BATON ROUGE, La. — Right-hander Paul Skenes beat Western Michigan through six innings on Friday and led top-ranked LSU to a 10-0 win in the Tigers’ 2023 season opener at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
LSU is 1-0 this season while Western Michigan is down 0-1. The teams will continue the series Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT in a game that will be televised on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network+.
LSU won its 22nd straight season opener; The Tigers’ last loss in a season opener came in 2001 against Kansas State, 9-8.
Skenes (1-0), making his debut in an LSU uniform, worked six shutout frames and allowed just three hits with a walk and 12 strikeouts. The 12 Ks represented the most LSU pitchers since April 15, 2021, when Landon Marceaux recorded 12 strikeouts against South Carolina.
Skene’s performance also marked the most strikeouts by an LSU pitcher in a season opener since Scott Schultz fanned out 12 Lamar batters in the 1995 season opener in the Winn-Dixie Showdown at the Louisiana Superdome.
“Paul was outstanding tonight and he showed why he’s the best pitcher in college baseball,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “He’s very detailed and executed his plan with precision.”
The Tigers amassed 10 hits in Friday’s competition, including a two-run double from freshman designated hitter Jared Jones. Center fielder Dylan Crews was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and second baseman Ben Nippolt produced two RBI with a fielder’s choice grounder and a sacrifice fly.
West Michigan pitcher Brady Miller (0-1) was charged with the loss for allowing four runs with four hits in five innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
“The batting conditions weren’t good at all today with such a strong wind,” said Johnson. “I was told we were hitting 10 balls at 150km/h but it didn’t feel like it because the wind was knocking over those hard-hit balls. We handled our at-bats well with strike zone discipline, resulting in five walks and two hit-by-pitches to create offense. We played really well, which is a big part of our training.”
LSU batted for two runs late in the first inning when third baseman Tommy White delivered an RBI single and first baseman Tre’ Morgan lifted a sacrificial fly.
The Tigers extended the lead to 3-0 in the second when catcher Brady Neal tripled and found Nippolt’s groundball.
LSU broke out for five runs in the sixth, a rally highlighted by Jones’ double-run in two runs and sacrifice flies from Neal and Nippolt.
RBI singles in the eighth inning from shortstop Jordan Thompson and pinch hitter Ethan Frey made the final lead.