from Jacob Berry. Blake Money takes the mound for the opening pitch at 6:30 pm.

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Series starting tonight include Tulane hosting East Carolina, UL at Georgia State, App State visits UL-Monroe, Southeastern and McNeese tangle in Lake Charles, Northwestern State welcomes Houston Baptist, Nicholls travels to Incarnate Word…while Southern is at Texas Southern and Grambling hosts Alcorn State.

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The New Orleans Pelicans look to go up two games to one in their best-of-seven series with the Phoenix suns tonight in front of a sold-out crowd at the Smoothie King Center. All-Star guard Devin Booker is likely out for the remainder of the series, a major blow for the top-seeded Suns. Willie Green says Phoenix, which went 8-6 without Booker this season, is still very dangerous.

Cut 17 (17) “…as such.”

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At the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Matthew NeSmith and Taylor Moore earned an eagle on 18 for an opening-round record-tying score of 12-under 60. Or so they thought. Patrick Cantlay, the world’s fourth-ranked player knocked in a 3-foot birdie moments later, giving him and reigning Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele the new record with a 59 heading into today’s second round.

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Plenty of questions surround the LSU defense heading into tomorrow’s spring game. There are a lot of new names in the defensive secondary at DBU. Safety Joe Foucha transferred in from Arkansas and he says they’ll need the summer to bond…

Cut 20 (19) “…as one”

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LSU baseball picked up a much-needed victory, topping Missouri 5-3 last night in the first game of their three-game set. Jacob Berry smacked two home runs, giving him 12 on the season, and Ma’Khail Hilliard gave up two runs over seven innings to improve to 4-0.

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Series starting tonight include Tulane hosting East Carolina, UL at Georgia State, App State visits UL-Monroe, Southeastern and McNeese tangle in Lake Charles, Northwestern State welcomes Houston Baptist, Nicholls travels to Incarnate Word…while Southern is at Texas Southern and Grambling hosts Alcorn State.

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Jacob Berry blasted two home runs and senior right-hander Ma’Khail Hilliard pitched seven strong innings as the LSU Tigers defeated Missouri five to three to take game one of their series. The Tigers are now 8-and-8 in SEC play. Game two is tonight at 6:30.

Also tonight, Louisiana Tech hosts Middle Tennessee, the Ragin Cajuns are at Georgia State and McNeese hosts Southeastern Louisiana.

Tomorrow afternoon is the LSU Spring game and there will be several new Tigers for fans to watch. Cornerback Mekhi Garner is now wearing purple and gold after playing for the Cajuns and he loves Brian Kelly…
Cut 19 (17) _“…favorite coaches.”
The Blender should be rocking tonight as the Pelicans host the Suns in the Smoothie King Center for game three of their playoff series, which is tied at one game apiece. New Orleans has looked well prepared for the defending Western Conference champs and Head Coach Willie Green gives his staff all of the credit…
cut 16 (18) “….big-time results”
Phoenix All-star guard Devin Booker is likely out for the remainder of the series with a hamstring injury. The Suns went 8-and-6 without Booker this season.

Six-foot-nine forward Derek Fountain is transferring from Mississippi State to LSU. Fountain played in 44 games for the Bulldogs and this past season, he averaged two points and two rebounds a game.

LSU women’s basketball confirms the hiring of former assistant coach Bob Starkey.

The eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans can take another step toward an upset of the top-seeded Phoenix Suns on Friday night in their opening-round playoff series, which is all square at one game apiece. The Pels are seeking to become just the fifth number eight seed to advance to the second round since 1994, and the first to do it since the Grizzlies knocked off the Spurs in 2011. New Orleans got some good news when Suns All-Star Devin Booker was ruled out for the rest of the series with a strained right hamstring. Guard CJ McCollum is making his ninth consecutive appearance in the postseason and says the Pels can’t take anything for granted, even with momentum seemingly shifting their way.

Cut 21 (15) “…game gets harder.”

Tipoff for Friday’s game three is at 8:30 pm. New Orleans is 5-4 in game threes all-time, 5-2 at home.

