Updated March 6, 2026, 8:50 p.m. CT

LSU baseball returned to the win column on Friday night with a run-rule victory over Sacramento State. The Tigers jumped on the Hornets early and didn’t let up.

LSU found a surplus of extra base hits in this one, something the offense needed after a poor week at the plate. LSU exercised some demons, smashing six home runs. Three of those came off the bat of Jake Brown, who hit three homers in the first three innings of the game.

On the mound, Casan Evans was near dominant. He began the game with five perfect innings before running into some trouble in the sixth. With a comfortable lead, Jay Johnson pulled Evans after 5.2 innings of work. Johnson struck out nine without issuing a walk. The ace continues to trend in the right direction.

This was a much-needed win for LSU after the Tigers dropped two in a row and were 3-3 over their last six games. LSU had been struggling in all phases of the game but this was a complete win for Johnson’s squad.

LSU will be back in action on Saturday for Game 2 of the Sacramento State series. Below is LSU Wire’s live blog of LSU vs. Sacramento State.

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LSU baseball takes care of business and beats Sacramento State.

LSU 15, Sacramento State 4

Sacramento State finds two more runs with a double and the Hornets haven’t quit, but LSU is still in position to secure a run-rule win.

Brown grounds out

Brown couldn’t come up with a fourth homer as he’s retired for the first time tonight with a groundout.

Jake Brown to get another AB

Already with three home runs, Jake Brown is coming up to the plate again. He’s 4-4 tonight.

LSU closing in on a run-rule victory

With LSU up 15-2 in the bottom of the sixth, LSU is in position for a run-rule victory. If LSU doesn’t add any more runs here, all LSU has to do is hold Sacramento State to three runs or less in the top of the seventh.

LSU makes pitching change

That’ll do it for Casan Evans. He tossed 5.2 innings and struck out nine without issuing a walk. He allowed two earned runs and his season ERA is now 4.66. It was a strong outing for LSU’s ace as Evans continues to round into form.

Zion Theophilus is the new pitcher for the Tigers. He brings a 3.00 ERA into the game. The Tigers lead 15-2 in the top of the sixth.

T6: LSU 15, Sac State 2

Casan Evans surrenders a triple and Sacramento State plates two runners. The ball was hit to deep center field and Derek Curiel, who was playing shallow, had a hard time reaching it.

Sac State has runners on

Casan Evans perfect game is over and Sac State has two runners on in the top of the sixth, but the shutout remains.

END 5: LSU 15, Sac State 0

Sac State finally blanks LSU. The Tigers don’t add any runs in the fifth.

Casan Evans is throwing a no-hitter through five

Casan Evans is yet to allow a base runner through five innings. He’s thrown 58 pitches.

LSU 15, Sac State 0

LSU keeps pouring it on. Steven Milam sends one out of here and LSU makes it 15-0 in the bottom of the fourth.

Cade Arrambide joins the fun

LSU catcher Cade Arrambide joins the home run. He crushes one to center field. LSU leads 13-0.

Casan Evans with another 1-2-3 inning

It only took Casan Evans nine pitches to get through another 1-2-3 inning. He’s yet to surrender a base runner through four innings.

END 3, LSU 12, Sac State 0

A five-run inning comes to an end and LSU takes a 12-run lead into the fourth inning.

LSU 12, Sac State 0

Mason Braun rips a single to center field to score Steven Milam.

LSU 11, Sac State 0: LSU outfielder Jake Brown homers again, ties LSU record

Jake Brown is having a night. He just hit his third home run in three innings. Quite the feat for the veteran outfielder. He now has 11 homers on the year.

Three home runs ties an LSU single-game record. We’ll see if Brown gets to add to the total.

LSU 8, Sac State 0: Derek Curiel with ANOTHER extra base hit

In three innings, Derek Curiel has three extra-base hits. Another double gives LSU another run and the Tigers lead 8-0. It was probably a catchable ball, but the Hornets couldn’t make the play in the outfield.

Casan Evans continues to thrive

Another sharp inning for LSU’s ace. He’s yet to allow a hit through three innings. The Tigers lead 7-0 as we move to the bottom of the third.

END 2, LSU 7, Sac State 0

LSU can’t add any more, but the Tigers lead 7-0 after two innings.

LSU is threatening to score again

With one out in the bottom of the second, LSU has runners on first and second with just one out.

LSU chases Ethan Lay from the game

Sacramento State is making a pitching change much earlier than it expected. Ethan Lay’s day is done.

And now Jake Brown homers. LSU leads 7-0.

Two innings, two home runs for Jake Brown. Brown crushed one to center field for his seventh home run of the year. Sac State pitcher Ethan Lay was having a good year, but LSU is getting the best of the right-hander early in this one.

Derek Curiel homers. LSU leads 6-0.

