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American Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- American Press
Box of fun awaits: This is why they go to LSU
LSU will host the Baton Rouge Regional this weekend. The top-seeded Tigers open the schedule today against Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champion Arkansas-Little Rock, the No. 4 seed. LSU is making its 37th NCAA Tournament appearance since 1975. (Special to the American Press) Jay Johnson's strategy for dealing with the pressure his LSU players feel is to try and treat the entire regular season like it was the postseason. Nice try. And, it's true, Alex Box Stadium is known as one college baseball's best environments at any time, filled with fans who expect to win every game. But it will be s different place today, ramped up even another notch, when the Tigers open the NCAA Tournament's Baton Rouge Regional at 2 p.m. today against Arkansas-Little Rock. 'It's crazy,' said LSU first baseman Jared Jones, remembering the last time the Tigers hosted a regional when he was a freshman in 2023. The Tigers used it as a launch pad for the school's seventh national championship in Omaha, Nebraska. 'There's just a ton of energy in the place, you can really feel it,' he said. 'The crowd's always on their feet; they can kind of anticipate how baseball works, the situation of the game. 'They kind of know when we need a big strikeout right here (or) if we're up to the plate and it's a big spot, they just know when to get into it. Super energetic.' That was also Johnson's first and only experience with postseason in The Box. He remembered the super regional against Kentucky that year, a game that was delayed eight hours by rain, but still didn't send many fans home. Tré Morgan hit a home run in the first inning, Johnson recalled. It was different. 'I was like, that's what everybody's been telling me about,' Johnson said. 'That sound, you know? It was right there … everywhere.' Now the Tigers are back at home, primed for another run. Today's winner will play Saturday against the winner of tonight's late game between No. 2 seed Dallas Baptist (40-16) and No. 3 seed Rhode Island (38-20). The regional winner will be matched against the winner of the Clemson Regional. LSU would host that, too. But first things first. Asked what he knew about Arkansas-Little Rock, Jones said, 'I think it's in Arkansas.' That was early Thursday before the Tigers (43-13) got a detailed version of the brief scouting report all of them got by text earlier in the week. Further investigation would reveal the Trojans (24-32) are the lone team in the 64-team NCAA Tournament with a losing record and finished the regular season in eighth place in the Ohio Valley Conference. But Johnson noted there's something to be said for a team that had to win five games in four days to win the OVC Tournament and earn the automatic bid. That came out of nowhere — the Trojans lost 13 of their last 14 regular-season games before catching fire. Johnson hasn't said who he will pitch in the opener and UALR has also been mum. But the Trojans have an intriguing option in senior right-hander Jackson Wells. Two years ago Wells led the nation with a 1.65 ERA. 'That's a fact,' Johnson said. Also true: Wells has been far more pedestrian this season with 5-3 record and a 5.91 ERA. But Johnson has always said LSU concerns itself more with LSU than the opponent. 'I didn't really care who we played,' Jones said. 'I was just ready to get back out there and play.' It would be convenient, regardless of who pitches for either team, if the Tigers bring their bats. They went 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference Tournament and were probably fortunate to win one with its most anemic offensive weekend of the season. The Tigers hit .111 in Hoover, Alabama, and didn't score a run over their final 15 innings. Johnson didn't seem too concerned. The Tigers, he said, have bounced back strong from other offensive struggles. A packed Box will be counting on it.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USI earns OVC tournament birth with series sweep over SEMO
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — The USI Screaming Eagles secure their spot in the OVC Tournament after a 5-2 win over SEMO. The win gives the Screaming Eagles their second series sweep of the season. USI plays its home finale on May 13 against the University of Evansville. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
SIU-Edwardsville Cougars and Tennessee State Tigers square off in OVC Tournament
Tennessee State Tigers (17-15, 13-8 OVC) vs. SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (20-11, 13-7 OVC) Evansville, Indiana; Friday, 10:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: SIU-Edwardsville squares off against Tennessee State in the OVC Tournament. The Cougars have gone 13-7 against OVC opponents, with a 7-4 record in non-conference play. SIU-Edwardsville is fourth in the OVC scoring 72.8 points while shooting 43.3% from the field. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The Tigers are 13-8 against OVC opponents. Tennessee State is 7-11 against opponents over .500. SIU-Edwardsville's average of 7.6 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.6 more made shots on average than the 7.0 per game Tennessee State allows. Tennessee State averages 6.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 fewer makes per game than SIU-Edwardsville gives up. TOP PERFORMERS: Ray'Sean Taylor is averaging 19.2 points, 3.8 assists and two steals for the Cougars. Ring Malith is averaging 13.5 points and 9.1 rebounds while shooting 39.4% over the past 10 games. Brandon Weston is averaging 16 points for the Tigers. Carlous Williams is averaging 13.1 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Cougars: 6-4, averaging 71.7 points, 34.4 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.9 points per game. Tigers: 7-3, averaging 76.3 points, 34.6 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 6.8 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.8 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Lindenwood (MO) takes on Western Illinois in OVC Tournament
Evansville, Indiana; Friday, 4:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Lindenwood (MO) faces Western Illinois in the OVC Tournament. The Lions have gone 16-4 against OVC opponents, with a 4-5 record in non-conference play. Lindenwood (MO) ranks eighth in the OVC in rebounding with 29.9 rebounds. Brooke Coffey leads the Lions with 6.4 boards. The Leathernecks' record in OVC action is 10-12. Lindenwood (MO)'s average of 6.1 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.1 more made shots on average than the 6.0 per game Western Illinois gives up. Western Illinois averages 6.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 more makes per game than Lindenwood (MO) gives up. The teams did not play each other during the regular season. TOP PERFORMERS: Ellie Brueggemann averages 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Lions, scoring 11.6 points while shooting 34.9% from beyond the arc. Mya Skoff is shooting 48.8% and averaging 11.9 points over the last 10 games. Raegan McCowan is scoring 21.8 points per game with 7.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists for the Leathernecks. Mia Nicastro is averaging 15.4 points and 8.5 rebounds over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Lions: 8-2, averaging 68.8 points, 30.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 62.1 points per game. Leathernecks: 4-6, averaging 68.0 points, 32.4 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 5.4 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.6 points. ___
Associated Press
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Little Rock Trojans and UT Martin Skyhawks play in OVC Tournament
Evansville, Indiana; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Trojans -4.5; over/under is 133.5 BOTTOM LINE: Little Rock plays in the OVC Tournament against UT Martin. The Trojans' record in OVC games is 12-8, and their record is 6-5 in non-conference play. Little Rock ranks fourth in the OVC with 13.5 assists per game led by Johnathan Lawson averaging 3.5. The Skyhawks are 10-11 in OVC play. UT Martin scores 74.3 points while outscoring opponents by 2.7 points per game. Little Rock makes 44.6% of its shots from the field this season, which is 2.4 percentage points higher than UT Martin has allowed to its opponents (42.2%). UT Martin has shot at a 41.7% rate from the field this season, 2.7 percentage points above the 39.0% shooting opponents of Little Rock have averaged. TOP PERFORMERS: Lawson is averaging 15.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals for the Trojans. Jordan Jefferson is averaging 13.6 points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 50.0% over the past 10 games. Josue Grullon averages 2.3 made 3-pointers per game for the Skyhawks, scoring 12.2 points while shooting 36.2% from beyond the arc. Tarence Guinyard is shooting 45.9% and averaging 15.9 points over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Trojans: 5-5, averaging 71.1 points, 28.6 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 10.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.7 points per game. Skyhawks: 5-5, averaging 67.4 points, 34.9 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 7.7 steals and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 40.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.2 points. ___
