2018 LSU Tigers baseball team

2018 LSU Tigers baseball
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	39–27 (15–15 SEC)
Head coach	Paul Mainieri (12th season)
Hitting coach	Micah Gibbs (2nd season)
Pitching coach	Alan Dunn (7th season)
Home stadium	Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field

2018 Southeastern Conference baseball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
East Division
No. 3 Florida  x‍†‍‍y	20	–	10		.667			49	–	21		.700
No. 20 Georgia  ‍‍‍y	18	–	12		.600			39	–	21		.650
No. 12 South Carolina ‍‍‍y	17	–	13		.567			37	–	26		.587
No. 16 Vanderbilt  ‍‍‍y	16	–	14		.533			35	–	27		.565
Kentucky  ‍‍‍	13	–	17		.433			34	–	22		.607
Missouri  ‍‍‍	12	–	18		.400			34	–	22		.607
Tennessee  ‍‍‍	12	–	18		.400			29	–	27		.518
West Division
No. 19 Ole Miss  x‍‍‡‍y	18	–	12		.600			48	–	18		.727
No. 2 Arkansas  x‍‍‍y	18	–	12		.600			48	–	21		.696
No. 15 Auburn  ‍‍‍y	15	–	15		.500			43	–	23		.652
LSU  ‍‍‍y	15	–	15		.500			39	–	27		.591
No. 4 Mississippi State  ‍‍‍y	15	–	15		.500			39	–	29		.574
Texas A&M  ‍‍‍y	13	–	17		.433			40	–	22		.645
Alabama  ‍‍‍	8	–	22		.267			27	–	29		.482
x – Division champion † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

The 2018 LSU Tigers baseball team represented Louisiana State University (LSU) during the 2018 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers played their home games at Alex Box Stadium as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They were led by head coach Paul Mainieri, in his 12th season at LSU.

Previous season

In 2017, the Tigers won the SEC's Western Division with a record of 52–20–0, 21–9–0 in conference play. They qualified for the 2017 Southeastern Conference baseball tournament and defeated Arkansas in the final, 4–2. They qualified for the 2017 NCAA Division I baseball tournament as the SEC champion, and were selected as the No. 4 overall national seed. The Tigers were selected as hosts of the Baton Rouge regional, which included Rice, Southeastern Louisiana, and Texas Southern. The Tigers swept through the Regional, defeating Texas Southern, 15–7, Southeastern 11–6, and Rice 5–0 advancing to the Super Regional where they hosted conference rival Mississippi State. After a 4–3 comeback victory in which they trailed 3–0 in the bottom of the eighth inning, LSU beat the Bulldogs 14–4 the following night to advance to their 18th World Series. The Tigers defeated Florida State in their opening game 5–4, but then fell to overall number one seed Oregon State 13–1 placing them on the brink of elimination. The Tigers once again beat Florida State 7–4 to earn the right to face Oregon State once again, needing to win twice. LSU advanced to the finals winning 3–1 then 6–1 eliminating the Beavers. In the championship, LSU faced conference rival Florida. The Tigers lost a close Game 1 4–3 then were defeated 6–1 the following night to finish national runners-up, while the Gators earned their first national championship.

Personnel

Roster

2018 LSU Tigers roster
	Pitchers 10 – Eric Walker – Sophomore 18 – Austin Bain – Senior 21 – Nick Storz – Freshman 26 – AJ Labas – Freshman 27 – Matthew Beck – Sophomore 28 – Devin Fontenot – Freshman 29 – Nick Bush – Sophomore 30 – Trent Vietmeier – Freshman 32 – Taylor Petersen – Junior 35 – Clay Moffitt – Junior 37 – Will Reese – Sophomore 38 – Zach Hess – Sophomore 40 – John Kodros – Freshman 41 – Caleb Gilbert – Junior 43 – Todd Peterson – Sophomore 47 – Brandon Nowak – Junior 49 – Cam Sanders – Junior 52 – Ma'Khail Hilliard – Freshman		Catchers 7 – Hunter Feduccia – Junior 20 – Braden Doughty – Freshman Infielders 3 – Hal Hughes – Freshman 4 – Josh Smith – Sophomore 5 – Jake Slaughter – Sophomore 13 – Nick Coomes – Senior 16 – Brandt Broussard – Junior 17 – Chris Reid – Junior 25 – Bryce Jordan – Junior		Outfielders 2 – Daniel Cabrera – Freshman 8 – Antoine Duplantis – Junior 9 – Zach Watson – Sophomore 23 – Nick Webre – Freshman 24 – Beau Jordan – Senior

