6:45 LRN Sportscast

I’m Jeanne Burns and this sportscast is brought to you by the Louisiana Department of Health, when gambling is more than a game, no one wins…

LSU has won in lopsided fashion in most of their mid-week games this year, but they had to come from behind to win last night in Thibodaux. The Tigers trailed three to nothing but scored five runs in the seventh inning and went on to win five to three. In that seventh inning, Jake Brown had a two-run single and Chris Stanfield also drove in two with a single. Fisher Ingersoil had a two-run double for Nicholls to give the Colonels a 3-0 lead. LSU got a great pitching performance from freshman William Schmidt who struck out eight in four innings to get the win.

LSU football resumed spring practice on Tuesday after more than a week off for spring break. Defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory was in full pads as he continues his recovery from a torn Achilles.

Former LSU quarterback Rickie Collins has been named the starting Q-B at Syracuse. Collins is a former four-star recruit from Woodlawn in Baton Rouge.

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ULM rallied from a three-run deficit to beat Northwestern State six to five in ten innings yesterday. Henry Garcia Junior drove in the game-winning run with an RBI single. The same two teams will play again tonight, but this time in Natchitoches at 6 PM.

The Ragin Cajuns lost their third straight last night falling to Texas Rio Grande Valley nine to seven. U-L Lafayette committed three errors including a throwing error while trying to turn a double play that led to two runs.

Southeastern Louisiana defeated Tulane seven to three. Big night for catcher Conner O’ Neal who drove in four runs, including a three-run homer.

In major league baseball…Paul Skenes suffered his first loss of the season as the Pirates lost to the Cardinals five to three. Skenes struck out seven, but he also allowed five runs in six innings.

The Pelicans dropped their fourth straight, falling to the Nets 119 to 114. Pels guard Jose Alvarado had 16 points and four assists as he was playing in his hometown.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The third ranked LSU baseball team takes its eight-game winning streak to Nicholls tonight as they battle with the Colonels in Thibodaux. Catcher Luis Hernandez is swinging a hot bat. In his last five games, he’s 10 of his last 20 and hit three doubles in the series against Oklahoma. Coach Jay Johnson says the transfer from Indiana State is a big part of their success…

Cut 19 (13) “..swinging the bat.” 

First pitch tonight is at 6:30.

In other action tonight…ULM is at Northwestern State to start a home and home midweek series. The Ragin Cajuns host Texas Rio Grande Valley and Southeastern Louisiana is at Tulane. The Lions rank fifth in the country with a team ERA of 3.25.

 

Louisiana Tech’s Sebastian Mexico has been named the Conference USA hitter of the week. The junior designated hitter from Massachusetts homered in three straight games and drove in 11 runs. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs…

Cut 29 (07) “….brought him here”

Mexico leads Conference USA in O-P-S and slugging and his batting average of ..478 is third best in the country.

Ruston’s Ahmad Hudson has been named the Class Five-A boys basketball player of the year. The six-foot-eight two-sport star averaged 21 points and 14 rebounds a game last season. Huntington’s Carly Hamilton has been named the Girls Class 5A player of the year, as she averaged 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals a game as she helped the Lady Raiders win their first state championship.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team takes its eight-game winning streak to Thibodaux tonight as the Tigers will visit the Nicholls Colonels. LSU is coming off a series sweep of the Oklahoma Sooners, where they did not allow an earned run. Pitching coach Nate Yeskie’s father passed away last Thursday, but he stayed with the team to call pitches. Coach Jay Johnson says LSU’s success on the mound shows why he’s one of the best pitching coaches in the country…

Cut 18 (18) “…at LSU.”

Since LSU only used five pitchers in the three-game series against Oklahoma, expect a lot of pitchers to get work tonight against Nicholls, who is 12-and-20 on the season. First pitch is at 6:30.

LSU football resumed spring practice today after taking last week off for spring practice. Defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory was in full pads as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles.

LSU women’s basketball has signed six-foot-five Kate Koval out of the transfer portal. A year ago, she was one of the top high school players and this past season she played at Notre Dame, averaging five points and five rebounds a game. Coach Kim Mulkey says Lady Tigers fans will love her skill, physicality and passion.

Ruston’s Ahmad Hudson has been named the Class Five-A boys basketball player of the year. The six-foot-eight two-sport star averaged 21 points and 24 rebounds a game last season. Hunington’s Carly Hamilton has been named the Girls Class 5A player of the year, as she averaged 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals a game as she helped the Lady Raiders win their first state championship.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The 30-3 LSU Tigers are ranked as high as third in the college baseball polls. The Tigers are riding an eight-game winning streak after sweeping Oklahoma. The final game of the series was played in frigid conditions for baseball, but the Tigers held on for a 3-2 victory. Coach Jay Johnson says he was concerned about his team’s mindset heading into the final game of the series, but he knew right away they were ready to play…

Cut 17 (16) “…fine today.”

