LSU opened its series with Vanderbilt by sinking the Commodores, 13-2 on Thursday night. The Tigers jumped out front with a six-run second inning. Jordan Thompson opened the frame with a solo home run followed by a three-run blast by Dylan Crews. Cade Doughty went yard twice and Brayden Jobert smacked his 15^th homer of the season as well, as the Tigers pounded out 16 hits against Vandy pitchers. Ma’Khail Hilliard gave another strong start, going five and a third innings and allowing just one run while improving to 6-1 on the season. The win guarantees LSU at least a .500 finish in the SEC. Game two starts tonight at 6 pm.

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Southern took over first place in the SWAC West with a 21-2 destruction of Alcorn State. Jovante Dorris hit a grand slam to cap a nine-run first inning for the Jags. The Ragin Cajuns lost to Little Rock 2-0, UL-Monroe ended a three-game skid with a 16-9 win over Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech lost to Charlotte 11-3 and Tulane fell to Memphis by the same score.

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More college baseball as the Southland Tournament began yesterday in Lake Charles and Hammond. In the McNeese Bracket, fourth-seeded Nicholls topped Northwestern State 7-5 and the top-seeded Cowboys doubled up Incarnate Word 12-6. NSU and UIW play an elimination game at 1 pm with Nicholls and McNeese starting at 6 tonight.

In the Southeastern Bracket, three-seed UNO beat Houston Baptist 10-3, and Southeastern was upset by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6-5. The Lions try to stay alive against HBU this afternoon while the Privateers take on the Islanders this evening.

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The NCAA softball tournament begins today. UL-Lafayette makes its 23^rd consecutive appearance in the tournament and faces Auburn at 1:30 this afternoon in the Clemson Regional. LSU opens regional play on the road for the first time since 2014. The Tigers will take on San Diego State tonight at 7 pm in the Tempe Regional.

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Despite the Vandy whistler’s disruption of the radio broadcast, the fighting Tigers of LSU answered with a crushing 13-2 victory over the Commodores in Nashville last night. Centerfielder Dylan Crews drove in four runs and second baseman Cade Doughty blasted two homers. LSU, which hit five home runs overall to increase its season total to 100, improved to 15-13 in the SEC. Vanderbilt dropped to 14-14 in conference play. Game 2 will be at 6pm this evening.

The SEC has issued a statement publicly reprimanding Alabama Coach Nick Saban and Texas A&M Coach Jimbo Fisher over the fighting words the two have exchanged this week regarding recruiting. Saban implicated Fisher and A&M “bought” every player on their team using name image and likeness. Fisher angrily responded saying they didn’t buy anybody and it’s despicable that Saban is a narcissist who is angry he didn’t get his way. In a statement the SEC reprimanded both coaches for violating conference rules of ethical conduct and public criticism of another member school.

More baseball scores around the state:

In Sun Belt Conference action, UL-Lafayette falls to Little Rock 2-0 Thursday at ML Tigue Moore Field. Game 2 is 6pm.

ULM pounded 5 home runs in the opening game of the Arkansas State Series which saw the Warhawks get a 16-9 win. Game 2 is 6pm.

Southern University slammed Alcorn State 21-2 in a game shortened to seven innings by the mercy rule. The Jags are now in 1st place in the SWAC with 2 games to play.

Tulane fell to Memphis last night 11-3.

The LSU softball team begins tournament action today against San Diego State at 7pm in the NCAA Tempe Regional. The Tigers receive a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the 17th consecutive season and have a record of 81-52 in the Big Dance with six NCAA Women’s College World Series appearances.

LSU is on the road in Nashville as they open their series with Vanderbilt. The Tigers are in need of a bounce back after getting swept by Ole Miss last weekend. It’s been a strange season for LSU and adversity has been a big part of Jay Johnson’s first year in Baton Rouge. Johnson says his team has shown grit all year long and he expects them to continue to do so this weekend.

Cut 17 (18) “…this week.”

Game one will be broadcast live on ESPN 2 beginning at 7 pm.

