Mainieri to eye pitchers as short relievers

Advocate staff file photo by ADAM LAU -- LSU's Joe Broussard pitches against Tennessee last season at Alex Box Stadium. Broussard will get the start at 3 p.m. Wednesday against McNeese State.

LSU’s weekend rotation of Kevin Gausman, Ryan Eades and Kurt McCune gave the Tigers six, five and six innings, respectively, in their season debuts last weekend. The game against McNeese State at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Alex Box Stadium is an opportunity to look at a series of relievers in much shorter stints. Right-hander Joe Broussard, … Continue reading →

HOTARD: Seniors adjust well to role changes

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER --  Arkansas' Devonta Abron tries to drive past LSU's Storm Warren Saturday afternoon at Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

It’s easy to see why LSU newcomers Justin Hamilton, Anthony Hickey and Johnny O’Bryant III have attracted so much attention this season. Hamilton leads the team in scoring and rebounding, Hickey has distinguished himself as one of the Southeastern Conference’s top young point guards, and O’Bryant has been a regular starter after earning All-America honors as a … Continue reading →

LSU Report for Feb. 22, 2012

PARRISH, Fla. — LSU senior golfer Tessa Teachman had the best finish of her LSU career Tuesday, finishing as the runnerup in the Central District Invitational at the River Wilderness Golf Club. The seventh-ranked LSU women’s golf team finished fourth, three shots out of the championship won by TCU. Teachman had her … Continue reading →

SEC Men’s standings

SEC men’s standings Conference All games W L Pct. W L Pct. Kentucky 13 0 1.000 27 1 .969 Florida 10 3 .769 22 6 .786 Vanderbilt 8 4 .667 19 8 .704 Mississippi St. 6 5 .545 19 7 .731 Alabama 6 6 .500 17 9 .654 Continue reading →

LSU-McNeese baseball advance box

ON DECK McNeese State
at LSU WHEN: 3 p.m. Wednesday. WHERE: Alex Box Stadium. RECORDS: LSU 3-0, McNeese State 1-1. RANKINGS: LSU – No. 7 Baseball America, No. 9 Collegiate Baseball, No. 14 ESPN/USA Today; McNeese State – None. … Continue reading →

Johnson, Fox have long history

Associated Press photo by John Bazemore -- Georgia coach Mark Fox yells at an official during a 57-44 loss to Kentucky earlier this season in Athens, Ga.

When his Tigers face Georgia on Wednesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson will match wits with Mark Fox for the third time. The two men have a long history together, first as assistants at the University of Washington in the early 1990s and later when Johnson became the head man at Nevada and tabbed Fox as his top assistant. Continue reading →

Time Out: Scott Hotard column for Feb. 21, 2012

The way the LSU men’s basketball team has played in recent weeks, it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear Mardi Gras-goers talking a little hoops Tuesday as they feast on king cake or position themselves to catch a prized throw. Trent Johnson’s krewe has won three games straight and four of its past five, the best ball … Continue reading →

LSU Report for Feb. 21, 2012

PARRISH, Fla. — The seventh-ranked LSU women’s golf team found itself in fifth place — eight shots out of first — after the first two rounds of the Central District Invitational. LSU senior Tessa Teachman and sophomore Austin Ernst had strong opening rounds that kept them in the top 10 going into Tuesday’s final round. Continue reading →

LSU opens 5-game softball homestand

The LSU softball team opens up a five-game homestand and plays host its first midweek contest of the 2012 season Tuesday against Southeastern Louisiana. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. at Tiger Park. LSU (4-4) has won 16 of its 17 meeting against the Lady Lions (1-7), including a 9-0 five-inning decision during the two teams … Continue reading →

SEC Men’s standings

SEC men’s standings Conference All games W L Pct. W L Pct. Kentucky 12 0 1.000 26 1 .963 Florida 9 3 .750 21 6 .778 Vanderbilt 8 4 .667 19 8 .704 Mississippi St. 6 5 .545 19 7 .731 Alabama 6 6 .500 17 9 .654 Continue reading →