Much better weather conditions for tonight’s game as the LSU Tigers travel down to Thibodaux to face the Nicholls Colonels, who are 12 and 20 and coming off a series loss to Houston Christian.

In other action tonight…ULM is at Northwestern State. The Ragin Cajuns host Texas Rio Grande Valley and Southeastern Louisiana is at Tulane.

 

The LSU Lady Tigers failed to sign six-foot-five forward Kate Koval when she was coming out of high school, but she’s a Lady Tiger now. Koval played just one season at Notre Dame where she averaged five points and five rebounds a game. The Ukrainian scored in double figures three times in ACC games.

Meanwhile, Center Alyah Del Rosario has entered the transfer portal after spending the last two seasons at LSU. She’s also six-foot-five and was ranked as the seventh best recruit in her signing class, but she didn’t see much playing time this past season.

LSU men’s basketball has named one of its former players as the General Manager of the program. 44-year-old Ronald Dupree played for the Tigers from 1999 to 2003 and an All-SEC selection his junior and senior seasons. He was working in the front of office of the Milwaukee Bucks.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson was named SEC co-Pitcher of the Week for his brilliant performance last Thursday night in a two to nothing win over Oklahoma. Anderson struck out a career-high 14 hitters in a complete game shutout against the Sooners. He threw 135 pitches. Coach Jay Johnson says Anderson is recovering well…

Cut 20 (14) “…really low”

LSU is at Nicholls on Tuesday.

LSU women’s basketball has signed a former five-star high school recruit out of the transfer portal. Six-foot-five Kate Koval averaged five points and five rebounds a game last season for Notre Dame. The native of Ukraine also led Notre Dame with 55 blocks.

Louisiana Tech’s Sebastian Mexico has been named the Conference USA Hitter of the Week. Mexico has homered in three straight games. He had a walk-off home run on Friday and hit a grand slam on Sunday as the Bulldogs swept a rain-shortened series from FIU. La Tech hosts the Ragin Cajuns on Wednesday.

U-L Lafayette dropped two of three from Texas State over the weekend. The Bobcats won yesterday’s series finale four to three and U-L Lafayette’s best hitter, Conor Higgs, went 0-for-5. The Cajuns will host UTRGV tomorrow night.

Northwestern State won a thrilling series against UTRGV, winning Sunday’s rubber game eight to five. Braden Benton hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning.

McNeese completed a sweep of UNO with a walk-off win. Easton Dowell had the game winning hit as the Cowboys have won eight in a row.

 

Southeastern Louisiana swept a doubleheader from UIW. Nicholls lost its series to Houston Christian.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team is 30-and-3, 10-and-2 in the SEC after sweeping Oklahoma in Norman. The Tigers threw five pitchers during the series and they gave up a combined four runs and none of them were earned. Big weekend at the plate for catcher Luis Hernandez who was six for 12 with three doubles. LSU is in third place in the SEC, trailing Texas and Arkansas, who also swept their opponents this past weekend.

The Ragin Cajuns allowed just six runs in the series against Texas State, but still lost two of three to the Bobcats, losing two to nothing on Saturday and four to three on Sunday. Coach Matt Deggs…

Cut 29 (05) “…we are built”

ULM also dropped its series with Appalachian State, giving up 17 runs in the final game of the series and losing 17 to 5.

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The weather shortened Louisiana Tech’s series with FIU and the Bulldogs won both games that got played. La Tech won the final game on Sunday 13 to 5 as they hit four home runs. Sebastian Mexico had the big blow, a grand slam in a six-run eighth inning. Coach Lane Burroughs team has won ten of its last 13….

Cut 16 (14) “…season ends”

The Bulldogs are 6-2 in Conference USA and lead Western Kentucky by a half a game.

McNeese and Southeastern are one game back of Houston Christian for first place in the Southland. The Cowboys swept UNO and Southeastern took two of three from UIW.

LSU men’s basketball has signed the Summit League Player of the year. Six-foot-nine Marquel Sutton is averaging nearly 19 points and 8 rebounds a game for the University of Omaha.

07:30 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Tigers won their seventh in a row last night as they rolled past Oklahoma ten to two to claim the series. Anthony Eyanson followed up Kade Anderson’s complete game performance on Thursday night with his own outstanding start. Eyanson went 5.2 innings and did not allow an earned run and he struck out eight. Casan Evans pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball for the save. LSU took control of the game with a four-run second inning. Chris Stanfield had four hits and two.two-run doubles. Josh Pearson hit two solo home runs. His fourth multi-home run game of his career.

