| The hits just keep on not coming for the LSU baseball SEC-opening series against ancient rival Mississippi State. Unfortunately for LSU, the Tigers’ bats were no rival for the Bulldogs’ hit sticks. State outhit LSU 16-6 en route to a 10-4 victory that hung the first loss of the season on new staff ace Luke Holman. It’s the first time Holman has given up runs this season. Not that the hitting has given him much support. It’s only the first of 30 SEC games, but it is part of a troubling trend for LSU. The Tigers’ offensive onslaught last year was practically legendary. This year, the lack of offense is becoming increasingly infamous. While the LSU baseball team did battle in Starkville with Mississippi State, the men’s basketball Tigers were back in Baton Rouge thanks to Thursday’s 70-60 loss to State in the SEC Tournament. Now the Tigers wait for Sunday night to see if they’ve done enough to earn an NIT berth. Our Sheldon Mickles has the details. LSU gymnastics wrapped up the regular season and home season Friday at the PMAC with an easy 198.250-196.075 victory over North Carolina. It was also senior night, a big deal at LSU since half the Tigers’ 22 gymnasts are fourth-, fifth- or sixth-year seniors. Next stop: the SEC Championships next Saturday in the Smoothie King Center. Oh, I almost forgot, we have a photo gallery for you from the meet. Selection Sunday is this weekend, as we will find out the LSU women’s basketball team’s place in the NCAA Tournament. LSU has asked the NCAA to be allowed to host Friday-Sunday NCAA games so as not to conflict with SEC gymnastics. We will see Sunday night if that request was granted. Despite last season’s national championship, LSU women’s basketball’s pursuit of the top four recruits in the country has come up empty. Sarah Strong, the nation’s No. 1 prospect, has named her three finalists and none of them are LSU. The Tigers have just one signee, albeit a good one, Louisiana Gatorade Player of the year Jada Richard. Kim Mulkey and her staff will likely have to hit the transfer portal hard once again. Mulkey is apparently the nation’s highest-paid women’s basketball coach, according to a study by USA Today. Click here to find out how much and who ranks behind her. Finally, the unbeaten LSU softball team is back in action when the No. 2 Tigers (23-0, 3-0 SEC) host Ole Miss (18-7, 1-2) at Tiger Park. And the LSU track and field teams are doing their thing down in Miami in the Hurricane Invitational. That’s all for now, LSU fans. That should be plenty, no? Have a great sports weekend and we’ll see you again next week, Scott Rabalais | 
