LSU had 10 hits but scored just one run in a three to one defeat to UL Lafayette in the Wally Pontiff Classic in Metairie last night. For the first time since 2002, the Cajuns have swept the season series against the Tigers. The winning pitcher was Hogan Harris, who started for the first time in a month and pitched four innings and did not allow an earned run.

Elsewhere, ULM outscored Jackson State 10-7. Louisiana Tech won its 20th game of the season last night as the Bulldogs scored six runs in the 9th inning to defeat McNeese nine to two. Nicholls beat Mississippi State seven to four in Thibodaux. It’s the first time in program history the Colonels defeated State. Seniors Lee Clark and Kyle Knauth each drove in two runs.

Northwestern State upended Lamar seven to two, Grambling outscored Texas College 11-3. And Southeastern Louisiana defeated Tulane nine to three. It’s S-L-U’s sixth straight win over the Wave.

The Pelicans couldn’t hold on to an 11-point third quarter lead last night and lost to Portland 107-103. Anthony Davis had 36 points and 14 rebounds in a losing effort. The difference in this game was the 27 second chance points by the Trail Blazers. The Pels are in Cleveland on Friday.

Saints Coach Sean Payton says the team is still looking to add an edge rusher, wide receiver and tight end in either free agency or the draft. General Manager Mickey Loomis says they did well in last year’s draft, but they don’t have as many high picks as they did in 2017….
cut 19 (17) “….the same”
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, veteran tight end Ben Watson is returning to the Saints. The 37-year-old led the Ravens with 61 catches last season.

The Ragin Cajuns baseball team has had a tough season, with a losing record, but they own two victories in a season over the 19^th ranked LSU Tigers since 2002. UL-Lafayette completed the season series sweep of the Tigers with a 3-1 win last night at the Wally Pontiff Junior Classic. The difference was a two-run first inning for the Cajuns and LSU left 11 runners on base, including the tying run on second inning in the 9^th inning.

In other baseball action, Louisiana Tech thumped McNeese 9-2. The Bulldogs scored six runs in the 9^th inning. Dalton Skelton and Mason Robinson each had two run triples.

Nicholls knocked off Mississippi State seven to four. Lee Clark hit his first home run of the season. Southeastern Louisiana hammered Tulane nine to three for its sixth straight win over the Green Wave. And Northwestern State defeated Lamar 7-2. The Demons started fast with four runs in the first inning.

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Anthony Davis had 36 points and 14 rebounds, but Portland’s Damian Lillard had 41 points as the Blazers defeated the Pelicans 107-103. Lillard was fantastic in the 4^th quarter as he scored 20 points in the final 12 minutes to help Portland rally back from an 11-point deficit. New Orleans will look to avoid a third straight loss when they visit the Cavaliers and LeBron James on Friday night.

The Saints were interested in Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, but he ended up signing with the Rams. New Orleans General Manager Mickey Loomis says the Saints didn’t lowball the defensive wrecking ball, but the Rams valued him differently….

Cut 18 (16) “….at that”

Coach Sean Payton says looking ahead to the draft, edge rusher is a must.

21st ranked LSU and UL Lafayette meet tonight at the Shrine on Airline in Metairie for the Wally Pontiff Junior Classic. Freshman right-hander AJ Labas will start for the Tigers, he’s 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, while the Cajuns counter with left-hander Hogan Harris, who hasn’t pitched since the opening weekend because of an oblique injury in the season opener.

LSU will be without its starting second baseman and leading hitter for the next three to five weeks. Brandt Broussard has a broken thumb. Austin Bain could be your starter at second base for the time being, with Daniel Cabrera playing at first base. Also, shortstop Josh Smith has suffered a minor setback as he tries to come back from a back injury.

In other action, Southeastern Louisiana seeks its sixth straight win over Tulane when the two schools meet in Hammond. Nicholls State is hosting Mississippi State. The Colonels are 8-15 on the year. And Louisiana Tech visits McNeese. The Bulldogs have won 14 of their last 17. McNeese is 19-and-7 on the year.

Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson spoke Monday for the first time since her husband’s death at the NFL Owners meeting in Orlando, Florida. There have been questions on whether or not there will be major changes to the teams. Benson says after visiting the office on a daily basis for the last eight years, she knows the organizations are running like a well oiled machine…
Cut 14 (10) “it is.”
Gayle Benson added that it’s upsetting to read or hear reports she may sell or move the teams. Benson made the comments at the NFL owners meetings. She’s been attending them since she married Tom Benson in 2004.

The Pelicans host Portland tonight at the Smoothie King Center. Nikoa Mirotic and Rajon Rondo are questionable with injuries. Mirotic has a hip flexor, while Rondo has a wrist sprain. Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard could also miss the game, because his girlfriend could go into labor.

New Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson says she’s committed to continuing her husband’s legacy going and that means keeping the professional franchises in New Orleans…

Cut 15 (10) “…big family”

Gayle Benson added that it’s upsetting to read or hear reports she may sell or move the teams. Benson made the comments at the NFL owners meetings. She’s been attending them since she married Tom Benson in 2004.