Reference:

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at LSU	Alma Mater
Paul Mainieri	Head coach	12	Florida International University (1980)
Alan Dunn	Associate head coach	7	University of Alabama at Birmingham (1991)
Nolan Cain	Assistant coach/recruiting coordinator	5	Louisiana State University (2009)
Micah Gibbs	Director of player development	3	Louisiana State University (2010)
Sean Ochinko	Volunteer Coach/Hitting Coach	1	Louisiana State University (2017)
Travis Roy	Strength and conditioning coordinator	3	Louisiana State University (2012)
Nate Fury	Strength and conditioning coordinator	2	Louisiana State University (2014)
Leon Landry	Undergraduate Assistant Coach	1	Louisiana State University (2010)
Jamie Tutko	Video coordinator	2	Saint Leo University (2011)

Reference:

Schedule

Legend
	LSU win
	LSU loss
Bold	LSU team member

2018 LSU Tigers Game Log
Regular season (33–23)
February (5–4) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record SEC Record February 16 Notre Dame No. 10 Alex Box Stadium Baton Rouge, LA 7–6 Bain (1–0) Vierling (0–1) None 12,844 1–0 – February 17 Notre Dame No. 10 Alex Box Stadium 5–10 Sheehan (1–0) Hess (0–1) Kmet (1) 12,223 1–1 – February 18 Notre Dame No. 10 Alex Box Stadium 3–11 Boyle (1–0) Peterson (0–1) Belcik (1) 10,384 1–2 – February 21 New Orleans No. 15 Alex Box Stadium 14–6 Hilliard (1–0) Griffin (0–1) None 10,154 2–2 – February 23 No. 19 Texas No. 15 Alex Box Stadium 13–4 Hess (1–1) Kingham (1–1) None 11,102 3–2 – February 24 No. 19 Texas No. 15 Alex Box Stadium 10–5 Beck (1–0) Elder (1–1) None 12,038 4–2 – February 25 No. 19 Texas No. 15 Alex Box Stadium 1–11 Henley (1–0) Peterson (0–2) None 10,762 4–3 – February 27 Grambling State No. 14 Alex Box Stadium 10–3 Hilliard (2–0) Escano (0–1) None 10,262 5–3 – February 28 at Southeastern LA No. 14 Pat Kenelly Diamond Hammond, LA 4–5 Koestler (2–0) Peterson (0–3) Tassin (2) 3,101 5–4 –
March (13–7) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record SEC Record March 2 Toledo No. 14 Alex Box Stadium 8–1 Hess (2–1) Jacob (0–2) None 10,346 6–4 – March 3 Sacred Heart No. 14 Alex Box Stadium 7–0 Gilbert (1–0) Taubl (0–2) None 11,007 7–4 – March 4 Southeastern LA No. 14 Alex Box Stadium 4–2 Hilliard (3–0) Granier (1–1) Bain (1) 10,990 8–4 – March 6 Southern No. 13 Alex Box Stadium 8–2 Sanders (1–0) Snyder (1–2) Peterson (1) 9,924 9–4 – March 7 at Louisiana No. 13 M. L. Tigue Moore Field Lafayette, LA 3–410 Stoelke (1–0) Bain (0–1) None 5,499 9–5 – March 9 Hawaii No. 13 Alex Box Stadium 2–4 Rees (2–0) Hess (2–2) Thomas (5) 10,686 9–6 – March 10 Hawaii No. 13 Alex Box Stadium 5–1 Gilbert (2–0) DeMiero (1–1) None 10,866 10–6 – March 11 Hawaii No. 13 Alex Box Stadium 14–1 Hilliard (4–0) Pouelsen (2–1) None 10,334 11–6 – March 14 South Alabama No. 16 Alex Box Stadium 9–4 Labas (1–0) Yarborough (1–1) None 10,456 12–6 – March 16 No. 24 Missouri No. 16 Alex Box Stadium 4–2 Hess (3–2) Montes (3–1) Bain (2) 10,334 13–6 1–0 March 17 No. 24 Missouri No. 16 Alex Box Stadium 6–12 Plassmeyer (3–0) Gilbert (2–1) None 10,747 13–7 1–1 March 18 No. 24 Missouri No. 16 Alex Box Stadium 7–5 Hilliard (5–0) Toelken (2–2) None 10,141 14–7 2–1 March 21 Tulane No. 15 Alex Box Stadium 10–4 Labas (2–0) Solesky (1–2) None 10,319 15–7 – March 23 at No. 5 Vanderbilt No. 15 Hawkins Field Nashville, TN 2–4 Fellows (4–0) Hess (3–3) King (2) 3,136 15–8 2–2 March 24 at No. 5 Vanderbilt No. 15 Hawkins Field 6–2[a] Gilbert (3–1) Raby (2–3) None 3,211 16–8 3–2 March 25 at No. 5 Vanderbilt No. 15 Hawkins Field 0–17 Hickman (5–0) Hilliard (4–1) None 3,399 16–9 3–3 March 27 vs.Louisiana No. 19 Shrine on Airline Metairie, LA 1–3 Harris (1–1) Labas (2–1) Stoelke (6) 8,732 16–10 – March 29 Mississippi State No. 19 Alex Box Stadium 10–1 Hess (4–3) Pilkington (1–4) None 10,532 17–10 4–3 March 30 Mississippi State No. 19 Alex Box Stadium 1–4 Small (2–2) Gilbert (3–2) Gordon (2) 11,132 17–11 4–4 March 31 Mississippi State No. 19 Alex Box Stadium 4–0 Hilliard (6–1) Billingsley (2–2) Bush (1) 11,133 18–11 5–4 ^[a] The game was suspended during the eighth inning due to rain and continued at 10:00 a.m. on March 25 prior to the start of the game scheduled for that day.
April (8–8) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record SEC Record April 3 Nicholls State No. 21 Alex Box Stadium 10–1 Labas (3–1) Taylor (2–4) None 11,258 19–11 – April 5 at Texas A&M No. 21 Olsen Field College Station, TX 4–1 Hess (5–3) Kolek (3–4) None 4,818 20–11 6–4 April 6 at Texas A&M No. 21 Olsen Field 2–9 Doxakis (5–1) Gilbert (3–3) None 5,761 20–12 6–5 April 7 at Texas A&M No. 21 Olsen Field 1–3 Kilkenny (7–0) Hilliard (6–2) None 6,288 20–13 6–6 April 10 Louisiana Tech No. 23 Alex Box Stadium 2–0 Labas (4–1) Leal (2–2) Bain (3) 10,647 21–13 – April 13 Tennessee No. 23 Alex Box Stadium 9–3 Hess (6–3) Crochet (2–5) None 10,848 22–13 7–6 April 14 Tennessee No. 23 Alex Box Stadium 14–5 Hilliard (7–2) Stallings (4–3) Gilbert (1) 10,578 23–13 8–6 April 15 Tennessee No. 23 Alex Box Stadium 9–7 Petersen (1–0) Linginfelter (2–4) None 10,451 24–13 9–6 April 18 at Tulane No. 18 Turchin Stadium New Orleans, LA 9–10 Johnson (2–2) Beck (1–1) None 5,000 24–14 – April 20 at South Carolina No. 18 Founders Park Columbia, SC 0–11 Chapman (3–0) Hess (6–4) None 6,952 24–15 9–7 April 21 at South Carolina No. 18 Founders Park 4–11 Hill (4–4) Hilliard (7–3) None 7,982 24–16 9–8 April 22 at South Carolina No. 18 Founders Park 6–8 Demurias (4–0) Bain (1–2) Bridges (2) 7,141 24–17 9–9 April 24 Lamar Alex Box Stadium 8–0 Labas (1–1) Campbell (1–7) None 10,027 25–17 – April 26 at No. 8 Ole Miss Swayze Field Oxford, MS 3–14 Rolison (6–3) Kodros (0–1) None 8,062 25–18 9–10 April 27 at No. 8 Ole Miss Swayze Field 5–2 Hilliard (8–3) Feigl (7–3) None 11,861 26–18 10–10 April 28 at No. 8 Ole Miss Swayze Field 8–9 Ethridge (2–1) Gilbert (3–4) Caracci (8) 12,152 26–19 10–11