LSU to offer USBC bowlers discounts to some events

LSU is offering discounted ticket prices to some athletic events for bowlers participating in the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. The offer beings with a pair of events Wednesday. The LSU baseball team hosts McNeese State at 3 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium. On Wednesday night, LSU hosts Georgia in men’s basketball at 7 … Continue reading →

Off the Record podcast

LSU's head basketball coach Trent Johnson shouts instructions to players after LSU scored in the first half of LSU's game vs Mississippi State Tuesday night in the LSU Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Join theadvocate.com sports editor Gary Laney and Advocate LSU beat writer Scott Hotard for a discussion on LSU basketball as the Tigers prepare for Wednesday's home game against Georgia. LSU is 16-10 and 6-6 in the SEC and the Tigers have re-entered the post-season conversation. But with an RPI ranking of 63 and a weak schedule to … Continue reading →

Baseball America Top 25 

Air Force's Blair Roberts catches the ball at second base to tag out LSU's Mason Katz during an NCAA college baseball game, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/The Advocate, Libby Isenhower)   MAGS OUT; NO SALES; TV OUT; NO FORNS; LOUISIANA BUSINESS INC. OUT (INCLUDING GREATER BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT, 225, 10/12, INREGISTER, LBI CUSTOM)

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — The top 25 teams in the Baseball America poll with records through Feb. 19 and previous ranking (voting by the staff of Baseball America):
Record Pvs
1. Florida 2-1 1
2. Stanford 3-0 2
3. South Carolina … Continue reading →

Collegiate Baseball Top 25

LSU's Tyler Hanover swings at a pitch as Air Force catcher Garrett Custons awaits the throw during a college baseball game Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19 2012, at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/The Advocate, Libby Isenhower) MAGS OUT  ONLINES OUT  NO SALES  TV OUT  FOREIGNS OUT  LOUISIANA BUSINESS INC./GREATER BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT/225/10/12/IN REGISTER/LBI CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS OUT

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The Collegiate Baseball poll with records through Feb. 19, points and previous rank. Voting is done by coaches, sports writers and sports information directors:
Record Pts Pvs
1. Florida 2-1 495 1
2. South Carolina … Continue reading →

McCune, Tigers blank Air Force

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER  -- LSU's Kurt McCune throws Sunday against Air Force at Alex Box Stadium.

LSU’s batting grabbed the spotlight as the Tigers began the season with a 10-2 victory against Air Force on Friday and a 19-0 rout of Alcorn State on Saturday. On Sunday afternoon, it was the pitchers who stole the show in a 4-0 victory against Air Force (1-2) in Alex Box Stadium. Starter Kurt McCune (1-0) pitched … Continue reading →

Familiar refrain

Advocate staff photo by PATRICK DENNIS -- LSU'S LaSondra Barrett (55) drives to the basket as Auburn's Parrisha Simmons defends  in the first half of the Lady Tigers' 57-41 win over Auburn Sunday in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The LSU Lady Tigers on Sunday again worked their way into a familiar groove. They played vise-like defense against Auburn. They turned the ball over — a lot — but the aforementioned defense didn’t allow the opposition to take advantage. And sophomore guard Jeanne Kenney got banged up, leaving her at least questionable for LSU’s next game. Continue reading →

LSU pitching staff impresses

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER -- LSU's Raph Rhymes slides back to first base as Air Force's Adam Hill tries to get him out Sunday afternoon at Alex Box Stadium.

