1140 Sportscast 4/26

The rumors are true and it’s finally official.  Former Baylor women’s basketball coach and Louisiana native Kim Mulkey is leaving Waco and heading to Baton Rouge to become the next Lady Tigers coach.  Mulkey will replace Nikki Fargas, who recently stepped down as head coach to take a job in the WNBA.  Mulkey comes to LSU as one of the best women’s basketball coaches in the country, winning three national titles with the Lady Bears.

LSU baseball has suffered a lot of tough losses this season, but Saturday’s implosion tops them all. The Tigers led by eight runs in the bottom of the eighth and there were two outs in the inning. But the Rebels came back to win 10-9. Shortstop Jordan Thompson tried to provide an upbeat message after the brutal loss…

Cut 19 (19) “all weekend”

The New Orleans Pelicans will host the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at 7 p.m.  The Pels are looking for a win as they have lost four of the last five games.  The Pelicans come into the game with a 26-34 record while the Clippers sit at 43-19.

Louisiana Tech football completed its spring practice on Saturday in a game spring game that featured nine sacks sacks by the defense. Redshirt freshman linebacker Maki Carabin had a game-high seven tackles. Coach Skip Holtz on what he saw from his defense…

Cut 16 (15) “positive”

UNO has moved into a tie for first place in the Southland after taking three of four from Southeastern Louisiana. The Ragin Cajuns baseball team has dropped down to third place in the Sun Belt west after struggling against Little

6:45 LRN Sportscast April 26

It seemed like a wild rumor at first but it’s happening, Hall of Fame Coach Kim Mukley is returning to Louisiana to coach the LSU women’s basketball team. The 58-year-old Mulkley replaces Nikki Fargas who left for a job in the W-N-B-A. The former Lady Techster has the third-best winning percentage in women’s basketball coaching history and won three national championships at Baylor.

Mulkey is bringing life to an LSU women’s basketball program that has been stale. But can she help the LSU baseball team? Coach Paul Mainieri’s team suffered a gut-wrenching loss on Saturday falling to Ole Miss 10-9 as the Rebels rallied from an eight-run deficit in the eighth inning. LSU center fielder Giovanni DiGiacomo says you have to credit the Rebels…
cut 20 (10) “…fight”

Tulane is the hottest college baseball team in the state. The Green Wave won their tenth straight yesterday as they crushed Memphis 12 to 3. Tulane is 10-and-1 in the American Athletic Conference.

UNO has moved into a tie for first place in the Southland after taking three of four from Southeastern Louisiana. The Ragin Cajuns have fallen into third place in the Western Division of the Sun Belt after dropping two of three from Little Rock.

Louisiana Tech’s lead for first place in the West Division of Conference USA is down to a half a game after splitting a four-game series versus Marshall.

Louisiana Tech’s offense had troubling moving the ball in its spring game as the offensive line struggled. But Coach Skip Holtz is optimistic they will be much better when the 2021 season starts…
cut 17 (23) “….the fall”
Tech’s season opener is Saturday at Mississippi State.

7:30 LRN Sportscast April 24

If you thought LSU’s baseball season was over after losing last weekend’s series versus South Carolina, the Fighting Tigers are showing some fight in Oxford as they won again last night, beating 12th ranked Ole Miss seven to two. Gavin Dugas delivered a grand slam in the ninth inning and A-J Labas earned a complete-game victory. LSU goes for the sweep at noon.

Senior centerfielder Parker Bates hit his fifth home run of the season in the eighth inning to snap a three-three tie and 14th ranked Louisiana Tech went on to win four to three over Marshall. The two teams play a doubleheader at 11 AM today.

The Ragin Cajuns are out of first place in the Sun Belt West after falling to Little Rock eight to two. That’s five straight conference losses for U-L.

ULM crushed Southern 12 to 1. Tulane has won eight in a row after sweeping a doubleheader from Memphis. UNO edged Southeastern Louisiana nine to eight to move within one game of the Lions for first place in the Southland. Nicholls and Northwestern play a doubleheader starting at 3 PM.