Sebastian Mexico hit a walk-off, two-out two-run homer in the ninth inning as Louisiana Tech took game one of its series against FIU five to three. Tech is now five and two in Conference USA. Game two is at noon.

The Ragin Cajuns moved into a first place tie in the Sun Belt with a two to nothing win over Texas State. Carson Hepworth’s two-run homer in the eighth inning was the only scoring in the game. Matthew Holzhammer pitched the final two innings to get the win to follow up Chase Morgan’s great start.

ULM opened its series with Appalachian State with a 14 to 2 loss.

In the Southland…Northwestern State scored three runs in the ninth to beat UTRGV seven to six. The Demons trailed six to two at one point. Nicholls held on for a five to four win over Houston Christian. McNeese scored six runs in the eighth inning and defeated UNO eight to five. Mack Brouusseau and Davis Meche each had two run doubles in that inning. And UIW doubled up Southeastern Louisiana four to two.

Grambling scored seven runs in the first inning, but lost to Southern 15 to 14 in ten innings.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Can Anthony Eyanson shut down the Sooners tonight? Kade Anderson threw a complete game shutout last night and struck out 14 hitters as LSU defeated Oklahoma two to nothing. Eyanson is coming off a 12-strikeout performance last week. First pitch is at 6:30.

Elsewhere…Louisiana Tech hosts F-I-U. The Bulldogs and the Panthers are among four teams tied for first place in the Conference USA Standings.

The Ragin Cajuns are one game back of Southern Miss for first place in the Sun Belt. U-L Lafayette hosts Texas State this weekend. ULM hosts App State.

Southeastern Louisiana looks for its fourth win in a row as the Lions host UIW. A big series in Natchitoches as Northwestern State hosts UTRGV, McNeese hosts UNO and Nicholls hosts Houston Christian.

In a 711 to 650 vote, ULM students approved a 75-dollar per semester fee projected to bring in 600-thousand dollars the first year for the school’s athletic department. Athletics Director John Hartwell says critics of the fee said they do not attend athletic events on campus or questioned the need to spend more money on sports, but he says a successful athletic program improves the entire university…

Cut 11 (11) “…your diploma”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

What a performance by sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson last night! The Tigers ace struck out 14 hitters as LSU shutout Oklahoma two to nothing. Anderson threw 135 pitches in the complete game shutout. Game two of the series is tonight at 6:30.

ULM students have approved a 75-dollar fee per semester that will generate 600-thousand dollars in its first year for the school’s athletic department. ULM Athletic Director John Hartwell says the fee goes into effect for the 2025 Fall Semester…

Cut 9 (11)  “…21 million dollars.”

Hartwell says they plan to use the money to install a new video board in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

 

LSU star women’s basketball player Flau’Jae Johnson is reportedly returning for her senior season. Johnson was a freshman on LSU’s 2023 national championship team. But Angel Reese and Alexis Morris were the big leaders on that team. Reed Darcey of the Advocate says Johnson seems motivated to win a national title as a senior leader…

Cut 17 (16) “…call it her own.”

LSU men’s basketball continues to keep adding for the transfer portal. The fourth portal addition is Max Mackinnon, a six-foot-six guard who averaged 14.5 points and shot 41-percent from three-point territory at Portland.

Donte Jackson led Grambling to the NCAA Tournament in 2024, but Jackson has been hired as the new men’s basketball coach at Alabama A-and-M.

And LSU Gymnastics scored a 198.1 to advance to the NCAA Penn State Regional Final which will take place  at 4 PM on Saturday. Arkansas, Michigan State and Kentucky are the three other teams.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson threw a complete game shutout as the Tigers took game one of their series against Oklahoma two to nothing last night. Anderson threw 135 pitches and struck out 14 hitters and allowed just five hits and two walks. Jared Jones had an RBI single and Chris Stanfield an RBI double for the only scoring. Game 2 is at 6:30.

LSU star women’s basketball player Flau’Jae Johnson is reportedly returning for her senior season. Reed Darcey of the Advocate says Johnson said after the team’s season-ending loss to UCLA, she wanted to get past the Elite Eight…

Cut 16 (19) “…own championship.”

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LSU men’s basketball has landed a fourth player out of the transfer portal. Six-foot-six Max Mackinnon averaged 15 points a game at Portland. He’s from Australia and shot 41-percent from three-point territory.

Grambling needs a new men’s basketball coach. Donte Jackson has been hired as head coach at Alabama A-and-M.

ULM students have approved a 75-dollar fee per semester that will generate over 600-thousand dollars for the cash strapped Warhawks athletic program.

At U-L Lafayette spring practice, there’s a battle for starting quarterback. Daniel Beale, Ole Miss transfer Walker Howard and former Lutcher star Lunch Winfield are in a three-way competition.  Coach Michael Desormeaux says all three are making strides…

Cut 18 (20) “…that competition.”