BATON ROUGE — LSU (3-0) held its No. 1 position in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll released Monday. The Tigers are No. 2 in this week’s Baseball America rankings.
LSU swept a three-game series at home last weekend against Villanova by scores of 12-3, 11-1, and 6-3. The 29 runs scored by LSU were the most in an opening weekend series since 2005 when the Tigers collected 37 runs against Nicholls State.
LSU had 16 extra-base hits last weekend and swiped 11 of 13 bases while limiting Villanova to only two stolen bases. The Tigers’ pitching staff was superb with 33 strikeouts and only eight walks over the three games as it registered a 2.33 ERA.
The Tigers were led by SEC Player of the Week Ryan Schimpf, who batted .700 (7-for-10) in the series with two doubles, one homer and six RBI. The junior second baseman scored three runs, walked four times and stole four bases, recording a .786 on-base percentage and a 1.200 slugging percentage.
Sophomore shortstop DJ LeMahieu hit .556 (5-for-9) in the series with three triples, three RBI and two runs scored. LeMahieu collected two triples in Sunday’s win over Villanova, becoming the first LSU player to hit two triples in a game since 1999, when Jeff Leaumont had a pair of triples against Kentucky.
Pre-season all-American right-hander Louis Coleman earned the victory in the season opener, limiting Villanova to just two hits in five scoreless innings with two walks and eight strikeouts, tying his career high in Ks.
The Tigers return to action at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when they play host to Southern (1-2) in Alex Box Stadium.
Collegiate Baseball
NCAA Div. I Poll
(As of Feb. 23, 2009)
Rank School (Record) Points Previous
1. LSU (3-0) 495 1
2. North Carolina (3-0) 494 2
3. Georgia (3-0) 490 4
4. Arizona St. (4-0) 486 6
5. Florida St. (4-0) 483 7
6. Texas A&M (4-0) 481 9
7. Stanford (2-1) 480 5
8. Texas (4-0) 478 10
9. Georgia Tech (3-0) 475 12
10. Rice (1-2) 473 3
11. Oklahoma St. (4-0) 470 14
12. Florida (3-0) 467 25
13. Baylor (2-1) 463 15
14. Miami, Fla. (3-1) 460 18
15. U.C. Irvine (3-1) 458 20
16. Texas Christian (2-1) 455 –
17. Cal. St. Fullerton (1-2) 453 13
18. Coastal Carolina (3-1) 450 28
19. Fresno St. (2-1) 447 16
20. Oklahoma (4-0) 443 –
21. UCLA (2-1) 441 21
22. Mississippi (1-2) 438 11
23. Pepperdine (2-1) 436 23
24. Southern California (2-1) 433 24
25. Clemson (3-0) 432 26
26. San Diego St. (2-1) 429 –
27. San Diego (2-1) 428 17
28. Michigan (4-0) 427 29
29. Kentucky (2-2) 425 19
30. Ohio St. (3-0) 423 –
Baseball America Top 25
Rk. Team W-L Last Week Prev.
1. Texas A&M 4-0 4-0 1
2. LSU 3-0 3-0 2
3. North Carolina 3-0 3-0 3
4. Texas 4-0 4-0 4
5. UC Irvine 3-1 3-1 9
6. Baylor 2-1 2-1 8
7. Cal State Fullerton 1-2 1-2 5
8. Arizona State 4-0 4-0 13
9. UCLA 2-1 2-1 12
10. Rice 1-2 1-2 7
11. San Diego 2-1 2-1 11
12. Georgia 3-0 3-0 14
13. Mississippi 1-2 1-2 6
14. Stanford 2-1 2-1 15
15. Missouri 1-3 1-3 10
16. Oklahoma 4-0 4-0 16
17. Pepperdine 2-1 2-1 17
18. Kent State 3-0 3-0 18
19. Clemson 3-0 3-0 19
20. Georgia Tech 3-0 3-0 20
21. Arkansas 3-0 3-0 22
22. Florida State 4-0 4-0 24
23. Texas Christian 2-1 2-1 NR
24. Florida 3-0 3-0 NR
25. Oklahoma State 4-0 4-0 NR
Dropped Out: Alabama (21), Louisville (23), Oregon State (25).