LSU has fired law firm Taylor Porter over the advice it gave the school when it investigated former football coach Les Miles for sexual misconduct with female student workers. Taylor Porter represented the school for 80 years. The school also plans to ban former running back Derius Guice from campus and remove his name from the statistical record books. Also assistant athletic director Verge Ausberry is facing more discipline. He we will not be allowed to attend any football games this upcoming season. Ausberry did not report a text a message he received in 2018 from a football player admitting that he hit his girlfriend.

On the recruiting front, LSU has landed a commitment from five-star safety Jacoby Matthews, who is preparing for his senior season at Ponchatoula. Matthews is rated as the second-best safety in the nation.

Today at noon, Louisiana Tech holds its spring game.

And the Pelicans host San Antonio tonight. New Orleans trails the Spurs by 3.5 games for the final spot in the play-in tournament for the playoffs.

1140 Sportscast 4/23

The LSU baseball team got a win in game-one against ninth-ranked Ole Miss 5-4.  Freshman Dylan Crews launched a go-ahead,two-run home run in the seventh inning.  Reliever Devin Fontenot tossed three shutout innings, and the senior right-hander recorded a big strikeout for the final out on the game.  Here’s Fontenot on big-moment.

Cut 18 (13) “in that moment”

First pitch for game two is tonight at 6:30 as AJ Labas will take the mound for the Tigers.

The Pelicans ended a four-game losing streak after a 135-100 win over the Orlando Magic.   New Orleans shot 56-percent from the field and forward Brandon Ingram scored 27 points in 29 minutes, while Zion Williamson had 23 points in 23 minutes. The Pels host San Antonio tomorrow night.

Because of the expectation of stormy weather tonight, several games will start early. 14th ranked Louisiana Tech and Marshall will play at 2 PM, the Ragin Cajuns and LIttle Rock will also start at 2. While ULM and Southern get underway at one.

The NCAA has made some changes to college football’s overtime rules in an effort to shorten games.  Teams will now have to go for 2 starting with their second overtime possession.  Beginning in the third overtime, each team will get one play to score from the 3-yard line.

In last night’s Ragin Cajuns spring football game, veteran quarterback Levi Lewis threw for 167 yards. Back-up Chandler Fields was 12 of 15 for 136 yards. Chris Smith rushed for 61 yards as he looks to lock down the role as the Cajuns lead back.

Louisiana Tech will close out its spring by holding a spring game at noon. J-D Head and Aaron Allen are in a heated raced to be the quarterback next season. Former St. Thomas More standout Caleb Holstein is also expected to get some snaps tomorrow.

 

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU baseball pulled of its biggest win of the year last night as the Tigers rallied from two runs down by scoring three runs in the seventh and holding on for a five to four win over 12th ranked Ole Miss. Dylan Crews hit a two run homer to give the Bayou Bengals the lead in the seventh and then senior right-hander Devin Fontenot pitched three shutout innings for his third save and struck out the final hitter with the bases loaded…
cut 18 (18) “….is a start”
Game two of the series is tonight at 6:30.

Because of the expectation of stormy weather tonight, several games will start early. 14th ranked Louisiana Tech and Marshall will play at 2 PM, the Ragin Cajuns and LIttle Rock will also start at 2. While ULM and Southern get underway at one.

The Pelicans ended their four game losing streak by making the Orlando Magic disappear. New Orleans shot 56-percent from the field for a 135 to 100 victory in Disney World last night. Brandon Ingram scored 27 points in 29 minutes, while Zion Williamson had 23 points in 23 minutes. The Pels host San Antonio tomorrow night, they trail the Spurs by three games for the final play-in-spot to the playoffs with 13 games left.

In last night’s Ragin Cajuns spring football game, veteran quarterback Levi Lewis threw for 167 yards. Back-up Chandler Fields was 12 of 15 for 136 yards. Chris Smith rushed for 61 yards as he looks to lock down the role as the number one running back.