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As the regular season comes to a close a number of big series open tonight…Southern hosts Alcorn, UL-Monroe closes the season with Arkansas State in town, while Tulane takes on Memphis.

LSU and UL both open play in the NCAA softball tournament on Friday.

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The U-L Ragin Cajuns are fighting to get back into the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years. Matt Deggs’ squad was on a major roll before being swept by Texas State last weekend. Now the Cajuns likely need a big weekend against Little Rock and a strong showing in the Sun Belt tourney to reach the postseason. Deggs says he’s been here before…

Cut 18 (19) “ …big at-bats.”

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A new NCAA rule will allow major college football programs to sign as many players as they want for the next two years as long as they don’t exceed 85 scholarship players. The NCAA Division I Council says this will create more flexibility for schools and opportunities for athletes.

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Pelicans forward Herb Jones was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, becoming just the sixth player in franchise history to make an All-Rookie Team.

There’s a lot on the line for LSU baseball as they head to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt in their SEC regular-season finale. Less than a week ago the Tigers were a near lock to host an NCAA regional, and now they’re flirting with a below .500 finish in the SEC. Pitching will be key against the Commodores and Jay Johnson likes what he’s seen lately from sophomore Ty Floyd.

Cut 16 (20) “…him in there.”

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As the regular season comes to a close a number of big series open tonight…Southern hosts Alcorn with first place in the SWAC West on the line. UL-Monroe closes the season with Arkansas State in town, while Tulane takes on Memphis.

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The U-L Ragin Cajuns are fighting to get back into the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years. Coach Matt Deggs’ team likely needs a big weekend against Little Rock and a strong showing in the Sun Belt tourney to get there. Deggs’ biggest concern leading up to the conference tournament is his pitching staff. The Cajuns will use this weekend to set up their rotation, but Deggs says they’ll adapt to matchups and hopefully get some hitting.

Cut 19 (19) _“…be a grinder.”

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A new NCAA rule will allow major college football programs to sign as many players as they want for the next two years as long as the don’t exceed 85 scholarship players. The NCAA Division I Council says this will create more flexibility for schools and opportunities for athletes.

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Pelicans forward Herb Jones was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

The LSU baseball team begins a huge three-game series tonight at Vanderbilt as the Tigers need to win the series to keep them in the conversation for hosting a regional. The Tigers were swept at home last weekend by Ole Miss and Coach Jay Johnson says his team has shown grit all year and he expects that to continue this weekend…
cut 17 (18) “…..this week”
First pitch is at 7 PM and the game can be seen on ESPN Two.

Louisiana Tech is in position to receive an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs are at Charlotte tonight after sweeping Western Kentucky last weekend. Tech is in second place in CUSA, two games back of first place Southern Miss.

The Ragin Cajuns are fighting to get back into the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years. Matt Deggs’ squad was on a major roll before being swept by Texas State last weekend. Now the Cajuns likely need a big weekend against Little Rock and a strong showing in the Sun Belt tourney to reach the postseason. Deggs says he’s been here before…
Cut 18 (19) “ …big at-bats.”
The Cajuns host Little Rock tonight. ULM hosts Arkansas State. The Warhawks have lost 11 of their last 12.

The NCAA Division One council has removed the 25-player signing cap in football. So major college football programs can sign as many players as they want as long as they don’t exceed 85 scholarships. Rules have also been relaxed on how conferences determine who plays in their football title games. So that means the SEC could scrap its division format.

Brayden Jobert hit two home runs as the LSU Tigers got back in the win column last night with a 19-7 win over Northwestern State. The Tigers now head to Nashville where they’ll wrap up SEC play with a three-game series versus Vanderbilt. The Demons begin Southland Tournament play in Lake Charles on Thursday as they’ll face Nicholls.

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The Ragin’ Cajuns picked up a 6-1 victory over the Colonels. After trailing 1-0 after 5 innings, U-L put up 4 runs in the sixth capped by Wil Veillon’s pinch-hit home run. Chipper Menard pitched four scoreless innings of relief to earn his fifth win.

