LSU Bats Dormant, Florida's Peterson Cruises in Run Rule

David Billiot Jr • May 16, 2026

Florida - 11, LSU - 1



Friday Evening Recap

 


Friday was a night full of recent themes. Marcos Paz got the start and his struggles that began last week at Georgia continued. The overall struggles from anyone to step foot on the mound also continued. As discussed last night, Jay Johnson would clearly love a fast-forward button to skip this weekend and get to Hoover next week. The most notable occurrence of anything regarding Tiger pitching was that Casan Evans did throw what Jay termed a “high intensity bullpen”. He had a 40-45 pitch count and that’s what he made it through.

 

As for the offense, there’s not a whole lot to talk about. LSU finished with just 3 hits and got dominated by Florida’s Liam Peterson. Although it has been an up and down year for Peterson, he showed tonight why he spent much of the year as the Friday night ace for the Gators. With the 7-inning 10-run rule, he went complete game and struck out 11 Tigers.

 


Pitching


 

Marcos Paz was able to retire the leadoff batter of the game after LSU’s abysmal start on Thursday night, but that success did not last long. Up 0-2 on the second hitter, he hit Kyle Jones and then Ethan Surowiec followed his 1st inning grand slam a night ago with an RBI double to put the Gators on the board. After a wild pitch and a walk, Florida had runners on 1st and 3rd with just 1 out. He induced a weak ground ball to Brayden Simpson at 3rd base, but his only play was at 1st, which brought home the second run of the game to make it 2-0. Paz was able to battle back from a 3-1 count to strike out Karson Bowen looking and prevent further damage. Unfortunately, more damage came in the 2nd. After a lead off walk and a single, the Gators quickly had a scoring threat that they cashed in on a sacrifice fly. After a flyout for the second out of the inning, Brendan Lawson hit the furthest homerun that anyone in the stadium will likely ever see with their own eyes. He unloaded on a 1-2 pitch from Paz that went 496 feet over the Intimidator. Yes, you read that right. 496 feed. A strikeout would follow, but it was already a 5-0 lead for Florida. Paz finally found some success in the 3rd by recording a 1-2-3 frame with a couple of weak groundouts and a strikeout. Despite a leadoff walk in the 4th, he retired the next three hitters with 2 strikeouts to put up consecutive zeros. The freshman returned for the 5th with his pitch count at 84, which had already eclipsed his previous season high of 79 against South Carolina. After allowing his 4th walk of the game, the 3rd of which was to lead off the inning, Surowiec continued to torment LSU with a 2-run blast off of the batter’s eye. Paz would strike out the next hitter and that would be all for his night.

  • Final line: 4.1 IP / 4 hits / 7 runs / 5 K / 4 BB / 1 HBP / 99 pitches (53 strikes, 54%)

 

Ethan Plog took over and struck out each of the two hitters that he faced to end the inning with the Tigers now down 7-1.

  • Final line: 0.2 IP / 0 hits / 0 runs / 2 K / 0 BB / 12 pitches (6 strikes, 50%)

 

Although he was not expected to pitch this weekend, Casan Evans took the mound to get some work in the 6th. He rolled through the first two hitters of the inning with a groundout and a flyout, but then allowed a 2-out walk. He bounced right back to strike out the next hitter on 3 pitches. The sophomore returned for the 7th and that’s when the struggles arrived. After striking out the leadoff hitter, Evans gave up a walk and a single, which set up a line-drive 3-run homerun from Gator freshman Cash Strayer to make it 10-1. Following a flyout, the Tiger ace reached his maximum pitch count and his night was over.

  • Final line: 1.2 IP / 2 hits / 3 runs / 2 K / 2 BB / 41 pitches (25 strikes, 61%)

 

Despite not being at the ballpark on Thursday night due to sickness, Zion Theophilus was back on Friday and took the mound after Evans. Landon Stripling was the first batter he faced and three pitches in to his outing, Florida was up 11-1 with a solo homerun. That was followed by a walk, but the freshman was able to draw a flyout to end the inning.

  • Final line: 0.1 IP / 2 hits / 1 run / 0 K / 0 BB / 8 pitches (4 strikes, 50%)

 

 

Hitting

 


Steven Milam, again, was the star of the night offensively. There wasn’t a ton going on for the team, but the star shortstop homered for the second consecutive night. This weekend has been what it was for LSU, but Milam walking out of this series with homeruns against Aiden King and Liam Peterson is quite the feather in his cap. He finished 1-2 with the 1 RBI, 1 run scored, and also drew a walk.

 

Jack Ruckert and Derek Curiel were the only other Tigers to record a hit. Ruckert had a line-drive single and finished 1-2, while Curiel had a 1-3 night.

 

 

Up Next

 

 

For the final time in 2026, LSU will take the field in Alex Box stadium tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm central. LSU has Zac Cowan listed as their starter, but considering all eyes are on the SEC Tournament, I would not expect him to go long. He, along with the other seniors, will be the focus of the final game of the regular season. Jay Johnson eluded to that in his postgame presser. For those interested, Senior Day festivities will begin at 1:30 to recognize multiple Tigers. The loss dropped LSU to 9-20 in SEC play, while Florida improves to 17-12.

 

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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
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