May (7–4) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record SEC Record May 4 No. 6 Arkansas Alex Box Stadium 4–5 Loseke (2–1) Bush (0–1) Reindl (5) 10,776 26–20 10–12 May 5 No. 6 Arkansas Alex Box Stadium 6–4 Fontenot (1–0) Murphy (5–4) Peterson (2) 10,948 27–20 11–12 May 6 No. 6 Arkansas Alex Box Stadium 7–5 Labas (6–1) Campbell (3–5) Beck (1) 10,932 28–20 12–12 May 9 McNeese State Alex Box Stadium 13–37 Vietmeier (1–0) Wesley (3–4) None 10,436 29–20 – May 11 Alabama Alex Box Stadium 7–5 Kodros (1–1) Medders (0–4) Peterson (3) 10,685 30–20 13–12 May 12 Alabama Alex Box Stadium 1–6 Walters (3–5) Hilliard (8–4) None 11,153 30–21 13–13 May 13 Alabama Alex Box Stadium 7–3 Bush (1–1) Rukes (1–3) None 10,758 31–21 14–13 May 15 Northwestern State No. 28 Alex Box Stadium 9–5 Beck (2–1) Pigott (1–1) Bain (4) 10,872 32–21 – May 17 at Auburn No. 28 Plainsman Park Auburn, AL 4–11 Tanner (5–4) Hess (6–5) Greenhill (5) 2,988 32–22 14–14 May 18 at Auburn No. 28 Plainsman Park 6–2 Hilliard (9–4) Mize (9–4) Peterson (4) 3,746 33–22 15–14 May 19 at Auburn No. 28 Plainsman Park 5–14 Mitchell (2–1) Labas (6–2) None 3,568 33–23 15–15
Postseason (6–4)
SEC Tournament Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SECT Record May 22 vs. (9) Mississippi State (8) Metropolitan Stadium Hoover, AL 8–5 Fontenot (2–0) France (4–4) Peterson (5) 8,072 34–23 1–0 May 23 vs. No. 2 (1) Florida (8) Metropolitan Stadium 3–4 Mace (4–0) Hilliard (9–5) Byrne (13) 6,710 34–24 1–1 May 24 vs. No. 14 (5) South Carolina (8) Metropolitan Stadium 6–412 Peterson (1–3) Gilreath (0–1) None 7,197 35–24 2–1 May 25[a] vs. No. 2 (1) Florida (8) Metropolitan Stadium 11–07 Beck (3–1) Leftwich (4–5) None 8,945 36–24 3–1 May 26 vs. No. 9 (4) Arkansas (8) Metropolitan Stadium 2–1 Hess (7–5) Campbell (4–6) Bush (2) 10,381 37–24 4–1 May 27 vs. No. 7 (2) Ole Miss (8) Metropolitan Stadium 1–9 Rolison (9–4) Gilbert (3–5) None 14,126 37–25 4–2 ^[a] The game was suspended during the sixth inning due to heavy fog and continued at 11:00 a.m. on May 26 prior to the start of the session scheduled for that day.
NCAA tournament: Corvallis Regional Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record Regional Record June 1 vs. (3) San Diego State (2) Goss Stadium Corvallis, OR 6–4 Fontenot (3–0) Erickson (5–4) Peterson (6) 3,589 38–25 1–0 June 2 at No. 1 (1) Oregon State (2) Goss Stadium 1–14 Heimlich (15–1) Hess (7–6) None 4,009 38–26 1–1 June 3 (1) vs. (4) Northwestern State (2) Goss Stadium 9–5 Beck (4–1) Vasquez (6–2) None 3,533 39–26 2–1 June 3 (2) at No. 1 (1) Oregon State (2) Goss Stadium 0–12 Abel (4–1) Fontenot (3–1) None 3,915 39–27 2–2

