LSU's Tyler Jones Pitches a Shutout Against UNO with 5-0 Win

(NEW ORLEANS, LA) - Coming off a sweep of the Tennessee Volunteers in a big SEC weekend series, the LSU Tigers get another win in the last non-conference game of the season against the UNO Privateers with the help of Tyler Jones and some very impressive pitching.

Tyler Jones, a junior, struck out 15 batters in a complete game shutout against New Orleans Tuesday night in New Orleans, LA. This marks the first time in LSU's history that a pitcher has fanned 15 players in one game since 2009 when Anthony Ranaudo recorded 15 strikeouts against Auburn.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when Tyler Hanover's RBI single allowed Mason Katz to score. Jones added another run in the seventh inning thanks to a single from Katz. The Tigers didn't score again until the ninth inning, giving the Tigers a nice 5-0 lead.

Pitching for UNO was Tyler Sanders, who made the Tigers work hard for hits allowing only one earned run off six hits in seven innings. Sanders' record coming in to the game was 1-11.

Head Coach Paul Mainieri had this to say about the game, and Tyler Jones' performance, "Tyler Joneswas just phenomenal tonight. I'm very happy for him. This has been a very trying season for Tyler, and we've been waiting for that kind of game from him all season. The pressure was on us tonight. We really had nothing to gain and everything to lose. (UNO starter) Tyler Sanders really pitched well against us in the early-going, but we finally got some clutch hits from Tyler Hanover and Mason Katz in the later innings to come away with the victory."

The win for the Tigers was needed after a rocky season which left the Tigers in a downhill motion after letting several games get away from them. The weekend sweep of the Tennessee Volunteers brings back promise that the Tigers will make it into post-season play.

The Tigers (34-18) will need to have a good showing in the final SEC regular season game as they travel to Starksville, MS to take on Mississippi State Thursday night, May 19, 2011. The game starts at 6:30 pm and will be broadcast locally in Baton Rouge on Eagle 98.1.

LSU has won 10 out of 12 of the last games played.


Source:
LSU Sports