Louisiana Tech will close out its spring by holding a spring game at noon. J-D Head and Aaron Allen are in a heated raced to be the quarterback next season. Former St. Thomas More standout Caleb Holstein is also expected to get some snaps tomorrow.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU baseball begins another series tonight against a team ranked in the Top 15. The Tigers are at 12th ranked Ole Miss. The Rebels are 27-10 overall, nine-six in the SEC West. Ole Miss is second in the SEC in hitting with a team batting average of .301, while the Tigers are 10th in the league in hitting. Coach Paul Mainieri says there are some positions that have not hit consistently…
Cut 19 (17) “…positions”
LSU is facing a potential first-round pick in this year’s Major League Baseball draft tonight. Junior right-hander Gunnar Hoglund is 3-and-2 with a 2.73 ERA for the Rebels. He also ranks second in the SEC in strikeouts with 87. First pitch on ESPN-U is at 7 PM.

U-L Lafayette coach Billy Napier is looking for a very competitive game tonight as the Cajuns conclude spring football with the Vermilion and White spring game at Cajun Field. At running back the Cajuns need to replace NFL draft prospects Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas, so expect to see Emani Baily, Chris Smith and Texas A-and-M transfer Jacob Kibodi to get carries. The scrimmage will start at 7 PM.

The NFL draft begins a week from today and the Saints own the 28th pick in the first round. While the organization has been hard at work scouting potential draftees, coach Sean Payton says there’s still work to be done.
Cut 16 (12) “…this point.”
Payton also doesn’t believe they have to draft a quarterback, because Drew Brees retired. And Brees says because of injuries he only felt good in one game last season and that was the October 4th contest versus Detroit.

1140 Sportscast 4/22

The LSU baseball team will be on the road tonight to begin a three-game series against 12th-ranked Ole Miss.  Coach Paul Mainieri plans on starting Oxford native Drew Bianco at second base. The son of Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco has only started nine games, but Mainieri is hoping the junior can give the offense a boost.

Cut 20 (12) “tomorrow night”

Landon Marceaux will take the mound for the Tigers tonight, Marceaux is 4-3 this year and he has a 1.65 ERA on the season.  Gunnar Hoglund will throw for the Rebels tonight, he leads the SEC with 87 Strikeouts.  He has a 3-2 record.

The U-L Lafayette baseball team snapped a four-game losing streak with a four to three win over McNeese last night. Josh Cofield hit his first home run and drove in two runs. The Cajuns will begin a three-game series on the road against Little Rock tomorrow night.

The NFL draft begins a week from today and the Saints own the 28th pick in the first round. Scouting might be more difficult than in previous years due to a number of big-time player opt-outs in college football this past season.  Add that to the fact that there was no official NFL combine this year.  Coach Sean Payton says it’s another challenge presented to them by the pandemic.

Cut 17 (17) “presents”

The 2021 NFL schedule will be released May 12th. It will be a 17 game schedule this year. And the NFL will allow running backs, tight ends, receivers, and linebackers to wear single-digit uniforms.

The New Orleans Pelicans have lost four-straight games but will look to get back in the win-column tonight as they travel to Orlando to take on the Magic, who sit at 18-40 on the year.  Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

6:45 LRN Sportscast April 22

We are one week away from the N-F-L draft. New Orleans lost several starters because they had to get under the salary cap. Saints Head Coach Sean Payton hopes they can find their replacements in the draft….
cut 18 (15) “…salary cap era”
Payton also doesn’t believe they have to draft a quarterback, because Drew Brees retired.

And Brees spoke to reporters at the Zurich Classic’s Pro-Am event and admitted he only felt good for one game last season and that was the October fourth contest against the Detroit Lions.

The 2021 NFL schedule will be released May 12th. It will be a 17 game schedule this year. And the NFL will allow running backs, tight ends, receivers, and linebackers to wear single-digit uniforms. Also, the league says no more overtime in preseason games.

