The Tigers are home for a full weekend at The Box hosting Virginia Tech, Toledo, and Texas Southern on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday respectively. Each of those teams will face each other in Alex Box beginning with Toledo and Texas Southern going head to head on Friday at noon. Saturday’s day game will feature Virginia Tech and Texas Southern, and the Sunday morning game will be Toledo and Virginia Tech at 11am. LSU will face Virginia Tech on Friday at 7:00pm, Toledo on Saturday night at 6:00pm, and Texas Southern on Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm. This will be my shortest preview yet for each team, due to the single game tournament style of the weekend. Starting next week, we will have the traditional 3 game weekend series, which will provide some stability to the schedule and previews. Again, it is still early, but I will be using 2014 stats, except where otherwise noted.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Record: 1-1 (2013: 40-22)
Conference: 0-0 ACC (2013: 15-14)
Non-Conf: 1-1 (2013: 20-5)
Home: 0-0 (2013: 19-11)
Road: 0-1 (2013: 13-8)
Neutral: 1-0 (2013: 8-3)
Overview:
A year ago, Virginia Tech was one of 16 regional hosts, paired with the nationally seeded Baton Rouge regional. Unfortunately for the Hokies, they never got their shot at the Tigers after losing to Jonathan Gray's Oklahoma Sooners in the regional title game. Eight short months later, Virginia Tech’s head coach is now over in the Oklahoma dugout and former Associate HC Patrick Mason has taken over as the lead man for VT. Coach Mason has his work cut out for him though, after losing several key pieces to both the rotation and lineup. The other conference coaches took notice to those losses as Virginia Tech was predicted to finish 6th out of 7 teams in their division and 3rd to last in the newly expanded ACC. Even with those losses, they return several very talented players, whom I will highlight below. I expect the Hokies to give LSU one of their toughest tests of the pre-conference schedule.
(LSU numbers in parentheses)
RPI: 102 (10)
vs Top 25: 0-0 (2-0)
vs Top 50: 0-0 (2-0)
vs Top 100: 0-1 (2-0)
Avg runs scored/game: 5.0 (5.5)
Avg runs allowed/game: 3.5 (1.8)
Starting Pitching:
Team ERA: 3.71 (1.25)
LSU sends out ace Aaron Nola to face the weekend’s strongest opponent. Virginia Tech is expected throw senior righty Brad Markey on Friday night. Markey enters the game with a 1-0 record after throwing 6 innings last Saturday against Delaware. In 2013, he started 15 games throwing over 100 innings while walking only 21 and striking out 75. He recorded a 4.93 ERA and 5 wins with 4 losses. Markey is a strike thrower who features a cut fastball and a plus curve.
Friday's Pitching Matchup:
Jr. RHP Aaron Nola (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, .190 OBA)
Sr. RHP Brad Markey (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, .250 OBA)
Relief Pitching:
The Hokie bullpen lost a bunch of arms from last season. Some guys that you might see are Luis Collazo (So. LHP, no app.), Tanner McIntyre (Sr. RHP, no app.), Sean Kennedy (So. LHP, 1.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 H, 2 K), and Kit Scheetz (Fr. LHP, 6.1 IP, 2.84 ERA, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K).
Offense: (LSU numbers in parentheses)
Team BA: .242 (.289)
Team OBP: .383 (.369)
Team SLG: .333 (.370)
Virginia Tech is led at the plate by preseason second team All-American Mark Zagunis. Once a Freshman All-American, the now junior catcher is off to a slow start with a 1 for 8 start at the plate in 2 games, but is a big threat in all phases of the game. Zagunis hit for a .341 average last year with a .976 OPS, 9 home runs, and 19 stolen bases in 24 attempts. The other key returning position player is Sean Keselica. This junior two-way player can be found at 1st base or the mound. Keselica hit .311 last season with 11 doubles and 5 home runs. One game last season he was the winning pitcher and hit a home run.
Virginia Tech Projected Lineup:
1) CF- Saige Jenco (.286 avg / 0 HR / 1 RBI)
2) 2B- Alex Perez (.386/0/2)
3) C- Mark Zagunis (.125/0/2)
4) 1B- Sean Keselica (.250/0/1)
5) DH- Brendon Hayden (.375/0/1)
6) LF- Ryan Burns (.143/0/0)
7) RF- Tom Stoffel (200/0/1)
8) SS- Matt Dauby (.500/0/1)
9) 3B- Ricky Surum (.333/0/0)
Defense:
The Hokies’s fielding percentage is a perfect 1.000 so far in 2014 having not committed an error in either game. LSU is fielding .987 with 2 errors so far this season.
