Sooner Pitching Dominates Tigers, Forces Rubber Match
David Billiot Jr • March 21, 2026
Oklahoma - 4, LSU - 2
Friday Night Recap
With their first opportunity to clinch an SEC series tonight, LSU fell just short with a 4-2 loss to Oklahoma to even the series. The night belonged to Casan Evans on Thursday, but Friday belonged to Sooner pitching. L.J. Mercurius wasn’t quite as magical as Evans, but he still rolled through the LSU lineup, retiring 10 in a row at one point. He was on the ropes early with back to back singles to start off the game, but was able to shut the opening rally down. After John Pearson homered to leadoff the 2nd inning, it was all Mercurius. His record improved to 5-1 with the victory tonight. The trio of arms out of the Oklahoma bullpen delivered big pitch after big pitch, despite some very tense moments with Alex Box coming to life late in the game.
Cooper Moore is the story on the LSU side and not for good reason. After a perfect first 2 innings, the Sooners began making him pay for his few mistakes and scratched a few runs across in the 3rd and 4th. But the story comes in the 5th, as Moore spiked his first pitch of the inning and Jay Johnson immediately went out to the mound. Jay told us after the game that it was Moore’s tricep that was bothering him and that’s all of the info he had by the time he did his post game press conference. He did say that he believes Moore will “be ok”, but has no idea if he may miss a week, two weeks, or a month. The initial concern was that it was the elbow, which is devastating for pitchers, but according to Jay, he did not believe that was the case as of now. It’s a tough ask to have your bullpen cover 5 innings in an SEC game, but LSU’s did a great job by only allowing two more runs the rest of the way. They simply just did not get the help they needed from the Tiger bats.
Pitching
Cooper Moore wasted no time trying to rebound from back to back losses after starting his season with three straight wins. He attacked the Sooner lineup right from the start, getting a 2 pitch ground out to leadoff hitter Trey Gambill, who’s best attribute is getting on base. He followed that up with back to back strikeouts, picking up right where Casan Evans left off. It was another quick 10 pitch inning in the 2nd, which included a strikeout and another play deep in the 6-hole that Steven Milam makes look way too easy. Moore hadn’t made any mistakes through the first 2 innings, but he left a few balls up in the zone in the 3rd and Oklahoma made him pay. It started with a leadoff double, then after a sacrifice bunt, had 9-hole hitter Jason Walk down 0-2, but gave him a hittable pitch and Walk tied the game with a single. The damage was nearly worse when Gambill got a hanging breaking ball that he ripped in to right-center, but as he has done all year, Derek Curiel made a phenomenal diving catch to rob a sure extra base hit. The mistakes continued in the 4th, as Moore allowed back to back 1 out singles, the first of which was another 2-strike Sooner hit. With runners on the corners, a wild pitch gave Oklahoma their first lead of the series. He was able to escape without further damage, but after 21 pitches through 2 innings, Moore racked up 40 between the 3rd and 4th innings alone. Things got scary in the 5th, as he threw one pitch, a spiked fastball and Jay Johnson and head trainer Isaac Trujillo immediately came out. They spoke to Moore for about 5 minutes, but pulled him out without the junior throwing a single warmup pitch.
- Final line: 4.0 IP / 4 hits / 2 runs / 4 Ks / 0 BBs / 62 pitches (43 strikes, 69%)
Following Moore’s early exit, Cooper Williams came in following back to back great outings. He threw 3 straight pitches out of the zone to allow the leadoff walk and then got a groundball, but it was hit too slow for a double play and Milam had to get the out at 1st base. Not being able to get the lead runner out immediately came back to bite the Tigers, as a single to left field scored the runner from 2nd to make it 3-1. After a stolen base and a groundout back to Williams, Jay would make his walk out to the mound for another pitching change.
- Final line: .2 IP / 1 hit / 1 run / 0 Ks / 1 BB / 16 pitches (10 strikes, 63%)
Mavrick Rizy came on with 2 outs and the runner on 3rd and despite starting the hitter off with a 3-0 count, battled back to record the strikeout to end the inning. That would be the only out he recorded, as he returned in the 6th and gave up yet another Sooner 2-strike hit and then walked another.
- Final line: .1 IP / 1 hit / 0 runs / 1 K / 1 BB
With runners on 1st and 2nd and no one out and already down two runs, Grant Fontenot entered in his biggest spot of the season. The senior delivered, going strikeout, groundout, strikeout to end the threat. The final strikeout came on the next pitch after John Pearson dropped a pop up in foul territory. Fontenot returned for the 7th after recording a big first out on a bang-bang play at 1st base, he walked the next hitter on 4 pitches and that would be the end of his night. He deserves a tremendous amount of credit for that performance in the 6th inning to keep it a 1-run game.
- Final line: 1.1 IP / 0 hits / 0 runs / 2 Ks / 1 BB
Santiago Garcia entered following the 1-out walk and quickly did his job, as he has done for the past few weeks. A fly out and a strikeout left the runner stranded at 2nd base. He returned for the 8th and recorded a quick 1-2-3 inning, including strikeout of Sooner leader Jaxon Willits to start things off and then another highlight play by Steven Milam on a slow roller, assisted by a beautiful pick out of the dirt by Zach Yorke. Garcia returned for the 9th and wasn’t able to keep a 1-out Sooner double from adding an insurance run, as Gambill singled to deliver his second RBI of the night. He would get caught stealing to end the top of the inning.
- Final line: 2.2 IP / 2 hits / 1 run / 3 Ks / 0 BB
Hitting
Chris Stanfield was the only Tiger to record multiple hits on Friday night, finishing 2-4. It looked like he had scored the tying run in the 7th inning on a ball to the backstop, but it barely grazed Milam and was a dead ball.
Omar Serna continues to find himself in big spots with these extra opportunities in the starting lineup and he seems to come through at least once per game. His RBI single in the 6th inning pulled LSU within a run to make it a 3-2 game. He also walked once, finishing 1-3.
John Pearson’s solo homerun to leadoff the 2nd inning was his third of the season. It was his 4th consecutive start, making the most of his recent chances to make an impact. He finished 1-4.
After pinch hitting in the 7th inning, Seth Dardar finished 1-2. His 1-out single in the 9th inning allowed the Tigers to bring the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately, Stanfield hit a hard ground ball to Camden Johnson at 3rd base and the Sooners turned their second 5-4-3 double play of the night.
Quiet nights for Jake Brown pretty much look like this one. He went 1-2 with 2 walks and scored once, continuing to make an impact even when he’s not driving in a ridiculous amount of RBIs.
Up Next
LSU and Oklahoma will square off in the rubber match tomorrow afternoon. First pitch will be for 2 pm central. William Schmidt will take the mound for the Tigers with his record of 3-1. He entered the weekend as the team leader in strikeouts with 39, but has since been passed by Casan Evans. The sophomore is coming off of his early exit at Vanderbilt where he was experience back tightness, so that is something to keep an eye on, although Jay Johnson has said he’s good to go and did not appear on the injury report. Oklahoma will counter with freshman LHP Cord Rager, who will make his 6th start of the season. He is 2-1, with back-to-back no decisions in his last two starts. In his first SEC start last week vs Texas A&M, the freshman struggled. He only went 3.0 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits, while striking out 6 and only walking one. LSU falls to 16-8 (2-3 SEC), while Oklahoma improves to 18-5 (3-2 SEC).
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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.
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.