LSU's Jordan Nicholson PHOTO BY:www.LSUsports.net
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
BATON ROUGE — LSU sophomore right-hander Jordan Nicholson scattered three hits in four innings Thursday, and Leon Landry and Ryan Schimpf each launched home runs as the Gold squad defeated the Purple, 4-1, to complete a sweep of the Purple-Gold World Series in the original Alex Box Stadium.
The Purple-Gold World Series marked the final intrasquad games of LSU’s six-week fall practice session. The Tigers formally complete the fall practice period Friday with a 5 p.m. workout in the stadium.
“I saw so many positive developments during this series,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “The pitching was really outstanding, and I thought our hitters delivered quality at-bats. Overall, our players hustled and performed with a lot of energy.”
Nicholson limited the Purple Thursday to one run on three hits in four innings with no walks and four strikeouts. The Purple’s only run scored on a solo homer by infielder Randy Zeigler in the third inning.
Gold relievers Shane Riedie, a freshman right-hander, and Ben Alsup, a sophomore right-hander, combined to blank the Purple over the final two innings of the six-inning contest.
Senior right-hander Louis Coleman started on the mound for the Purple, and he was charged with three runs on four hits in four innings with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Solo homers by Landry and Schimpf in the third and fourth innings, respectively, paced the Gold at the plate.
“Coleman gave up some hits to some of the top guys in our lineup, but I thought he threw well,” Mainieri said. “His arm felt better today than it has all fall.”
Mainieri said LSU, which features 24 returning players from its 2008 College World Series squad, is anxious to begin the 2009 season.
“There is a very strong aura of confidence within this team, and we can’t wait to get the season started in February,” he said.
LSU opens the ‘09 regular season on February 20 versus Villanova in the New Alex Box Stadium.
