The Louisiana Tech baseball and softball stadiums and the school’s soccer complex sustained significant damage from a powerful tornado that roared through Ruston early this morning. Louisiana Tech President Les Guice says the facilities are unusable.

No one on campus was severely injured and Guice says locals are helping in the cleanup effort, including legendary Bulldog basketball player, the mailman himself, Karl Malone…
cut 17 (12) “….here”
The softball team hosts Western Kentucky this weekend, but they can’t play in their stadium. School officials say the games could be moved to Ruston or Cedar Creek High School.

Tonight is the first round of the NFL draft, but the Saints do not have a pick, unless they trade up, which is unlikely.

Two former LSU players are expected to be selected in tonight’s first round of the NFL draft. Linebacker Devin White could be selected in the top five, while cornerback Greedy Williams could be a mid or late first round pick.

While he will not get drafted tonight, tight end Foster Moreau has seen his stock rise significantly since September. That might be a surprise to some, considering he only caught 52 passes in four collegiate years, but draft analyst Mike Detillier says NFL scouts realize the New Orleans native was used a lot as a blocker rather than a pass catcher…
cut 17 (11) “.a drum”
Detillier expects Moreau to go in the fourth round and he likes kicker Cole Tracey to go in the fifth and sixth round.

The 14th ranked LSU baseball will not have Cole Henry available for this weekend’s series against Alabama. Coach Paul Mainieri says Henry’s elbow is bothering him, but doesn’t think it’s too serious.

Tonight at 7PM it’s the NFL Draft and two former Tigers are expected to go in the first round. One of those is one of the most beloved players in LSU history, linebacker Devin White. NFL Draft analyst Mike Detillier says White enters as one of the best middle linebacker prospects in draft history.
Cut 15 (11) “ten”
Detillier says Oakland could take White at number four and Tampa, who has the fifth pick, has also expressed interest in the Butkus Award winner. While former LSU cornerback Greedy Williams is expected to be a mid to late first round pick.

New LSU athletics director Scott Woodward has agreed to a six-year contract worth nearly eight million dollars. His deal will go into effect on May 6 and he’ll earn one-point-one million dollars in the first year.

Changes have been made to LSU basketball coach Will Wade’s contract based on media reports. Wade’s amended deal now gives LSU the power to fire him if he commits a Level One or Level Two NCAA violation or if the NCAA infractions committee issues a formal notice to LSU that Wade was involved in a Level One or Leve Two violation. He also will not receive his bonus for the Tigers winning the SEC and making the the Sweet 16.

Also assistant coach Tony Benford, who served as interim head coach while Wade was suspended, has reportedly left LSU for an assistant’s job at TCU.

College baseball last night, Tyler Smith hit a school-record tying three home runs in a 10-7 upset win over sixth ranked Arkansas. It’s the first time the Demons have won in an SEC ballpark since 2011.

McNeese rallied from a three nothing deficit, to beat Louisiana Tech five to three. Carson Maxwell mashed a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Cowboys the lead.

Nicholls blanked L-S-U Alexandria three to nothing. Parker White tossed six shutout innings for the win.

Southern Miss blasted UNO 15-to 2.

New LSU athletics director Scott Woodward’s contract is reportedly six years long and his annual pay will start at one-point-one million dollars and grow over the course of the deal. He’ll make a million and a half in the final two years of the contract. The LSU alum is also set to receive a 250-thousand dollar signing bonus. The LSU Board of Supervisors will have to approve the deal at their next meeting.

Multiple media outlets are reporting the Saints will pick up defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins fifth-year option. Rankins had a career-high eight sacks and 12 tackles for a loss last season, but tore his Achilles tendon in the playoff win over Philadelphia. He’s expected to start the season on the physcially unable to perform list, but the team must believe he’ll make a full recovery from that injury.

Tomorrow night is the first round of the NFL draft. The Saints don’t have a pick until the second round, but former LSU Tigers Devin White and Greedy Williams are expected to be first round selections.

LSU freshman Drew Bianco’s three-run homer was the difference in the Fighting Tigers five to three win over Lamar at Alex Box Stadium last night. It was Bianco’s second home run of the season and this first since February 17th. LSU opens a three game series on Friday night against Alabama.

For the second time this season, Louisiana Tech second baseman Hunter Wells hit a walk off homer. Wells blast lifted the Bulldogs to a five-four win over Little Rock. La Tech Tech is at McNeese tonight. Tech beat the Cowboys 10-4 in Ruston earlier this month. McNeese is 20-and-20 on the year, while the Bulldogs are 27-and-2. First pitch is at 6 Pm in Lake Charles.

Also tonight, Nicholls is at Jackson State and UNO is at Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles scored four runs in the ninth inning last night to beat the Ragin Cajuns seven to six.

Tiger Rag dot com reports Marlon Taylor becomes the sixth LSU underclassman to declare for the NBA draft. The six-foot-six junior averaged seven points and four rebounds a game last season. He will have the option to return next season.

