| Big hits and big punchouts were the big difference Friday night in LSU’s big 6-3 win over soon-to-be SEC rival Texas in the Astros Foundation College Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Mammoth home runs in the seventh inning by Tommy White and Jared Jones broke open what had been a close game. Meanwhile, LSU hitters made Longhorns ace Lebarron Johnson labor and finally leave after three innings while three LSU pitchers (Luke Holman, Nate Ackenhausen, Fidel Ulloa) combined to strike out 20. The win, clearly LSU’s best so far this season, pushed the Tigers’ record to 9-1 going into Saturday’s game of the classic against UL at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, some former LSU football stars in Indianapolis for the NFL combine, trying to put their best feet forward in advance of the NFL draft. Our Saints beat writers are in Indy, with Matthew Paras telling us what one play helped former Tiger receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas maximize their draft stock, and what might be the best draft situation for Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels. The LSU gymnastics team was in action Friday afternoon/evening at the PMAC against Alabama, a 5 p.m. start that had coach Jay Clark fretting about the impact on attendance. As it turned out almost all the seats in the sold-out arena were filled. The fans got quite a reward for their rush hour efforts, as Haleigh Bryant posted another perfect 10 on floor and LSU posted one if its best scores ever in a 198.325-197.325 win over Alabama. See what the win may mean for the Tigers’ hopes of securing a No. 1 NCAA regional seed and a piece of the SEC regular-season title. The men’s basketball team is back on the road Saturday at Vanderbilt (2:30 p.m., SEC Network), trying to improve its SEC Tournament seeding and hopes of at least earning a bid to the NIT. Our Sheldon Mickles also breaks down the SEC championship chase with one week left in the regular season. The LSU women’s basketball team made it a February to remember with an 80-54 win Thursday at Georgia. The Tigers went 7-0 in February, holding all seven opponents under 40% shooting, always a key statistic to coach Kim Mulkey. It looks like the Tigers have found their defense just in time for March. Finally, the LSU softball team continued its early season roll, moving to 15-0 by edging Illinois 3-2 and run-ruling San Diego State 9-1 in the Purple and Gold Challenge at Tiger Park. That’s all for today, folks. Thanks as always for reading and subscribing. Have a great sports weekend. Scott Rabalais | 