LSU was expected to be a team with top-flight starting pitching, a deep bullpen solid defense, and an offense that would have to scrape for runs because of a lack of power. The Tigers pretty much fit that description as they opened the season with 10-2 and 4-0 victories against Air Force sandwiched around a 19-0 rout … Continue reading →

LSU-Air Force Box scores for Feb. 20, 2012 

Box score LSU 4, Air Force 0 Air Force (1-3) LSU (3-0) ab r h bi ab r h bi Hill 1b 4 0 1 0 Hanver 3b 3 0 1 0 Roberts 2b 4 0 0 0 Foster dh 4 0 1 0 Custons c 4 0 1 0 Rhymes rf 4 1 1 0 Bast cf 4 0 0 0 Katz 1b 4 1 2 0 Lobo rf 4 0 1 0 Slaid lf 4 1 3 1 Ausbun lf 4 0 0 0 Scmbra lf 0 0 0 0 Kramer dh 2 0 0 0 Jones cf 4 0 0 0 Thmas ph 1 0 0 0 Au. Nola ss 2 1 0 0 Roberts ss 2 0 0 0 Moore c 3 0 1 2 Gibson ss 1 0 0 0 Yocum 2b 2 0 0 0 Pierce 3b 3 0 1 0 TOTALS 33 0 4 0 TOTALS 30 4 9 3 E — Custons 2 (2), … Continue reading →

LSU-Auburn women’s box score

LSU 57, Auburn 41 Auburn (11-16, 3-11 SEC) M FG-A FT-A R F TP Williams 18 1-4 1-2 3 2 3 Tanner 16 0-4 0-0 2 4 0 Ouardad 20 3-6 0-0 2 2 7 Simmons 12 0-2 00 2 3 0 Alverson 31 1-8 0-0 2 2 2 Muhammad 30 5-10 2-4 4 0 12 Jennings 19 0-4 0-0 1 2 0 Glymph 27 3-10 0-0 1 0 8 Hilliard 21 4-7 1-4 3 2 9 Davis 6 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 TOTALS 200 17-55 4-1 23 18 41 LSU (19-8, 9-5 SEC) M FG-A FT-A R F TP Black 23 1-2 0-0 3 0 2 Turnbow 17 1-3 2-2 6 1 4 Barrett 31 3-5 6-6 10 2 13 Kenney 17 4-4 0-0 0 2 11 Webb 33 3-7 0-0 6 1 7 Lutley 29 1-6 0-0 0 2 2 Forthan 3 1-1 0-0 1 0 2 Jones 16 2-5 3-4 2 1 7 McKinney 11 0-0 0-0 4 2 0 Plaisance 15 2-2 1-4 1 1 5 Boykin 5 2-2 0-0 1 0 4 TOTALS 200 20-37 12-16 35 12 57 Halftime–LSU 33, Auburn 26. 3-Point Goals–Auburn 3-18 (Glumph 2-9, Ouardad 1-3, Alverson … Continue reading →

SEC Men’s standings

SEC men’s standings Conference All games W L Pct. W L Pct. Kentucky 12 0 1.000 26 1 .963 Florida 9 3 .750 21 6 .778 Vanderbilt 8 4 .667 19 8 .704 Mississippi St. 6 5 .545 19 7 .731 Alabama 6 6 .500 17 9 .654 LSU 6 6 .500 16 10 .615 Continue reading →

SEC women standings

SEC women standings Conference All games W L Pct. W L Pct. Tennessee 11 3 .786 20 7 .741 Kentucky 10 3 .769 21 5 .808 Arkansas 9 5 .643 20 6 .769 S. Carolina 9 5 .643 20 7 .741 Georgia 9 5 .643 20 7 .741 LSU 9 5 .643 19 8 .704 Vanderbilt 8 5 .615 20 6 .769 Continue reading →

Time Out: Scott Rabalais for Feb. 20, 2012

Nobody is talking about waking up the echoes of 2006 just yet, that unparalleled season when the LSU men’s and women’s basketball teams reached their respective Final Fours. No one is making that much of a mark on the face of programs shaped by Pistol Pete and Shaq and Seimone Augustus that they’re going to have … Continue reading →

Lady Tigers tennis wins at San Diego

The LSU women’s tennis team (4-2) won its third consecutive match this season, this one 4-3 over San Diego (1-5) when Ebie Wilson won a third-set tiebreaker on the deciding court Sunday at the Hogan Tennis Center. Olivia Howlett and Yvette Vlaar started things with an 8-1 win over Cara Brown and … Continue reading →

