There’s a lot of baseball left in 2026.
After Sunday, the LSU Tigers have 39 games left before the Southeastern Conference Tournament. And, as has been the case for the last five years, there may also be a trip to the NCAA Tournament in store after the SEC tourney. A lot can happen between now and May and potentially June.
But to assume that LSU’s poor play through the back half of its nonconference schedule is anything less than a major concern is a fool’s errand.
LSU fell 6-1 to Sacramento State on Sunday at Alex Box Stadium, losing for a fourth time in five games. It’s the fifth defeat the Tigers have suffered in nonconference play, the most they’ve had before the start of their SEC slate since 2020.
This season is also the first time LSU (12-5) has lost to four or more midmajor teams prior to the beginning of its SEC schedule since 2007. That season was also the last time the program failed to reach 30 wins outside of the COVID year.
“Practice on Tuesday at one o’clock before the game,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said, referring to his team’s final nonconference matchup before SEC play against Creighton. “Tuesday’s game is secondary to just improving the team, and we need time to do that.”
On paper, there’s not much stopping LSU from turning it around. This is a team that has numerous key contributors returning from a squad that won the national championship last year.
But the schedule is about to get much more difficult. Next weekend, LSU travels to Nashville, Tennessee, to take on Vanderbilt. The Commodores have seven losses, but five have come against power-conference teams, and they still have a much more talented roster than any LSU has seen to this point.
LSU hosts Oklahoma and Kentucky after that, two clubs that have gotten off to strong starts. The Sooners have beaten four power-conference teams and Dallas Baptist. The Wildcats have won nine straight despite not having their best player available, shortstop Tyler Bell, for eight of those contests.
Time is not a problem for LSU as it tries to straighten itself out. But Sunday’s defeat to the Hornets made life more difficult for the Tigers as they approach SEC play, otherwise known as the 30 most important games on their schedule.
“You work, it’s the only way through it,” Johnson said.
LSU’s biggest issue on Sunday is the same one that has plagued the Tigers through much of nonconference play: the offense. LSU mustered three hits through the first five innings and failed to record an extra-base hit.
“I don’t know,” senior Brayden Simpson said when asked why LSU has been inconsistent to start the year. “… There’s a standard here, and I feel like we haven’t quite been meeting that offensively and in similar parts of the game as well.”
Its struggles at the plate placed too much pressure on a pitching staff that, as of late, has been far from perfect. After holding the Sacramento State (5-10) lead to just two through five innings, the Tigers allowed three runs with two outs in the sixth.
With runners on the corners and two outs, Johnson decided to pull sophomore right-handed starter William Schmidt for sophomore left-hander Cooper Williams, but Williams hit the only batter he faced to load the bases. Redshirt junior right-hander Gavin Guidry replaced Williams but also struggled. He walked in a run and gave up a two-run single that gave Sacramento State a 5-0 lead.
“I trust Gavin with my life,” Johnson said, “so I’m not going to sit here and say I’m ever disappointed in Gavin Guidry.”
Schmidt had a strong fourth start of the season. He didn’t walk a batter for a third consecutive outing and struck out eight hitters in 5⅔ innings. He allowed four runs — three earned — but most of the damage was hardly his doing, especially before the sixth inning.
First, freshman left fielder Mason Braun misjudged a hard-hit fly ball with two outs in the third inning that allowed the first run to score. Three pitches later, right fielder Erick Dessens reached first base on a dropped third strike that allowed a second run to come across.
Instead of hitting Grand Canyon transfer Zach Yorke’s glove at first base, sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide picked up the loose ball and threw it off the runner’s helmet, allowing center fielder Sam Harry to score from second for the unearned run.
First pitch Tuesday is set for 6:30 p.m. The game will be available to stream on SEC Network+.