By the bottom of the fifth inning in Maryland baseball’s game Saturday afternoon, LSU coach Paul Mainieri had four starters left in his lineup. He again made changes in the sixth.
Much like Louisville did last weekend while beating Maryland, the No. 4 Tigers scored early against right-hander Taylor Bloom and the bullpen struggled in relief. That left the Tigers to cycle through their reserves.
Though Bloom, who pitched to a 2.46 ERA last season, seemed poised to settle in after the Tigers scored two wins in the first and second frames, a seven-run third inning gave Tigers left-hander Jared Poche’ run support and powered LSU’s 14-0 win.
Bloom lasted two innings, allowed six runs and striking out two. He’s now totaled five innings between his first two starts in 2017.
After Tigers designated hitter Rankin Woley tripled to plate LSU’s fifth run of the game, right-hander Cameron Enck made an appearance. But he allowed five runs while recording one out. The Terps needed three pitchers to exit the bottom of the third, and when they did, they trailed by 11, their largest deficit this year.
Poche’, though, didn’t rely on all the support he received. He didn’t allow a hit through the first eight innings after tossing a no-hitter in his first outing of the season. First baseman Brandon Gum, who walked with two outs in the top of the fourth, was the only baserunner Poche’ allowed through the first seven.
The Tigers shut Maryland’s offense down and scored twice more in the seventh, riding their starter’s command. LSU pulled the majority of its starters as early as the fifth, making clear when the Tigers anticipated the contest was over.