All rankings from Collegiate Baseball.

Reference:

Record vs. conference opponents

Last two do not qualify for conf. tourn. Blank are not scheduled. Blue are home games, otherwise away.

2018 SEC baseball records Source: 2018 SEC baseball game results
Team	W–L	ALA	ARK	AUB	FLA	UGA	KEN	LSU	MSU	MIZZ	MISS	SCAR	TENN	TAMU	VAN	Team	Div	SR	SW
ALA	8–22		0–3	0–3	.	1–2	2–1	1–2	1–2	2–1	1–2	.	0–3	0–3	.	ALA	W7	2–8	0–4
ARK	18–12	3–0		3–0	1–2	1–2	3–0	1–2	0–3	.	1–2	2–1	.	3–0	.	ARK	W2	5–5	4–1
AUB	15–15	3–0	0–3		1–2	.	1–2	2–1	2–1	1–2	0–3	.	.	2–1	3–0	AUB	W3	5–5	2–2
FLA	20–10	.	2–1	2–1		2–1	2–1	.	0–3	3–0	.	2–1	2–1	2–1	3–0	FLA	E1	9–1	2–1
UGA	18–12	2–1	2–1	.	1–2		1–2	.	.	3–0	1–2	3–0	2–1	2–1	1–2	UGA	E2	6–4	2–0
KEN	13–17	1–2	0–3	2–1	1–2	2–1		.	2–1	2–1	.	2–1	1–2	.	0–3	KEN	E5	5–5	0–2
LSU	15–15	2–1	2–1	1–2	.	.	.		2–1	2–1	1–2	0–3	3–0	1–2	1–2	LSU	W4	5–5	1–1
MSU	15–15	2–1	3–0	1–2	3–0	.	1–2	1–2		1–2	2–1	.	.	1–2	0–3	MSU	W5	4–6	2–1
MIZZ	12–18	1–2	.	2–1	0–3	0–3	1–2	1–2	2–1		.	1–2	2–1	.	2–1	MIZZ	E6	4–6	0–2
MISS	18–12	2–1	2–1	3–0	.	2–1	.	2–1	1–2	.		1–2	2–1	2–1	1–2	MISS	W1	7–3	1–0
SCAR	17–13	.	1–2	.	1–2	0–3	1–2	3–0	.	2–1	2–1		3–0	2–1	2–1	SCAR	E3	6–4	2–1
TENN	12–18	3–0	.	.	1–2	1–2	2–1	0–3	.	1–2	1–2	0–3		2–1	1–2	TENN	E7	3–7	1–2
TAMU	13–17	3–0	0–3	1–2	1–2	1–2	.	2–1	2–1	.	1–2	1–2	1–2		.	TAMU	W6	3–7	1–1
VAN	16–14	.	.	0–3	0–3	2–1	3–0	2–1	3–0	1–2	2–1	1–2	2–1	.		VAN	E4	6–4	2–2
Team	W–L	ALA	ARK	AUB	FLA	UGA	KEN	LSU	MSU	MIZZ	MISS	SCAR	TENN	TAMU	VAN	Team	Div	SR	SW

Updated for entire regular season.

Rankings

Main article: 2018 NCAA Division I baseball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Final
Coaches'	9	9*	9*	18	19	20	21	20	24	21	RV	—	RV	RV	—	RV
Baseball America	17	22	16	16	17	18	21	17	19	18	—	—	—	—	—	—
Collegiate Baseball^	10	15	14	13	16	15	19	21	23	18	—	—	—	28	—	—
NCBWA†	11	21	18	19	19	20	21	20	22	19	RV	RV	RV	RV	—	RV

^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.