CSE Performances of the Week | Week 4
Southern Illinois (4-0 on the week)
Photo by Sam Bischel via Southern Illinois University Athletics
The Salukis continued their hot start at the Hilltopper Spring Fling this past weekend, in Bowling Green, KY, leaving with a 4-0 record on the weekend. SIU outscored their opponents 34-6 over the 4 games (Dayton twice, Northern Illinois and Western Kentucky). SIU’s Maddia Groff has been one of the nation’s top freshman pitchers this year, posting a 7-0 record and a 0.53 ERA in 53 innings of work in the young campaign. This weekend, Groff threw five innings of shutout ball vs Dayton on Saturday and an EIGHT inning shutout vs the home team, WKU. Groff ended the weekend 2-0 with 13 IP, 17K, 1BB, 0R, 7H. Southern Illinois improved to 11-4 on the year.
Louisiana (3-3 on the week)
Photo by RAGIN CAJUN ATHLETICS
While the 3-3 record could be seen as an average weekend, Sunday afternoon’s upset vs the #1 team in the land must be taken into consideration. Louisiana came into the week with a 7-9 record, whoever, Louisiana has played a tough schedule to start the year. The Cajuns have played 11 games against 5 teams currently in the Top 25 (Cal, Mississippi State, Baylor, Stanford, and Texas). When you dive deeper into the schedule, rather than looking solely at the record, Louisiana has played fairly well so far this year. They should be gearing up for a run in the Sun Belt. The Ragin’ Cajuns ended the week with a win over Nicholls and a two-game split with both Liberty and Oklahoma, ending OU’s 71-game win streak.
Honorable Mentions
LSU (6-0 on the week)-
Another week, another pristine LSU record. This weekend, the Tigers played in the Purple and Gold Challenge, at home, and took care of business against Illinois, San Diego State (twice), McNeese State (twice), and Louisiana Tech. LSU has been led, for the most part, by their dominant pitching staff. A staff that is very much by-committee. All five pitchers have started at least 2 of the first 19 games and nobody has over 50 innings so far. The staff has a combined 1.98 ERA, 126 K, 85H, and 36ER in 127IP. LSU finds itself leading the ultra-powerful SEC.
Missouri (4-0 on the week)-
The Big Red Invitation was dominated by the Tigers, going 4-0 on the weekend with a pair of wins vs Wichita State and Nebraska, in Lincoln. Missouri left Lincoln outscoring opponents 36-12, on the back of solid, complimentary pitching and hitting.
Mississippi State (6-0 on the week)-
The Bulldog Invitational was owned by the home team. Mississippi State went 6-0, with five of those wins coming by run-rule. The Bulldog pitching staff, led by CSE #9 pre-season pitcher, Josey Marron, gave up only seven runs, five earned. The Bulldogs finished Sunday evening outscoring the field 65-7 and are showing that the SEC is going to have another powerhouse to worry about when conference play starts.