LSU romps by Alcorn St., 19-0

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER  LSU's Ryan Eades pitches at the beginning of their game against Alcorn State Saturday night.  MAGS OUT / INTERNET OUT/ONLINE OUT/NO SALES/TV OUT/FOREIGN OUT/ LOUISIANA BUSINESS INC./GREATER BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT/225/10/12/IN REGISTER/LBI CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS/ Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER    MAGS OUT / INTERNET OUT/ONLINE OUT/NO SALES/TV OUT/FOREIGN OUT/ LOUISIANA BUSINESS INC./GREATER BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT/225/10/12/IN REGISTER/LBI CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS/

LSU’s second baseball game of the season was a lot like its first game as the Tigers took advantage of its opponent’s generosity to build a big early lead and coast to victory. On Saturday, eighth-ranked LSU scored three unearned runs in the first, built an 11-0 lead after three and cruised to a 19-0 rout of Alcorn State in Alex Box Stadium. Continue reading →

LSU rides defense to 4-game streak

Advocate staff photo by PATRICK DENNIS.   LSU's LaSondra Barrett (55) steals the ball from Alabama's Kyra Crosby (21) in the first half of LSU Lady Tigers'  84-40 win over Alabama Sunday in the LSU Pete Maravich Assembly Center.   MAGS OUT / INTERNET OUT/ONLINE OUT/NO SALES/TV OUT/FOREIGN OUT/ LOUISIANA BUSINESS INC./GREATER BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT/225/10/12/IN REGISTER/LBI CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS OUT/

From its record-tying five straight runs to the NCAA Women’s Final Four through the lean times last season, there has been one constant for the LSU Lady Tigers: D-E-F-E-N-S-E. In years past, it was a sticky half-court man-to-man. Now, under first-year coach Nikki Caldwell, the defensive template is a 2-3 matchup zone. “The thing about … Continue reading →

Mainieri gets view from third

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER LSU's Raph Rhymes and Mason Katz greet Beau Didier at home plate after Didier hit a home run Saturday night against Alcorn State in Alex Box Stadium.

One change in the LSU lineup that wasn’t publicly expected before opening night was the insertion of head coach Paul Mainieri into the coach’s box at third base. When the Tigers opened the season against Air Force on Friday night, Mainieri was in the box at third place instead of hitting coach Javi Sanchez. Continue reading →

Staying hot

Associated Press photo by TRACY GLANTZLSU's Storm Warren defends against South Carolina's Anthony Gill during the first half Saturday in Columbia, S.C.

Three weeks ago, the LSU men’s basketball team saw its season reach a low point as the Tigers got hammered at home by No. 1-ranked Kentucky. Since then, the Tigers’ season has seen an improbable turnaround. LSU has won four of its last five, capped by the season’s first Southeastern Conference … Continue reading →

LSU-Alcorn baseball box score for Feb. 19, 2012 

LSU 19, Alcorn State 0 Alcorn State (1-1) LSU (2-0) ab r h bi ab r h bi Jackson cf 3 0 0 0 Hanover 3b 2 1 1 0 Taylor cf 1 0 0 0 Powell 3b 2 1 1 0 Powell rf 3 0 1 0 Yocum 2b 3 1 0 0 Barney rf 1 0 0 0 Didier ss 2 2 1 2 Gonzlz 1b 3 0 1 0 Rhymes lf 3 2 2 2 Perales 1b 1 0 0 0 Fields rf 2 0 0 0 Warren dh 3 0 0 0 Katz rf 2 1 1 4 Boston ph 1 0 1 0 Foster rf 1 1 1 3 Butler lf 2 0 0 0 Jones cf 3 1 2 2 Griffith lf 0 0 0 0 Scmbra cf 3 1 1 2 Rosa ss 2 0 0 0 Nola ss 2 1 0 1 Hickmn ss 2 0 0 0 Slaid lf 1 0 0 0 Morles 2b 2 0 1 0 Moore 1b 5 1 1 0 Piper 2b 2 0 0 0 Ross c 4 2 2 1 Akins 3b 3 0 1 0 Snikeris 1 1 0 0 Loupe c 1 0 0 0 Dozar … Continue reading →

