Tigers Break 9 Game Losing Streak, Beat Gamecocks 6-1

David Billiot Jr • May 2, 2026

LSU - 6, South Carolina - 1



Saturday Afternoon Recap

 


Entering the weekend, LSU pretty much needed a sweep. While they aren’t mathematically condemned without one, it would be even tougher than it already is to find a way in to the postseason. Considering LSU’s final two opponents are significantly better than South Carolina, it’s almost a must. The Tigers got off to a fantastic start on that journey on Saturday afternoon. Their pitching was already banged up with the loss of Cooper Moore, but took an even bigger hit with Casan Evans missing last weekend at Mississippi St. Whether or not he pitches this weekend is still a question, which puts the staff at a massive disadvantage. William Schmidt and Grant Fontenot combining for 9 innings of work in game 1 was about as perfect as a realistic start that one could ask for. Both were fantastic and did not allow anything to come easy to a bad Gamecocks offense.

 

Throughout a season of playing behind due to early struggles from the offense, the Tiger bats had shown up in a big way the past 5 games entering this series. They provided 3 runs in each game in Starkville last week and scored 8 in each. LSU’s pitching was finally able to pitch from ahead. Unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough, but the question was could the offense keep it up. They did just that on Saturday afternoon, putting up crooked numbers in each of the first two innings and getting out to a 5-1 lead. The bats did cool off later, but an 8 hit game is still solid. As the Tiger pitching gets deeper in to their pen as the weekend goes on, Jay Johnson will look for his lineup to continue to produce early and often.

 

 

Pitching

 


Things got off to a bumpy start for William Schmidt in the 1st inning when his 4th pitch was popped up on the infield. Despite four Tigers surrounding the ball, it fell to the grass. He was quickly able to erase the “hit” with a 6-3 double play turned by Steven Milam, but with 2 outs, the Gamecocks went to work. Consecutive doubles put South Carolina on the scoreboard first for a 1-0 lead, before a strikeout ended the inning. Facing 3 games in 2 days and missing 2/3s of their rotation, LSU needed Schmidt to eat up more innings than he has recently. The 23-pitch 1st was not ideal, but he bounced right back in the 2nd with a 3-up, 3-down on only 10 pitches. He looked on his way to having another efficient 3rd by retiring the first two hitters of the inning and then getting the third down 0-2, but ended up losing him to give up a walk. Although he avoided damage, it costed him an extra 10 pitches and brought his total to 53 through 3 innings. His 4th inning was great. Despite a 2-out single, Schmidt struck out the side to bring his total up to 6 through the first 4 innings. He recorded his second 1-2-3 inning of the game in the 5th, largely thanks to some impeccable infield defense. Milam made a barehanded play on a slow-roller to start the frame on a ball that looked like a sure infield hit. After another strikeout, freshman Jack Ruckert made a slow-roller play of his own. South Carolina started the 6th with a leadoff single, but a beautiful 6-4-3 double play by Milam and Ruckert quickly erased it. Another groundout to Milam would end the 6th and the outing for William Schmidt after 97 pitches. Today was his second longest outing of the season, the longest since going 7.1 innings against Dartmouth in pre-conference play.

  • Final line: 6.0 IP / 5 hits / 1 run / 7 K / 1 BB / 97 pitches (61 strikes, 63%)

 

Grant Fontenot took over for the 7th and picked up right where Schmidt left off. He recorded two groundouts and a flyout for a quick 1-2-3 inning on just 9 pitches. He gave up a hard hit single to lead off the 8th, but then induced a tailormade double play ball. Shockingly, it was bobbled by Milam and although he recovered in time to at least get one out at 2nd base, Ruckert dropped the rushed throw. The senior fought back, though, drawing a flyout and then two massive strikeouts to keep the two lead off runners right where they were on 1st and 2nd base.  

  • Final line: 3.0 IP / 1 hit / 0 runs / 4 K / 0 BB / 44 pitches (28 strikes, 64%)

 

 

Hitting

 

 

Steven Milam and William Patrick were the only two Tigers to record multiple hits. Milam drove in 2 RBI, along with this typically stellar defense. They both finished 2-4.

 

Derek Curiel and Cade Arrambide both finished 1-4 with just a single each, but both of them recorded 2 RBI. Curiel also scored once.

 

Mason Braun reached base four times today, despite only recording a single hit. He drew 3 walks at the top of the lineup and scored twice. He entered today with a team-leading .461 on base % and that only elevated even more.

 

Omar Serna finished 1-3 and had LSU’s only extra base hit of the day with his double. He also drew a walk and scored 3 runs.

 


Up Next


 

LSU and South Carolina will return to the diamond later today for game 2. First pitch is for 6:30. Marcos Paz will take the mound for the Tigers for his second SEC start. The Gamecocks will send out Brandon Stone, a junior RHP with a 5-2 record. He holds an ERA of 3.60 through 55.0 innings pitched and has struck out 52, while walking 14 and hitting another 6 for a 1.42 WHIP. LSU’s staff is in great position, all things considered, after getting through game 1 with just William Schmidt and Grant Fontenot.

 

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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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