The Pelicans are back home tonight to host the Portland Trail Blazers. New Orleans is fighting for home court in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Pels are currently tied for 5^th place with San Antonio a half-a-game back of Oklahoma City who is in 4^th place. San Antonio is at Washington tonight. The Thunder are off. And tip-off in the Smoothie King Center is at 7 PM.

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The injury bug has bitten another LSU baseball player. Second baseman Brandt Broussard will miss the next three to five weeks with a broken thumb. He sustained the injury during an at-bat in the series in Vanderbilt. Broussard was hit by a pitch, but the ump ruled it was a foul ball.

The Tigers already without starting shortstop Josh Smith, who is trying to work his way back from a back injury. But Coach Paul Mainieri says Smith suffered a little bit of set back last week. Hal Hughes will continue to man shortstop, but Austin Bain or Jake Slaughter are options at second base.

Tonight, LSU will play the Ragin Cajuns in the annual Wally Pontiff Junior Classic at the Shrine on Airline in Metairie. Left-hander Hogan Harris will start for UL Lafayette. He hasn’t pitched since sustaining an oblique injury in the season opener against Texas.

In other action tonight, Nicholls hosts Mississippi State as the Colonels are coming off a series victory over McNeese. Louisiana Tech is at McNeese. The Bulldogs have won 14 of their last 17. And ULM hosts UNO, while Tulane faces Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond. Northwestern State is at Lamar.

New Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson spoke for the first time today since her husband’s death. Benson says she doesn’t plan on changing much and is ready for the challenge…
cut 30 (11) “…his legacy”
And Gayle Benson says she would never sell the teams and there are no plans to re-locate them.

A former Saints cheerleader has filed a discrimination complaint because she believes the team’s policies discriminate against the cheerleaders employed by the team. Bailey Davis’ complaint states the team has a set of rules for cheerleaders, but the same rules don’t apply for the football players. Davis was reportedly fired for posting a photo of herself on her private instagram account in Saints gear and the team says that violates their rules.

Could former LSU standout Odell Beckham get traded out of New York. The NFL Network reports the Giants wide receiver will not set foot on the football field this year, unless he receives a contract extension. He’s set to enter the final year of his rookie contract. Beckham has indicated he would like to be the highest paid player in the NFL.

The NFL owners have voted to simplify the definition of a catch. Saints sideline reporter Kristian Garic is covering the meetings in Orlando and he says there’s now three components officials will look at to determine a catch. Control, two feet in bounds and a football move, like when the player reaches with the ball or makes a third step. No more surviving the ground for a catch to take place.

Coming up at the owners meeting today, Saints Owner Gayle Benson will speak publicly for the first time, since her husband’s death.

A former Saintsation has filed a lawsuit against the Saints claiming discrimination, because players are not held accountable to the same rules for cheerleaders. For instance, cheerleaders must leave a restaurant if a Saints player walks in as part of the team’s anti-fraternization policy.

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport says former LSU standout and Giants receiver Odell Beckham Junior will not set foot on a football field without a new deal. Beckham has indictated he would like to be the highest paid player in the NFL.

Former LSU standout and major league baseball player Albert Belle has been charged in Arizona on two counts of indecent exposure and two counts of D-U-I. According to police records, Belle was arrested during a Diamondbacks spring training game in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The LSU baseball team lost its weekend series to Vanderbilt. The Tigers won the middle game of the three game set by the score of 6-2. The game was halted in the 8th inning on Saturday and completed on Sunday morning. That’s why the series finale was just seven innings and the Tigers lost 1-0, despite a brilliant pitching performance from Ma’khail Hillard who threw six standout innings. The only run scored on a pass ball in the first inning.

Louisiana Tech is in first place in Conference USA after yesterday’s 9-4 win over UAB in 12 innings.

After losing 31-7 on Saturday to Arkansas State, the Warhawks came back on Sunday to shut out the Red Wolves four to nothing. ULM won it with a walk-off grand slam by catcher Spencer Hemphill in the 9th inning.

The LSU baseball team is back from Nashville after losing a series to Vanderbilt. The Tigers won the middle game of the three game set by the final score 6-2. Antoine Duplantis had three hits in that game, while Beau Jordan and Daniel Cabrera each had two hits. The game was halted in the 8^th inning on Saturday and it was completed on Sunday morning. That’s why the series finale was just seven innings and the Tigers lost 1-0, despite a brilliant pitching performance from Ma’khail Hillard who threw six standout innings. The only run scored came on a pass ball in the first inning. The Tigers will face the Cajuns on Tuesday night in Metairie in the Wally Pontiff Classic.

The Ragin Cajuns celebrated a walk-off win over Troy yesterday as UL Lafayette beat the Trojans four to three. Zach Lafleur had the game winning hit in the bottom of the 9^th.

After losing 31-7 on Saturday to Arkansas State, the Warhawks came back on Sunday to shut out the Red Wolves four to nothing. ULM won it with a grand slam by catcher Spencer Hemphill in the 9^th inning.