Season Stats
Roster
Schedule (via Warren Nolan)
Media Coverage:
TV – CST
Radio – 98.1 FM (check local listings for your LSU sports radio network affiliate)
PREDICTION: Tigers jump out early, the Hokies threaten late, and the Tigers hold on late to save another strong Nola outing. VT 2, LSU 4
Toledo Rockets
Record: 1-2 (2013: 25-33)
Conference: 0-0 MAC (2013: 13-14)
Non-Conf: 1-2 (2013: 9-17)
Home: 0-0 (2013: 7-9)
Road: 0-1 (2013: 11-20)
Neutral: 1-1 (2013: 7-4)
Overview:
Toledo is not what one would call a storied program. They have never won a conference championship nor been to an NCAA regional. Yet, there has been steady improvement under 11th year coach Cory Mee. The Rockets are projected to finish 4th in the Mid-American Conference this year and 3rd in their division. Toledo should be a much improved team in 2014. They return 2/3rds of the weekend rotation plus their midweek starter. The Rockets have a roster full of upper classmen and return some key bats also. With those guys back, Toledo will contend for their first ever MAC title. The Rockets have 1 win and 2 losses on the young season and will not play a game in their home stadium until March 25th.
(LSU numbers in parentheses)
RPI: 93 (10)
vs Top 25: 0-0 (2-0)
vs Top 50: 0-1 (2-0)
vs Top 100: 0-2 (2-0)
Avg runs scored/game: 6.7 (5.5)
Avg runs allowed/game: 7.3 (1.8)
Starting Pitching:
Team ERA: 6.23 (1.25)
LSU will use the same rotation as a week ago, which sends out lefty Kyle Bouman on Saturday. Toledo will likely counter with RHP Cameron Palmer. Palmer is a senior spending his second season as a weekend starter. He logged 74.1 innings over 11 starts (15 app.) recording a 4-5 record and a 3.87 earned run average. Opponents hit for a .275 average against Palmer in 2013. Palmer recorded the team’s lone win last weekend beating Northfolk State after throwing 5 innings and allowing 4 hits and just 1 run. The staff ace is Ryan Wilkinson, who could make a surprise start (call it a hunch).
Saturday's Pitching Matchup:
Jr. LHP Kyle Bouman (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, .167 OBA)
Sr. RHP Cameron Palmer (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, .211 OBA)
Relief Pitching:
In addition to their starters, Toledo also returns a lot of experienced bullpen arms along with a few talented young guys. Some arms we could see on Saturday night include: Trever Gast (Sr. LHP, no appearances, out 2013 w/ injury); Andrew Marra (Jr. RHP, 2.0 IP, 4.50 ERA); Kevin Kline (So. RHP, 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA); Caleb Schillace (So. RHP, 1.2 IP, 21.60 ERA).
Offense: (LSU numbers in parentheses)
Team BA: .286 (.289)
Team OBP: .395 (.369)
Team SLG: .362 (.370)
Toledo is lead at the plate by All-MAC outfielder Tyler Grogg. He was the leading hitter for the Rockets last year with a .355 average and a .444 on base percentage. He is also stole a school record 36 of 40 bases last year. Another player to watch is shortstop Deion Tansel, who is off to a hot start in 2014 batting .417 so far. Tansel can flash the leather, hit for average, and steal at any time on the bases. Grogg and Tansel are both quality athletes that Tiger fans should keep an eye on this weekend. Senior James Miglin is a 3rd year starter at catcher, who will bat in the middle of the lineup and can provide some power at times.
Toledo Projected Lineup:
1) LF- Tyler Grogg (.200 avg / 0 HR / 2 RBI)
2) SS- Deion Tansel (.417/0/1)
3) 3B- Dan Zuchowski (.400/0/3)
4) C- James Miglin (.182/0/2)
5) 1B- Tyler Baar (.333/0/2)
6) CF- John Martillotta (.222/0/2)
7) DH- Jacob North (.455/0/2)
8) RF- Jacob Britt (.300/0/2)
9) 2B- Zack Michael (.500/0/0)
Defense:
The Rockets’ fielding percentage is a pitiful .926 so far in 2014 committing 9 errors in 3 games. LSU is fielding .987 with 2 errors so far this season.