Southern’s three-game win streak came to an end in New Orleans as UNO scored two in the bottom of the eighth and held on for a 5-4 victory. Tremaine Spears had 2 RBI for the Jags but Miguel Useche came up with a pinch-hit double that drove in the winning runs for the Privateers.

And after winning the NAIA basketball championship earlier this year, the Loyola Wolfpack are just one game away from the NAIA World Series.

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Matt McMahon has completely remade the LSU basketball roster in a matter of weeks. After essentially having no players six weeks ago, he completed his 2022 class with the signing of 6-10 center, Shawn Phillips Jr., out of Arizona. McMahon’s class is now ranked 13th with the addition of Phillips, a four-star recruit. Advocate sportswriter Sheldon Mickles is impressed…

Cut 16 (15) “…on the roster.”

Mickles says Phillips is the fourth player on McMahon’s roster six foot ten or taller.

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The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t have the Golden Ticket, but they did end up with the eighth pick in next month’s NBA draft. The Orlando Magic won the top selection for the fourth time in franchise history and their track record with that pick has been pretty good, with Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, and Dwight Howard as their previous three choices.

In the opening game of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Miami Heat topped the Boston Celtics, 118-107. Dallas and Golden State open the West Finals tonight.

LSU closed out its regular season home slate with a 19-7 win over Northwestern State last night. It was the most runs scored by the Tigers since they put up 21 against Maine back in February. Braden Jobert blasted a pair of home runs and drove in three, while Hayden Travinski went yard are drove in four more to lead an LSU offense that had six batters with at least two RBI.

The Tigers close the regular season with a three-game set at 21^st-ranked Vanderbilt. LSU has to win at least one of the three to finish the season at .500 in the SEC. The Commodores enter the series having won six of eight, including road series wins over Georgia and Arkansas.

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The Ragin’ Cajuns picked up a 6-1 victory over Nicholls. After trailing 1-0 after 5 innings, U-L put up 4 runs in the sixth capped by Wil Veillon’s pinch-hit home run. Chipper Menard pitched four scoreless innings of relief to earn his fifth win.

Southern’s three-game win streak came to an end in New Orleans as UNO scored two in the bottom of the eighth and held on for a 5-4 victory. Tremaine Spears had 2 RBI for the Jags but Miguel Useche came up with a pinch-hit double that drove in the winning runs for the Privateers.

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The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t have the Golden Ticket, but they did end up with the eighth pick in next month’s NBA draft. The Orlando Magic won the top selection for the fourth time in franchise history and their track record with that pick has been pretty good, with Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, and Dwight Howard as their previous three choices.

In the opening game of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Miami Heat topped the Boston Celtics, 118-107. Dallas and Golden State open the West Finals tonight.

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Matt McMahon has completely remade the LSU basketball roster in a matter of weeks. After essentially having no players six weeks ago, he completed his 2022 class with the signing of 6-10 center, Shawn Phillips Jr., out of Arizona. It’s an impressive feat to pull off while the program and the athletic department are still facing potentially harsh penalties from the NCAA. Sheldon Mickles of The Advocate, says that like any other coach McMahon would love to win now, but his eyes are on the future as well.

Cut 17 (12) “…next year.”

Brayden Jobert hit two home runs as the LSU Tigers got back in the win column last night with a 19-7 win over Northwestern State. The Tigers now head to Nashville where they’ll wrap up SEC play with a three-game series versus Vanderbilt. The Demons begin Southland Tournament play in Lake Charles on Thursday as they’ll face Nicholls. .

The Ragin Cajuns allowed two hits and Will Veillon hit a pinch-hit home run as U-L Lafayette defeated the Colonels six to one last night. UNO scored two runs in the eighth to beat Southern five to four.

At the state capitol, the Louisiana House approved a Senate-backed bill that would prohibit transgender girls from playing female sports in Louisiana. Opponents say the legislation is unnecessary and mean-spirited, but Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds disagrees…
cut 15 (10) “….female sports”
The bill is one stop away from reaching the governor’s desk.