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Kim Mulkey continues to make moves as she reshapes her coaching staff and rebuilds her roster. Wednesday, Mulkey announced that Gary Redus II has been added as an assistant coach. Redus spent last season with SMU and before that, three seasons at Vanderbilt. Redus has a reputation as an elite recruiter and should help fill the void left by the departure of long-time assistants Sytia Messer and Johnny Derrick.

LSU also announced the signing of West Virginia graduate transfer Jasmine Carson. A 5-10 guard, Carson averaged 5.2 points in 12 minutes per game last season.

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Tonight, LSU baseball begins a 3-game set versus Missouri starting at 7 pm in The Box. The Tigers are 7-8 in the SEC midway through the conference schedule, while Mizzou sits at 5-10. Ma’Khail Hilliard will take the mound in search of his fourth win of the season.

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At the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Matthew NeSmith and Taylor Moore earned an eagle on 18 for an opening-round record-tying score of 12-under 60. The Zurich has been a team event since 2017.

Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker will miss games 3 and 4 against the Pelicans with a right hamstring injury he suffered during the Pels’s game two triumph on Tuesday. New Orleans and Phoenix tip off Game 3 at 8:30 tomorrow evening; the Pelicans’ first playoff game in The Blender since 2018. The Suns are 5-2 this season without Booker in the lineup, and the Pelicans are 5-2 all-time in game threes played at the Smoothie King Center.

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On the diamond last night, Southern Miss doubled up UNO 10-5, and ULM ended McNeese’s four-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory in 10 innings.

Tonight, LSU baseball begins a 3-game set versus Missouri starting at 7 pm in The Box. The Tigers are 7-8 in the SEC while Mizzou is 5-10. Ma’Khail Hilliard will get the start for LSU as he looks to improve to 4-0 on the season.

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And the Zurich Classic of New Orleans gets underway from TPC Louisiana in Avondale. World number one and Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler headlines the field that includes five of the top six players in the world.

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LSU football fans have been waiting for a look at the Tigers under new coach Brian Kelly, and they get that chance at Saturday’s spring game. A pair of freshmen will have a lot of eyes on them. Quarterback Walker Howard is fourth on the depth chart. With three more experienced quarterbacks ahead of him, Howard has had to shift his focus to making the most of his limited on-field reps and strengthening the mental aspects of his game.

Cut 18 (13) “…tough sometimes.”

The other is left tackle Will Campbell, the top-rated prospect in Louisiana last year. He’s already impressed the Tigers staff with his maturity and ability to grasp the offense. Offensive line coach Brad Davis has been instrumental in getting Campbell up to speed. Campbell says the two have bonded quickly.

Cut 20 (13) “ …every single day.”

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Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker will reportedly not play in games 3 and 4 against the Pelicans after being injured in the Pels stellar victory in game two Tuesday. After Booker went down, there was no stopping the Pelicans in the 125-114 win to even their first-round series at 1-1. New Orleans and Phoenix tip off Game 3 at 8:30 tomorrow evening; the Pelicans first playoff game in The Blender since 2018.

In college baseball around the state, last night Southern Miss hammered UNO 10-5, and ULM needed 10 innings to edge in state rival McNeese State 4-3.

And LSU baseball begins a 3-game set versus Missouri starting tonight at 7pm in The Box. The Tigers are 7-8 in the SEC while Mizzou is 5-10.

We’ll learn a lot about the LSU Football team as the Tigers take the field Saturday for its annual Spring Game. One player to watch is freshman left tackle Will Campbell, who starred at Neville and was the state’s top-rated prospect. He’s been on LSU’s campus since January which he says is giving him a leg up in preparing for the toughest conference in college football…:
Cut 19 (14) “everything like that”
There’s also been a lot of buzz about Walker Howard — the most highly touted quarterback recruit at LSU since Russell Shepard who could be the foundation that Brian Kelly’s Tigers are built on. Howard says he’s pumped about this new experience…:
CUT 16 (15) “to compete”

Two seasons ago, Brandon Ingram was an All-Star but he has flown under the radar since as the New Orleans Pelicans struggled. Now, with the Pels in the playoffs, Ingram has been introduced to the basketball world on the sports’ biggest stage. Tuesday night he led the Pelicans to their first postseason victory in four years with a 37 point, 11 rebound, and nine assist virtuoso performance. Coach Willie Green says Ingram proved that he belongs in the conversation with the league’s elite players.