New LSU athletics director Scott Woodward is expected to be a busy man over the next several weeks as he settles into his new job. Woodward was asked during his introductory press conference about managing the Will Wade situation, who has returned to leading the men’s basketball program after a five week long suspension. Woodward admitted he doesn’t have all of the facts on what happened…
cut 30 (10) “….100-percent support”
Another player from LSU’s SEC Championship team has added his name to the list of early entry candidates for the 2019 NBA draft. Tiger Rag dot com reports Marlon Taylor becomes the sixth LSU underclassman to declare for the draft. The six-foot-six junior averaged seven points and four rebounds a game last season. The six LSU players may declare for the NBA and even retain an agent while still maintaining NCAA eligibility.

LSU won its first midweek baseball game since April 3rd by beating Lamar five to three last night. A three-run homer by Drew Bianco was the difference in the game. Freshman Landon Marceaux pitched three shutout innings to get the win.

Hunter Wells walk off homer in the ninth inning gave 18th ranked Louisiana Tech a five to four win over Little Rock. The Bulldogs are now 11 and 2 in the month of April.

The Ragin Cajuns gave up four runs in the ninth inning and lost to Southern Miss seven to six. Both games between these two teams this season ended in walk off fashion.

An effort to legalize sports betting at the state’s 15 licensed riverboat casinos, four racetracks and New Orleans land-based casino received approval from a Senate committee today. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says this legislation could raise up to 60-million dollars a year for the state and against this bill will not keep addicts from betting…
cut 9 (09) “….this bill”
The measure heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.

State Police is discussing how they can provide better protection for the governor’s mansion after an intruder was able to get inside John Bel Edwards home and fall asleep on the couch. Security expert Joshua Nicholson says this will force State Police to look at their protocols…
cut 12 (11) “…in the mansion”
The intruder was arrested after he allegedly assaulted two officers in the mansion.

The state senate unanimously approves a truth in labeling law for ag products. Brooke Thorington tells us what this mean…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Legislation to reinstate sales tax holidays is heading to the Senate after the proposal received overwhelming support in the House. Legislators inadvertently suspended sales tax holidays for seven years when they approved a tax deal last June. Monroe Representative Jay Morris says tax holidays should not have been halted…
Cut 7 (08) “…our state.”
The three separate sales tax holidays would be for back to school shopping, hurricane preparedness and hunting supplies, including guns.

Scott Woodward is introduced as LSU’s new athletics director today. Commissioner of Administration and longtime friend of Woodward, Jay Dardenne, says the Baton Rouge native doesn’t need much of an introduction…
Cut 24 (12) “…LSU graduate.”
Woodward met with coaches earlier today and said he started his career at LSU by selling peanuts in Tiger Stadium when he was 10-years-old.

LSU right-hander Cole Henry was named SEC Baseball Co-Freshman of the Week. The Alabama native struck out a career-high 12 Florida hitters in Friday night’s 13-1 win over the Gators. Henry says it’s a great honor…
Cut 18 (13) I love it”
LSU hosts Lamar tonight, while Louisiana Tech hosts Little Rock and ULM is at Southern.

The NFL draft is Thursday, but the Saints do not have a first round pick and their first selection will come late in the second round on Friday. There’s a lot of speculation the Black and Gold will use their first pick in the 2019 draft on a wide receiver, but General Manager Mickey Loomis says he believes in the pass catchers they already have on the roster…
cut 30 (26) “…coming weeks”
Michael Thomas caught 125 passes last season and that’s almost 100 more than the next receiver on the roster.

The team’s voluntary offseason conditioning program begins today and there’s speculation Thomas may stay away, because he’s entering the last year of his rookie deal and could want a new contract.

It’s a big day on the LSU campus as Scott Woodward is introduced as the school’s new athletics director. LSU fans are excited about this new era and one of the biggest Tiger fans in state government, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, who is also a longtime friend of Woodward, says he doesn’t expect the Baton Rouge native to make many changes right away, especially with the high profile coaches on campus…
cut 5 (12) “…next season”
Woodward’s press conference begins at noon.

Today, the Saints begin their voluntary offseason training program. Saints star receiver Michael Thomas is entering the final season of his rookie deal and there’s speculation he may stay away in order to force negotiations on a new contract. No NFL player in history has caught more balls in their first three seasons than Thomas.

The 15th ranked LSU baseball team looks to win a midweek game for the first time since April 3rd when they host Lamar tonight. The Cardinals are 12 games under the .500 mark and then after tonight’s home game, LSU visits Alabama, who is in last place in the SEC West. Coach Paul Mainieri wants his team to build on its current two game winning streak…
cut 17 (16) “…week for us”
Landon Marceaux is scheduled to start for the Tigers. In his last start against Southern, he gave up five earned and was pulled in the second inning.