The Ragin Cajuns spring football game is tonight at 7 PM. The biggest battle during the spring is at running back, where U-L Lafayette has to replace draft prospects Elijah McGuire and Trey Ragas. Coach Billy Napier says TJ Wisham, Chris Smith, and former Texas A-and-M back Jacob Kibodi are the guys who are expected to get the most carries tonight.

The U-L Lafayette baseball team snapped a four-game losing streak with a four to three win over McNeese last night. Josh Cofield hit his first home run and drove in two runs. McNeese scored all of its runs in the third inning as Jake Dickerson drove in two runs.

Tonight, the LSU baseball team begins a three-game series at Ole Miss. The Tigers will send Landon Marceaux to the mound. He’s 4-and-3 with 1.65 ERA. The Rebels counter with potential first-round draft pick Gunnar Hoglund, who is 3-and-2 with a 2.73 ERA. Hoglund is second in the SEC in strikeouts with 87. The first pitch is at 7 PM on ESPN-U.

4:45 LRN Sportscast April 21

LSU baseball is having trouble in SEC play, but they have no problem beating in-state opponents. The Tigers remained undefeated against Louisiana schools this season by blanking ULM last night five to nothing. Eight pitchers combined on the shutout and Alex Milazzo drove in two runs.

This weekend, La Tech will host Marshall for a four-game series that will start on Friday. The Thundering Herd are 6-and-22 on the season, but Bulldogs coach Lane Burroughs says they can’t take Marshall lightly
Cut 20 (19) “ability to adapt”
Tonight McNeese travels to Lafayette to take on the Ragin Cajuns at 6 p.m. The Cowboys are .500 on the season, while U-L Lafayette has lost four in a row.

Southern needs a new football coach as Dawson Odums has resigned as the leader of the Jaguars program was introduced today as the new head coach at Norfolk State. Odums led Southern to a 53-17 record in the SWAC in nine seasons.

ULM has completed spring football as their spring game this past Saturday saw a lot of big plays. Coach Terry Bowden plans to beef up the roster during the offseason and adding depth at running back is a priority…
cut 18 (19) “….in the season”

The Fighting Tigers have added a shot-blocker to their basketball roster as 6’8 forward Tari Eason from Cincinnati says he’s transferring to LSU. Eason averaged seven points and six rebounds a game as a freshman for the Bearkats. He was also fourth in the American Athletic Conference in blocks per game.

1140 Sportscast 4/21

The LSU baseball team grabbed a 5-0 win over ULM last night.  It was a complete team effort on the mound as eight Tiger pitchers contributed to the victory.  Will Hellmers was credited with the win, improving his record to 6-1.  Alex Milazzo had two RBI’s and Giovanni DiGiacomo went three for four at the plate.  The Tigers will be on the road at Ole Miss this weekend.

This weekend, Tech will host Marshall for a four-game series that will start on Friday. The Thundering Herd are 6-and-22 on the season, but coach Lane Burroughs says they have to be ready to play Marshall.

Cut 20 (19) “ability to adapt”

McNeese will travel to Lafayette to take on the Ragin Cajuns tonight at 6 p.m.  The Cowboys sit at .500 on the season with an 18-18 record, while ULL is 20-15.

Southern Football Coach Dawson Odums has resigned to become the new head coach at Norfolk State, which is in Virginia. Odums is a North Carolina native and led the Jaguars program for the last nine seasons, compiling a 53-17 record in the SWAC and a conference title in 2013.

LSU has added 6’8 forward Tari Eason from Cincinnati to the basketball team.  Eason averaged 7.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a freshman for the Bearcats.  Also, the Ragin Cajuns have added 6’3 guard Greg Williams from St. John’s.

The New Orleans Saints has re-signed former LSU offensive lineman Will Clapp.  Clapp has played in 25 games for the black and gold, with four starts.  The seventh round draft pick is entering his fourth season with the franchise.

The Pelicans lost a close one to the Brooklyn Nets last night 134-129.  Zion Williamson scored 33 points in the loss and Brandon Ingram added 27.