Cut 21 (16) “…awesome to see.”

Game three is Friday night at 8:30 in the Smoothie King Center.

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Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker, who scored 31 points in the first half of game two, could miss both games three and four with a right hamstring injury.

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LSU football takes to the field for its highly-anticipated spring scrimmage this Saturday. Though the Tigers won’t play a traditional game due to depth or lack thereof at certain positions, it is an opportunity to see just how different things will be for the Tigers under new coach Brian Kelly. One player to watch is freshman left tackle Will Campbell, who starred at Neville and was the state’s top-rated prospect. Campbell has been waiting to run out onto the field at Death Valley for some time.

Cut 22 (19) “…great experience.”

The National L Club Spring Game kicks off at 1 pm.

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In college baseball tonight, UNO is on the road at Southern Miss and McNeese looks to extend its winning streak to five games when the Cowboys visit UL-Monroe.

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The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Phoenix Suns 125-114 to even their playoff series at one game each. Brandon Ingram put on a show, finishing with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. It was an unlikely victory for the Pelicans, with the worst record in the playoffs, over the team with the best record in the league. Head coach Willie Green has been praised for his part in turning the Pels’ season around, but he says the credit shouldn’t come to him.

Cut 18 (20) “…do it every game.”

New Orleans won for the first time ever when trailing a series 0-1 and now returns home for game three on Friday night with home-court advantage in the series.

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In the final Wally Pontiff Junior Classic, the LSU Tigers doubled up the Ragin Cajuns eight to four. Jordan Thompson hit a two-run homer in a five-run fourth inning and Ty Floyd dominated on the mound, striking out eight and allowing two runs on four hits. The Tigers host Missouri starting tomorrow, while the Cajuns are at Georgia State this weekend.

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Greg Martinez threw seven innings of shutout baseball as La Tech blanked Little Rock ten to nothing. Steele Netterville had a three-run double.

Nicholls held Southern hitless for eight and two-thirds innings in three to nothing victory for the Colonels over the Jaguars.

Tyler Finke went five for five, including a walk-off two-run homer as Southeastern Louisiana defeated South Alabama eight to six.

And Northwestern State beat LSU-Alexandria 11 to four as Jeffrey Elkins hit a three-run homer in the eighth. The Demons are at Louisiana Tech tonight.

Tonight, UNO looks to snap a four-game losing streak on the road at Southern Miss.

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I’m Kevin Gallagher and this Louisiana Radio Network sportscast is brought to you be tele-leaf-dot-com. Louisiana’s Access to medical marijuana from the comfort of your home…
Not many NBA analysts had the Pelicans beating the Suns, but New Orleans showed last night they will not be an easy out for the defending Western Conference champs. Brandon Ingram nearly had a triple double as the Pels upset Phoenix 125 to 114 to even up the series at one game a piece. Ingram had 39 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Coach Willie Green…
cut 17 (12) “…on display tonight”
C-J McCollum hit six three-pointers and had 23 points. Devin Booker had 31 for the Suns, but barely played in the second half because of a hamstring injury. Game three is Friday night in New Orleans.
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In the final Wally Pontiff Junior Classic, the LSU Tigers doubled up the Ragin Cajuns eight to four. Jordan Thompson hit a two-run homer in a five-run fourth inning and Ty Floyd dominated on the mound, striking out eight and allowing two runs on four hits. The Tigers host Missouri starting tomorrow, while the Cajuns are at Georgia State this weekend.

Greg Martinez threw seven innings of shutout baseball as La Tech blanked Little Rock ten to nothing. Steele Netterville had a three-run double.

Nicholls blanked Southern three to nothing as the Colonels pitching staff tossed a one-hitter and that hit didn’t come until the ninth inning.

Tyler Finke went five for five, including a walk-off two run homer as Southeastern Louisiana defeated South Alabama eight to six.

And Northwestern State beat LSU-Alexandria 11 to four as Jeffrey Elkins hit a three-run homer in the eighth. The Demons are at Louisiana Tech tonight.

This sportscast was brought to you by tele-leaf-dot-com. Kevin Gallagher Louisiana Radio Network Sports.