BATON ROUGE — Freshman catcher Sean Ochinko‘s two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie and lifted the Purple team to a 3-2 victory over the White team on Saturday as LSU’s First Pitch Alumni Weekend came to a close with an eight-inning scrimmage at Alex Box Stadium.
The intrasquad capped a day of festivities that began with the YMCA Baton Rouge Kids’ Baseball Clinic. Several former LSU and Southern players, professional players and scouts delivered a free instructional clinic and signed autographs.
The Tigers open the 2007 season at 7 p.m. Friday against Saint Mary’s (Calif.). Fans are reminded that both Saturday and Sunday games are slated for noon starts. Live audio and video of all three contests is available to members of the Geaux Zone on www.LSUsports.net.
Junior left-hander Charlie Furbush is schedule to take the ball in the season opener. Furbush, who blanked the Tigers’ No. 1 lineup for five innings on Friday, comes to LSU after two seasons at Saint Joseph’s (Maine) College and a prolific summer stint in the Cape Cod League.
Head coach Paul Mainieri said the team is excited and prepared for the opening weekend of the season.
“I just feel like we are ready to go,” said Mainieri. “I wish we were playing tomorrow. Our team is ready. We are light years ahead of where we were in the fall, and I think we will surprise a lot of people this year.”
Ochinko, who is expected to be the Tigers’ starting first baseman, went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Freshman left fielder Blake Dean led the White team, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base. Junior second baseman Chris Jackson added a pair of hits and a stolen base.
“Even though we didn’t hit a lot, I still think when we put it all together, we are going to make some things happen,” said Mainieri. “You could see today that Chris Jackson really brings a lot to our lineup. We will be able to scratch some stuff together for some runs.”
Sophomore right-hander Louis Coleman proved to be mid-season form surrendering only one run on five hits and striking out five in five innings of work. Junior righty Michael Bonura qualified for the save with two innings of effective relief.
“I thought Coleman threw well today as did a lot of guys this weekend,” said Mainieri. “(Kyle) Beerbohm did well today. I feel very confident that our pitching is going to be fine.”
Beerbohm, a junior southpaw, held the White team to one run on three hits and fanned four batters. Freshman T.J. Forrest took the hard-luck loss, allowing two runs — none of which were earned — on two hits.
Designated hitter Ryan Schimpf gave the Purple squad an early lead with an RBI sacrifice fly in the first. However, the White team responded in the second on an RBI single from right fielder Steven Waguespack.
Left fielder Chris McGhee reached on a one-out error in the sixth to start the game-winning uprising. Following a single by third baseman Buzzy Haydel, Ochinko lined a two-out double down the left field line, plating two.
Bonura issued a pair of singles in the seventh and an RBI sacrifice fly to third baseman J.T. Wise before retiring the final batter to notch the save.