Tigers blast Fordham, 12-1
Michael Papierski had two hits, including a three-run homer, and Jared Poche threw seven shutout innings as LSU defeated Fordham 12-1 in the opener of their three-game series Friday night at The Box.
HOW THEY SCORED
LSU fourth inning – Antoine Duplantis singled. After Beau Jordan fouled out to the catcher, Duplantis went to third on a hit-and-run single by Bryce Jordan. Papierski hit a three-run homer over the rightfield fence. After Greg Deichmann grounded out to the first baseman, O’Neal Lochridge reached on an error by shortstop Joseph DeVito. Cole Freeman singled. Both runners moved up a base on a balk by Greg Weissert. Lochridge scored on a wild pitch by Weissert. LSU 4, FORDHAM 0
LSU sixth inning – Bryce Jordan walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Ryan Remo. Papierski singled with Bryce Jordan going to third. Papierski moved to second on a wild pitch by Remo. After Deichmann flied out to the leftfielder, Bryce Jordan scored on a single by Chris Reid. A walk to Freeman loaded the bases. Papierski scored on a walk to Kramer Robertson. Jake Fraley popped out to the second baseman. Reid, Freeman and Robertson scored when rightfielder Mark Donadio missed Duplantis’ fly ball. LSU 9, FORDHAM 0
LSU seventh inning – Bryce Jordan and pinch-hitter Brody Wofford singled. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch by Jake Bernardo. Bryce Jordan scored on a wild pitch by Bernardo. Wofford also scored on a throwing error by catcher Pat Gardner on the play. LSU 11, FORDHAM 0
Fordham eighth inning – Donadio singled. After Gardner flied out to the centerfielder and Luke Stempfl popped out the first baseman, pinch-hitter Reiss Knehr walked. Donadio scored on a single by DeVito. LSU 11, FORDHAM 1
LSU eighth inning – Jordan Romero hit a home run over the leftfield fence. LSU 12, FORDHAM 1
LSU MISSED SCORING OPPORTUNITIES
First inning – With two out, Duplantis walked and stole second. Beau Jordan flied out to the centerfielder.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Papierski, who came into the game with four hits and one RBI for the season, broke a scoreless tie with a long three-run homer in the fourth. The ball traveled 415 feet. Papierski, who went 2-for-3 before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh, singled and scored a run in the sixth. Papierski also threw out a runner trying to advance to second base on a pitch in the dirt.
Papierski’s comments: “Me and (hitting coach) Andy (Cannizaro) changed a few things with my hands (Thursday) in the cages. I hit again last night. I felt really comfortable at the plate even when I popped up on my first at-bat. We had 11 hits as a team, so everybody was hitting today. I don’t think Poche struggled. He gave up no runs. Not everybody is going to have his ‘A’ game every day. He made pitches when he had to make them.”
ABOUT THE HITTERS
Bryce Jordan was the only player besides Papierski to have a multiple-hit game. Bryce Jordan had two singles and scored three runs. . .Duplantis extended his hitting streak to nine games with a fourth-inning single. . .Beau Jordan, Deichmann and Lochridge were the only starters not to get a hit. . .Three reserves picked up hits – Romero, Wofford and Reid. Romero’s homer was his second of the year. Reid’s hit was his first of the season. . .LSU stranded five runners – three in scoring position. The Tigers were 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
ABOUT THE PITCHERS
Poche did not allow a run in his seven innings, but he was far from dominating. Poche gave up eight hits, walked two and hit a batter. Poche, who struck out five, retired the side in order in just one inning. Poche stranded five runners in scoring position and Robertson threw a runner out at the plate after making a diving stop in shallow leftfield on a single by Ryan McNally in the fifth. Poche got Donadio to fly out to centerfield with runners at second and third and two out in the third. He struck out Matthew Kozuch with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh. . .Russell Reynolds allowed two hits and a run in the eighth. . .Cole McKay threw a scoreless ninth, but he walked two batters and threw a wild pitch. LSU pitchers walked five and struck out six.
NOTES
LSU used the same starting lineup as the Nicholls State game. Bryce Jordan was at first base and Deichmann was the designated hitter. . .Reid replaced Lochridge at third base in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the fourth, the Fordham shortstop DeVito dropped Lochridge’s pop up in shallow leftfield. Lochridge did not make second base on the error. Both Cannizaro and head coach Paul Mainieri were not happy with Lochridge’s effort. . .LSU used three catchers – Papierski, Bryce Jordan and Trent Forshag. . .Robertson made one error in six chances at shortstop. He made a couple of very good defensive plays as did Freeman at second base. . .McNally and DeVito each had two of Fordham’s ten hits. . .The starting pitcher Weissert gave up four runs and six hits in five innings. . .Fordham stranded 13 runners – seven in scoring position. The Rams were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position. . .Poche became the fourth pitcher to win 20 games with Mainieri as Tigers coach. The other three were Aaron Nola (30), Louis Coleman (24) and Jared Bradford (20). . .LSU is 7-2, while Fordham is 3-5. . .The paid attendance was 10,528. The actual crowd was about 6,100.
FROM THE CLUBHOUSE
Coach Paul Mainieri’s comments: “It was good to see Michael Papierski turn on the ball like that. Everybody was so excited for him. We have got to get him going at the plate. He has hit in some tough luck, but he also been getting himself out. Jared Poche always finds a way to get out of trouble. That’s how he is. He gets in trouble a lot and finds a way to wiggle out of it.”
UP NEXT
LSU will play host to Fordham at The Box in a split doubleheader Saturday. The two games are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m Central. John Valek (2-0) will be the starting pitcher in the afternoon game, while Alex Lange (1-0) will be the starting pitcher in the night game. Both LSU-Fordham games will be broadcast on SEC Network+.