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Louisiana Tech is in first place in Conference USA after yesterday’s 9-4 win over UAB in 12 innings. The Bulldogs improved to 5-1 in league play. Sophomore Kyle Griffen was the winning pitcher as he tossed 6.2 innings out of the bullpen. At one point he retired 18 consecutive batters. Mason Mallard had the go-ahead hit in the 12^th inning.

In the Southland, Sam Houston State is in first place with a 6-0 record, but Southeastern Louisiana is not far behind at 7-2. The Lions beat Houston Baptist 8-2 yesterday to win the series. Kyle Schimpf and Trenon Trosclair each drove in two runs.

McNeese snapped a three-game losing streak by scoring four runs in the 9^th inning to beat Nicholls 5-4. Shane Selman had the bit hit, a two-out two run double. The Cowboys are 6-3 in league play, while the Colonels are 4-5. Northwestern is 3-3 in the Southland after losing a series to A-and-M Corpus Christi.

The funeral service for Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson concluded a short time ago in New Orleans. It was officiated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond…
cut 15 (12) “….go marching in”
Following the Mass, a second line went through the French Quarter leading Benson to his final resting place.

LSU baseball begins a three-game series tonight Vanderbilt. The Tigers took two of three from Missouri to open up SEC play, while Vandry swept Texas A-and-M. Coach Paul Mainieri says this weekend will be a good test for his team…
cut 18 (10) “…anybody’s attention”
First pitch is at 8 PM.

According to statistics provided by LSU, sophomore quarterback Myles Brennan completed 12 of 16 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns in a scrimmage last night. Justin McMillan was 7-of-15 for 169 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore Lowell Narcisse threw for just 38 yards on six-of-14 attempts. Heading into the scrimmage, tight end Foster Moreau says the competition to be the starter at Q-B was dead even…
cut 20 (12) “…competition”
In last night’s scrimmage, sophomore Racey McMath led all receivers, six catches for 169 yards and a touchdown.

In NFL news, the Jets have reportedly emerged as a favorite to land free agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The former Dolphin and Lion visited with the Saints, Rams and Titans over the last week.

Some of the biggest names in sports and key political figures have gathered at St. Louis Cathedral in the New Orleans French Quarter for the funeral of Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson. Jay Romig has worked for the Saints for 42 years and he says today is a celebration of a man who was committeed to New Orleans and proud to be a New Orleanian….
cut 30 (08) “….we’re going”
Following the funeral service, there will be a second line leading out of the church.

LSU tight end Foster Moreau gives us his take on what LSU’s three quarterbacks bring to the table as they compete for the starting spot…
cut 19 (13) “….nine route”
In a scrimmage yesterday, Myles Brennan was 12 of 16 for 224 yards and two touchdowns. The Spring Game is April 21.

The Pelicans get a much needed day of rest today after winning three games in three consecutive days a feat that had not been done since 1979. New Orleans beat the Los Angeles Lakers 128 to 125 last night. Anthony Davis had 33 points and nine rebounds, while Rajon Rondo scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter. The Pels are at Houston tomorrow.

The 15th ranked LSU baseball team makes its first true road trip of the season when they begin a three-game series against fifth ranked Vanderbilt tonight. Senior Beau Jordan knows for the freshmen this will be a new experience…
Cut 16 (19) “baseball game”
First pitch is at 8 PM.

Funeral services will conclude tomorrow for Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, who died a week ago today at the age of 90 from a bout with the flu. Many are wondering what the future holds for the two professional sports franchises. Saints and Pels president Dennis Lauscha says it will be business as usual and that means Gayle Benson attending next week’s NFL owners meeting in Orlando….
cut 19 (11) “…will do”
Lauscha says he can’t imagine an attempt by Gayle to move the teams out of New Orleans.

The Pelicans will try to accomplish a rare feat in the NBA tonight and that is win three games in three consecutive nights. New Orleans beat Dallas on Tuesday and held on to beat Indiana 96-92 last night. Tonight, New Orleans hosts the 31-and-39 Lakers.

The 15th ranked LSU baseball team left for Nashville today where they visit 5th ranked Vanderbilt. Last night, the Tigers rallied back from an early 4-0 deficit to beat Tulane 10-4. It was the Bayou Bengals first win over the Green Wave since 2015. Freshman left fielder Daniel Cabrera produced his first career four-hit night on the college level and Zach Watson had three hits for a third consecutive night.

Louisiana Tech beat ULM 6-1 last night and the Bulldogs face UAB starting tomorrow night for a three-game series. Tech has won 12 of its last 14 games and they are 3-0 in Conference USA Play.

ULM begins a series against Arkansas State at Warhawk Field tomorrow. ULM has lost six of its last seven.

The Ragin Cajuns beat McNeese five to two yesterday. UL Lafayette now gets ready for its Sun Belt opener against Troy. The Cowboys will head to Thibodaux to face Nicholls.