LSU softball team rebounds after defeat

LAS VEGAS — After losing 3-1 to DePaul, the LSU softball team responded Saturday by routing Cal State Northridge 11-0 in five innings in the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic at Eller Media Stadium on the UNLV campus. “I was a little disappointed in how we came out against DePaul,” LSU coach Beth Torina said in … Continue reading →

LSU report

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The LSU men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams ended the 2012 SEC Championship in fifth place and with seven medal performers. Auburn won its 16th straight SEC men’s title, while Georgia claimed its third straight women’s crown. The LSU men finished in the top five in back-to-back seasons … Continue reading →

LSU-South Carolina men’s box score

LSU 68, South Carolina 58 LSU (16-10, 6-6 SEC) M FG-A FT-A R F TP Warren 25 6-10 0-1 8 1 12 Hamilton 33 5-8 88 5 3 18 Hickey 35 3-7 2-4 6 0 10 Stringer 38 2-8 5-8 3 2 9 Turner 29 35- 0-0 2 5 9 O’Bryant 16 4-9 0-0 7 3 8 Bass 7 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 White 3 0-0 0-0 2 0 0 Ludwig 3 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 Isaac 11 1-1 0-0 0 3 2 TOTALS 200 24-49 15-21 35 17 68 South Carolina (10-16, 2-10 SEC) M FG-A FT-A R F TP Cooke 25 5-11 4-7 2 3 17 Harris 30 2-4 4-4 4 4 8 Slawson 17 1-3 1-2 3 1 3 Ellington 31 3-12 0-0 7 4 6 Leonard 21 2-5 0-0 0 1 4 Williams 19 3-5 0-0 1 2 6 Smith 8 0-0 2-2 1 1 2 Gill 29 3-4 2-4 4 0 9 Jackson 19 1-3 1-2 1 1 3 TOTALS 200 20-47 14-21 23 17 58 Halftime–LSU 25, South Carolina 22. 3-Point Goals–LSU 5-10 (Turner 3-4, Hickey … Continue reading →

TIGERS WIN TRI-MEET: In Seattle, the 13th-ranked LSU gymnastics team earned the second-highest score of the season with a 196.450 to capture the tri-meet against No. 23 Washington and Seattle Pacific on Friday night in Alaska Airlines Arena. Washington finished second with a 194.975, and Seattle Pacific was third at 190.800. Freshman Rheagan Courville … Continue reading →

Tigers shoot for road win

Advocate staff photo by BILL FEIG LSU head coach Trent Johnson has a word with LSU guard Anthony Hickey (1) during the first half.

Moments after Anthony Hickey beat Mississippi State with a last-second floater Tuesday night, the LSU men’s basketball team painted a gold-clad scene rife with smiling faces, chest-bumping teammates and hugs all around. The Tigers had completed a comeback from 17 down late in the first half to secure their first winning streak of the Southeastern Conference season. Will the celebration from Tuesday’s postgame become the image associated with a late-season charge? Continue reading →

LSU set to face DePaul, Cal State Northridge

The LSU softball team hits the road for the first time this season at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas. The Tigers had their Wednesday game against Florida State rescheduled to April 17 because of rain. LSU (2-2) faces DePaul at 11 a.m. Saturday at 11 a.m. CST and Cal State Northridge at 1:15 p.m. … Continue reading →

Hinton shines for LSU track at Twilight Meet

LSU sophomore Denise Hinton warmed up for next week’s Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships by shattering her own school record in the 20-pound weight throw in the LSU Twilight Meet on Friday. Hinton produced a winning mark of 68 feet, 31/4 inches on her fifth of six throws to highlight action in the meet at … Continue reading →