Matt McMahon has completely remade the LSU basketball roster in a matter of weeks. After essentially having no players six weeks ago, he completed his 2022 class with the signing of 6-10 center, Shawn Phillips Jr., out of Arizona. McMahon’s class is now ranked 13th with the addition of Phillips, a four-star recruit. Advocate sportswriter Sheldon Mickles is impressed…
Cut 16 (15) “…on the roster.”
Mickles says Phillips is the fourth player on McMahon’s roster six foot ten or taller.

The Pelicans will pick eighth in the upcoming NBA draft. New Orleans had a 26-percent chance to land a top-four pick in last night’s lottery. But because of the Anthony Davis trade, New Orleans still gets a chance to pick eighth after making the playoffs.

LSU baseball finishes up the home portion of its schedule tonight against Northwestern State before heading to Nashville this weekend to face Vanderbilt. The Tigers have ridden a roller coaster in the rankings all season. The pressure to win in Baton Rouge is always there, and it has only intensified as LSU approaches 13 years since its last national championship. Coach Jay Johnson says he gets it, and he embraces it…otherwise he never would have accepted the job.

Cut 18 (20) “…would have that.”

The Tigers and Demons start play at 6:30 pm.

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In Lafayette, U-L begins its final homestand of the season with a midweek matchup with Nicholls. Surging Southern takes on UNO.

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The New Orleans Pelicans have a 99.6 percent chance of getting a top ten selection in tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery. Because the Lakers failed to make the postseason, their pick goes back to the Pels. While the most likely scenarios have the pick falling around the eighth or ninth spots, New Orleans does have a 26 percent chance of getting a selection in the top four.

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Matt McMahon has completely remade the LSU basketball roster in a matter of weeks. After essentially having no players six weeks ago, he completed his 2022 class with the signing of 6-10 center, Shawn Phillips Jr., out of Arizona. McMahon’s class was ranked 17^th nationally before the addition of Phillips.

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LSU’s season opener against Florida State will be broadcast in prime time, as announced by ABC Sports. Game time for the Allstate Louisiana Kickoff at Caesars Superdome is scheduled for 6:30 pm on September 4.

McNeese racked up in the Southland Conference baseball awards. Payton Harden was named player of the year, with his coach, Jay Hill named coach of the year and teammates Grant Rogers and Cameron Foster collected pitcher of the year and reliever of the year honors respectively.

LSU baseball hosts Northwestern State in its home finale tonight ahead of a regular season-ending series with Vanderbilt. The sweep by Ole Miss last weekend has LSU in jeopardy of finishing below .500 in the SEC for the first time since 2011, which was also the last time the Tigers missed the NCAA tournament. Coach Jay Johnson says he doesn’t want the team’s disappointment to carry over into this critical week of ballgames.

Cut 17 (12) “…wants to do.”

The Tigers and Demons start play at 6:30 pm.

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In Lafayette, U-L begins its final homestand of the season with a midweek matchup with Nicholls. The Cajuns try to bounce back after being swept by Texas State, while the Colonels have lost 7 of their last 8. Surging Southern takes on UNO…The Jags have won six of seven. Tulane and Coach Travis Jewett have decided to part ways after five seasons.

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Receiver was a definite area of weakness for the Saints last season. With the return of Michael Thomas, the addition of Jarvis Landry, and the drafting of Chris Olave, New Orleans hopes to have surrounded Jameis Winston with the talent to put fear into opposing defenses. Olave says his work ethic pushes him to be the very best, and as a wideout, that starts and ends with catching the ball. Every time.

Cut 20 (11) “…on the ground.”

The Saints held Rookie Minicamp last weekend, with OTAs set to start next week.

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The New Orleans Pelicans have a 99.6 percent chance of getting a top ten selection in tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery. Because the Lakers failed to make the postseason, their pick goes back to the Pels. While the most likely scenarios have the pick falling around the eighth or ninth spots, New Orleans does have a 26 percent chance of getting a selection in the top four. And in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston takes on Miami.