Also today, the 18th ranked Louisiana Tech Diamond Dogs begin a five-game week by hosting Little Rock. The Ragin Cajuns play their final midweek game of the season as they visit Southern Miss. ULM is at Southern and Northwestern State visits 8th ranked Arkansas.

After losing the series opener 16-9, the LSU Tigers roared back over the next two games to beat Florida 13-1 in Game two and then 11-2 in the rubber game on Saturday. Eric Walker was the winning pitcher in the series finale and had plenty of run support, as the Tigers scored nine runs over the first three innings. Coach Paul Mainieri is pleased with his team’s performance…
Cut 16 (13) “…we can play”
In the latest college baseball polls, LSU is ranked 14th by Baseball America, 13th in the D-1 poll, 15th in the Collegiate Baseball Top 30 poll

Louisiana Tech has moved up to number 15th in the Collegiate Baseball Poll after taking two of three from Marshall this past weekend. The Bulldogs will host Litte Rock on Tuesday.

Many LSU fans are upset with national sports reporter Darren Rovell after he said on Twitter that you should not put up a billboard celebrating a second place finish. A billboard is up in Baton Rouge congratulating the LSU gymnastics team for finishing as runner ups at the national championships. Rovell did not back down from that tweet when he appeared on “Off the Bench” which is heard on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Alexandria…
cut 7 (07) “….of time”
LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette tweeted back to Rovell and said the billboard recognizing LSU’s second place finish helps promote the brand.

Shreveport golfer Sam Burns finished in ninth place at this past weekend’s P-G-A Tour stop in South Carolina. Burns earned 200-thousand dollars for finishing eight-under par for the tournament.

This weekend it’s the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

With just four series left to play, the LSU baseball team is just a game out of first place in the SEC West with an 11-and-7 conference record. The Tigers took two of three from Florida during the Easter weekend as LSU scored 33 runs. Antoine Duplantis raised his batting average by nearly 30 points and had nine hits.

Josh Smith also had a big weekend and finished off the series by hitting his sixth home run of the season and driving in four runs. The shortstop says the Tigers knew they had to step up after losing the series opener…
Cut 18 (13) ball games”
LSU is back in action tomorrow night when they host Lamar.

For the third time in four years, the LSU gymnastics squad won a national championship runner-up trophy. The Tigers finished about a half a point behind national title winner Oklahoma.

After winning two of three from Marshall, Louisiana Tech remains in third place in Conference USA, two games back of Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss, who are tied for first place. Tech will host Little Rock tomorrow night and then travel McNeese on Wednesday.

Little Rock swept a doubleheader from ULM on Saturday, the Ragin Cajuns were swept by Texas-Arlington.

Southeastern Louisiana has moved into a tie for first place in the Southland standings after winning two of three from Nicholls. Northwestern State is three games back. The Demons took a doubleheader from McNeese on Saturday.

Southern has a two game lead over Grambling for first place in the SWAC Western Division after crushing Texas Southern 16 to six yesterday. Bobby Johnson drove in four runs. Grambling has won five in a row. They swept Arkansas Pine Bluff over the weekend.

Tulane is 2.5 games out of first place in the American Conference standings. The Green Wave split a doubleheader with Memphis on Saturday and they’ll be at first place East Carolina this weekend.

One day after after getting pounded 16-9, the LSU baseball team returned the favor last night with a 13-1 victory over the Gators. Cole Henry was phenomenal as he struck out 12 in 5.1 innings. He had plenty of offensive support. Cade Beloso led the way with three hits and he hit his sixth home run of the season. Daniel Cabrera hit his seventh home run, a three-run shot in the seventh inning. Rubber game of the series is today at 2 PM.

Louisiana Tech also had a big offensive day yesterday as the Bulldogs defeated Marshall 19-6 as Tech hitters walked a season high 11 times. Hunter Wells had four hits and Tanner Huddleston hit a grand slam in the seventh.

For the second straight night, the Cajuns could not hold on to a late lead and lost to UT Arlington seven to three. ULM upended Little Rock 5-2 as Trey Jeans struck out eight for his second win of the year.

LSU basketball coach Will Wade will not have to testify in a college basketball bribery trial that’s set to begin next week in New York. Wade and Arizona coach Sean Miller were subpoenaed to testify in the case, but judge Edgardo Ramos ruled that their testimonies would be irrelevant to the bribery charges the two defendants are facing. The defendants are recruiting middleman Christian Dawkins and former Adidas representative Merl Code.

LSU football has picked up a verbal commitment from four-star outside linebacker Josh White from Houston. 247 sports rates White as the 42nd best player in Texas at Cy Creek High School. Earlier in the day, four-star prospect Jaden Navarette from California de-committed from LSU and gave his verbal pledge to Oregon.

Tonight at 6 PM the LSU gymnastics team will go after the program’s first national championship as they will compete in the national championship. Defending champion UCLA, Oklahoma and Denver are the competition.