Luke Holman leads Tigers past Central Arkansas in LSU baseball debut

Coach Jay Johnson walks onto the field as the Tiger fans welcome the LSU Tigers Baseball team home at Alex Box Stadium. Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

In the second game of the season, LSU fans got their first look at transfer pitcher Luke Holman from Alabama. Holman was impressive as he pitched 5.1 innings and allowed zero runs on three hits, 10 strikeouts, and a walk. He looked like he was in mid-season form as he led LSU to a low-scoring 2-0 win against Central Arkansas on Saturday.

The same thing can’t be said for the LSU bats. There was a nearly 20-degree difference between the weather Friday and Saturday. The Tiger bats went cold just like the weather.

Through five innings, LSU only had three hits and one run. That lone run came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Stephen Milam hit an RBI single to right field to score Hayden Travinski.

Tigers Strike First@Monster_Milam99 | 📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/qTOB0QUnQI

— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) February 17, 2024

Griffin Herring came into the game to pitch for Holman with a runner on first and one out in the sixth inning. Paxton Kling then made an incredible catch in the outfield for out No. 2 and Herring struck out the next hitter to get out of the inning with the 1-0 lead intact.

Web Gem 💎@PaxtonKling | 📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/VJh2touMiY

— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) February 17, 2024

In the top of the seventh inning, Fidel Ulloa came into pitch with one out and a runner on first and second. Ulloa is another transfer pitcher LSU picked up. He came to LSU after spending two years at San Joaquin Delta College.

He struck out the first two hitters he faced to send us to the bottom of the seventh clinging to a 1-0 lead.

With two outs in the top of the eighth inning, DJ Primeaux entered the game to pitch with runners on first and second with two outs. Primeaux got the first batter he faced to ground out and we headed to the bottom of the inning with LSU still up 1-0.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Jared Jones gave LSU some breathing room as he hit his second homer in his second game of the year. His solo shot wrapped around the foul pole in right field and gave LSU a 2-0 lead.

That's An Oppo Taco 🌮@bearjones_3 | 📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/cqG5dUKXsA

— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) February 17, 2024

Samuel Dutton entered in the top of the ninth inning to try to get his first save of the season. Dutton allowed a single but a flyout and two strikeouts secured the 2-0 victory for LSU.

The Tigers will face VMI again on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.

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This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Luke Holman leads Tigers past Central Arkansas in LSU baseball debut