The Tigers began the Baton Rouge Regional on Friday by easily dispatching Tulane, 7-2, behind a complete-game performance from ace pitcher Paul Skenes.
The decision to start Skenes came as a bit of a surprise considering coaches often opt to save their best arms for tougher matchups later in the regional. However, after the game, coach Jay Johnson said that the decision to start Skenes over Ty Floyd or Thatcher Hurd was an easy one.
Skenes, who threw 124 pitches in the first nine-inning complete game of his career, told the media that his ability to go the distance preserved LSU’s bullpen moving forward. Johnson confirmed this was the primary motivation behind giving Skenes the start.
Jay Johnson on starting Paul “He’s the best pitcher in college baseball, felt good about what he could do to impact us winning the game.” #LSU pic.twitter.com/yq79FdihkD
— Leah Vann (@LVann_Sports) June 2, 2023
Paul Skenes talked about wanting to get the pitching staff off to a good start and have all of the bullpen arms available for the final few games of the weekend.
Sounds like that was the primary motivation behind his start.#LSU
— Glen West (@glenwest21) June 2, 2023
Only time will tell if the decision to start Skenes was the right one, but for now, LSU is 1-0 as it awaits the result of Game 2 between Oregon State and Sam Houston State.
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