Tigers to stick with strengths vs. UCI
By now, the point has been clearly pushed across.
In case you haven’t heard, the red-hot LSU baseball team will not adapt its style simply because UC Irvine figures to play at a different tempo and with a different approach.
Tigers coach Paul Mainieri beat on the same drum again Wednesday, reiterating what he has said all week.
“Just because they play small ball doesn’t mean we’re going to combat that by playing small ball ourselves,” Mainieri said.
Maybe not.
But if LSU (46-16-1) finds itself in position to dabble in small ball or has to manufacture a run with a game on the line, the Tigers are equipped to adjust.
They just haven’t needed to test those skills much over the last six weeks.
UC Irvine pitching staff gives credit to Silva
Scott Gorgen is UC Irvine’s ace with an 11-3 record. Daniel Bibona is their solid man in the middle of the rotation, while Bryce Stowell is the newcomer who has made an impact this season with an 8-3 mark.
The Anteaters also have bevy of midweek pitchers and a strong bullpen, led by closer Eric Pettis, who recorded his school record 17th save at the Lincoln (Neb.) Regional.
Yet, for as talented as these pitchers are, they give much of the credit to Ted Silva, the pitching coach. With his guidance, the Anteaters boast a staff ERA of 2.88, second lowest in the country, and have propelled Irvine to the super regionals, where they face LSU starting Saturday.
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