Season Stats
Roster
Schedule (via Warren Nolan)
Media Coverage:
TV – None
Radio – 100.7 FM (check local listings for your LSU sports radio network affiliate)
PREDICTION: Tigers start slow but break out the 2nd and 3rd time through the lineup and don’t look back.Toledo 3, LSU 8
Texas Southern Tigers
Record: 2-3 (2013: 20-29)
Conference: 0-0 SWAC (2013: 12-12)
Non-Conf: 2-3 (2013: 6-15)
Home: 0-0 (2013: 4-5)
Road: 1-2 (2013: 8-19)
Neutral: 1-1 (2013: 8-5)
Overview:
Texas Southern last made the NCAA tournament in 2008 and is not expected to make any noise in the SWAC again this year. They lost most of their lineup, which was not very productive anyway. While they return a couple starting pitchers, they lose several key bullpen guys. It will be a long season for the 2014 Tigers of Texas Southern, who I doubt will match their .500 conference record from a year ago. TSU looks to be overmatched in all phases of this Sunday matchup with LSU.
(LSU numbers in parentheses)
RPI: 93(10)
vs Top 25: 0-0 (2-0)
vs Top 50: 1-3 (2-0)
vs Top 100: 1-3 (2-0)
Avg runs scored/game: 2.8 (5.5)
Avg runs allowed/game: 4.4 (1.8)
Starting Pitching:
Team ERA: 6.23 (1.25)
TSU returns their best two starting pitchers from last year, statistically speaking. The kicker is that one of those 2 guys is not being used as a starter. That guy is Robert Pearson (3.0 IP, 3 H, 0.00 ERA) who we may see in relief. LSU sends back out freshman Jared Poché who pitched 6 shutout innings in his collegiate debut against SWAC member Grambling State. Texas Southern is scheduled to counter with junior right hander Devin Kanorik who threw 6 innings last Sunday without allowing a South Dakota State base hit.
Sunday's Pitching Matchup:
Fr. LHP Jared Poché (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, .190 OBA)
Jr. RHP Devin Kanorik (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, .000 OBA)
Relief Pitching:
I expect LSU to see a number of different relievers in this game. The starters could hold their own, but Toledo and Virginia Tech will put up some runs against this bullpen, paving way for LSU to see some weaker pitching on Sunday. The main guys out of the pen for TSU are Rios Ryan (1-0, 1.59 ERA, 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, .250 OBA); Jamell Blue (0.00 ERA, 3.1 IP, 1 H, .091 OBA); and Robert Pearson (0.00 ERA, 3 IP, 3 H, .273 OBA).
Offense: (LSU numbers in parentheses)
Team BA: .205 (.289)
Team OBP: .281 (.369)
Team SLG: .248 (.370)
Texas Southern’s offense was not very successful last year, and they lost their best hitter. So far this season they don’t have much to brag about either, as they have scored only 2.8 runs per game with a .205 team batting average. In 2014, their best overall bat is found in outfielder Jerry Ford II, who has a couple hits in each of last few games. Ford was named to the preseason SWAC All-Conference team. Shortstop Robert Garza is a good ballplayer who can knock the ball around the park. Aside from those guys, not too much to talk about in the TSU lineup.
Texas Southern Projected Lineup:
1) CF- Marquis Webb (.417/0/2)
2) SS- Robert Garza (.294/0/0)
3) CF- Zach Welz (.214 avg / 0 HR / 1 RBI)
4) DH- Jerry Ford II (.353/0/1)
5) LF- Samuel Terry (.250/0/1)
6) 1B- Chris Lopez (.154/0/0)
7) DH- Sayvon O’Neal (.091/0/1)
8) C- Andrew Garza (.000/0/1)
9) 2B- Chris DeLeon (.091/0/1)
Defense:
TSU is fielding percentage .963 so far in 2014 committing 7 errors in 5 games. LSU is fielding .987 with 2 errors so far this season.
Season Stats
Roster
Schedule (via Warren Nolan)
Media Coverage:
TV – None
Radio – 98.1 FM (check local listings for your LSU sports radio network affiliate)
PREDICTION: LSU is a far superior team. Another great matchup for Poché’s young career, and I think he and the Fighting Tigers cruise to a comfortable victory to cap a weekend sweep. TSU 0, LSU 9
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