Derek Curiel hit one 420 feet into the right field bleachers. Jack Ruckert scores, too. Two more runs for LSU and the Tigers lead 6-0. It’s Curiel’s first home run of the year and probably one of the hardest hits of his LSU career. It’s the second inning and LSU already has five extra-base hits on the night.

Casan Evans rolls in the second

Casan Evans looks as good as he’s looked all year. It’s another 1-2-3 inning. LSU leads 4-0 as the Tigers grab the bats again.

Evans has thrown 26 pitches, 18 of them strikes. He’s struck out four and yet to surrender a base runner.

END 1, LSU 4, Sac State 0

Sacramento State finally gets out of the inning, but that was just the opening frame LSU needed, given the recent struggles. The Tigers have given their ace a four-run lead to play with.

LSU 4, Sac State 0: LSU adds to the lead

Seth Dardar doubles to right field and scores two more. It’s Dardar’s fifth double of the year as the transfer took a swing at the first pitch. The double scored Yorke and Braun. LSU has four extra base hits in the first inning.

LSU has runners at the corners with one out, Tigers up 2-0

With Yorke on second, Mason Braun hit a dribbler down the first base line. The ball looked to be rolling foul, but Sac State pitcher made the choice to try and make a play, keeping it a fair ball. Braun reached to put runners at the corners with one out.

Zach Yorke keeps the rally going

Zach Yorke hits a sharp double to center field for LSU’s third extra base hit of the inning. It was Yorke’s first double of the year. The LSU first baseman is now hitting .273 on the year.

LSU 2, Sac State 0

Jake Brown sends one out the opposite way for a two-run homer and LSU leads 2-0. It was a good piece of hitting from the LSU outfielder, driving the ball to left-center field. That was just the start LSU wanted vs. Sacramento State pitcher Ethan Lay. LSU’s lineup has been struggling as of late, but signs of life here in the first inning.

Derek Curiel leads off with a double

LSU is in business right away as Derek Curiel leads off with a double. LSU got a lucky bounce with the ball ricocheting off first base. It was Curiel’s fourth double of the season.

MID 1, LSU 0, Sac State 0: Sharp first inning for Casan Evans

Casan Evans begins the game with a 1-2-3 inning. He finished the top of the first with a three-pitch strikeout of Luis Pimentel-Guerrero.

Casan Evans begins the game with a strikeout

After a 3-1 count, Casan Evans battled back and struck out the first batter of the game with a heater down the middle for a swing and miss.

The game is underway

Casan Evans’ first pitch is a ball and the game is underway.

What channel is LSU baseball vs. Sacramento State on today?TV Channel: Streaming onlyLivestream:ESPN+

LSU baseball vs. Sacramento State will be streaming only on ESPN+. Fans will need a subscription to watch the game.

What time is the LSU baseball game today?Date: Friday, March 6First pitch: 6:30 p.m. CT

The LSU baseball vs. Sacramento State game has a first pitch at 6:30 p.m. CT from Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA.

Stream LSU baseball vs. Sacramento StateLSU baseball vs. Sacramento State Prediction

LSU Baseball 5, Sacramento State 2: LSU baseball is cold right now, but I can’t justify picking against the Tigers at home vs a team with much less talent. The lineup is still figuring some things out, but starting pitcher Casan Evans will have his best outing of the year and the Tigers get back in the win column.

True freshman Jack Ruckert makes his first career start

Batting No. 9 and starting at second base is true freshman Jack Ruckert. It’s Ruckert’s first collegiate start. Ruckert is a hometown kid and played high school baseball at Catholic High in Baton Rouge. He was the No. 1 recruit in Louisiana in the class of 2026 and Perfect Game ranked Ruckert as the No. 14 true freshman in college baseball ahead of the season.

LSU baseball vs. Sacramento State: Tigers lineup

Jay Johnson is looking for a spark on offense, but the lineup isn’t all that different on Friday night. Derek Curiel bats leadoff in centerfield. Jake Brown and Steven Milam hit No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

LSU Baseball ScheduleLSU baseball needs the lineup to heat up

LSU’s lineup is struggling. LSU has been held to three runs or fewer in three of its last four games. The one game where LSU surpassed the three-run mark was Monday’s loss to Northeastern, and LSU didn’t score runs in that one until the game was already out of hand.

Only three qualified LSU hitters are batting over .300: Jake Brown, Derek Curiel, and Trent Caraway.

A few notes on Sacramento StateSacramento State is struggling this season. The Hornets are just 3-9 and have only one series win.Sac State’s pitching staff is decent, posting a 4.01 ERA on the year.Sacramento State’s top hitter has been Luis Pimentel-Guerrero. He’s hitting .326 with a .874 OPS. He’s totaled 14 hits and scored four runs.