The Tigers have a pulse.
LSU (29-21, 9-15) got a desperately-needed sweep over lowly South Carolina (22-28, 7-17) to at least keep the Tigers’ postseason aspirations alive for another week. While LSU’s NCAA Tournament outlook is cloudy at best, one can’t help but think the future is bright thanks to some blossoming freshmen.
Saturday (Game 1): LSU 6, South Carolina 1
William Schmidt had arguably the best outing of his career in Game 1 of a Saturday doubleheader. Thanks to Casan Evans recovering from arm discomfort, Schmidt led off a series for the first time and pitched a brilliant six innings of one-run ball. Schmidt allowed just five hits over the course of six innings and, most importantly, only walked one batter against seven strikeouts.
“William did a great job today in controlling the count,” Johnson said. “When he got behind, he was able to come back, get some swings, and get some weak contact.”
LSU small-balled its way to the series opening win. Of the eight hits produced by the offense, only one went for extra bases. Derek Curiel had a run-producing groundout in the first inning that tied the game 1-1, and Cade Arrambide drove in LSU’s sixth and final run off of a fielder’s choice.
Grant Fontenot got LSU home, pitching the final three innings of game one and earning his third save of 2026 along the way. Fontenot only allowed one hit and struck out four.
Saturday (Game 2): LSU 7, South Carolina 3
Freshman righty Marcos Paz made his first ever weekend start and made the most of his opportunity, going a career-best five innings of one-hit ball, and eight strikeouts versus three walks. Paz earned his first career win as a collegiate pitcher, and it is certainly going to be the first of many.
“Marcos was outstanding today and gave us a tremendous start,” Johnson said. “That’s what is going to happen here for the next three years with him. He’s got his arm back up and re-booted following Tommy John surgery, and he gave us exactly what we needed today.”
True freshmen Mason Braun and Omar Serna have been batting 1-2 in LSU’s lineup lately and they continued to show why against the Gamecocks. In the fourth inning, Braun obliterated a tw0-run homer to right field that went 386 feet and was clocked at 104 MPH off the bat; meanwhile Serna went 3-4 with a double and an RBI.
Not to be outdone by the freshmen, Cade Arrambide also had himself a three-hit game, and also smoked a home run, this one being a 401 shot off the scoreboard. It was Arrambide’s 14th home run of the season.
Just like in game one, LSU only needed one bullpen arm to finish off South Carolina, this time it was Devin Sheerin who ended the game. Sheerin pitched the final four innings, earning his fourth save of 2026, and while he wasn’t as lights out as Fontenot, he got the final 12 outs and preserved the LSU bullpen.
Sunday: LSU 7, South Carolina0
Having only used four total pitchers to get through two games, LSU turned to Zac Cowan to start Sunday’s game and Cowan had his best outing of the season: six innings, two hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts.
“Zac is a special player, one of my favorite players that I’ve ever coached in my entire career,” Johnson said. “He’s just a winner; it was an important game today, the team needed him to give everything he had, and he did. He really came through and really simplified the game for us.”
LSU got on the board when, once again, Omar Serna launched a two-run home run in the third inning. Serna drove in a third run off of a fielder’s choice in the sixth inning to put LSU up 6-0.
Arrambide had another three-hit day, going 3-4 with an RBI, while William Patrick and Jack Ruckert were productive in the 8-9 spot of the lineup with three combined hits, and three runs scored; Ruckert also had an RBI single in the seventh inning.
LSU sweeping one of the two teams with a worse SEC record than them probably isn’t going to wow the NCAA Tournament committee. At the very least, the Tigers will have to win both of their final two series (@ Georgia, vs. Florida), and they’ll probably have to make some noise in Hoover, too.
As we sit here today, it’s more likely than not LSU will miss the tournament, but don’t tell Jay Johnson that. In fact, he’s got the right attitude after this weekend.
“These were the best games our team has played this season,” Johnson said after Saturday’s doubleheader. “And I’m really proud of our players for playing a really clean brand of baseball with solid fundamentals. We were very team-oriented and reached the standard which we want to operate.”
When it comes to LSU baseball, we’re not used to looking ahead to next season in the first few days of May. But in looking at this core of freshmen and sophomores that were massive this weekend, it’s hard not to think LSU will be right back to contention next season.
- Mason Braun: 2-8, one home run, three RBI, four runs, six walks/one strikeout
- Omar Serna: 5-12, two doubles, one home run, four RBI, five runs, one walk/one strikeout, one HBP
- William Patrick: 4-11, four runs, one walk/three strikeouts
- Jack Ruckert: 2-10, one RBI, one run, one walk/zero strikeouts
That’s four freshmen starting, and four freshmen all producing at various levels. Obviously Patrick and Ruckert haven’t had nearly as many at bats as Braun and Serna, but their playing time will only increase as the season draws to a close. There’s also, of course, at least two more starts for Marcos Paz to make. All of that to say: you are starting to see what is hopefully the nucleus of the next great LSU team.