Hello again, everyone. A 1-8 start in SEC play is extremely tough for any of the league's 14 baseball-playing schools to overcome, but LSU is giving it a real go. Paul Mainieri's team won for the seventh time in its last 13 conference games, taking care of Auburn 8-3 on Thursday night. Our Wilson Alexander, who was on site in Auburn, Alabama, tells us how the important win unfolded. It was a must-win game in a must-win series against one of three teams tied at the bottom of the league standings, giving LSU a little bit of separation in its bid to make the SEC tournament (only the top 12 teams qualify). Tre' Morgan was the hitting star with four hits and two RBIs and Landon Marceaux struck out 11 Auburn batters in seven-plus innings, putting LSU in the driver's seat to clinch and perhaps sweep the series with Game 2 set for 7 p.m. Friday (SEC Network). From the baseball diamond to the beach we go. That's where LSU's beach volleyball team, which is seeded fourth for nationals, will continue its quest for a title after last year's tournament was canceled by COVID. LSU opens the tournament, which is being played in Gulf Shores, Alabama, against No. 5 seed Loyola Marymount at 10 a.m. Friday. Also, Beth Torina's softball team goes into the final three-game series of the regular season when LSU hosts Auburn at 5:30 p.m. Friday. LSU, which holds down No. 4 spot in the RPI, currently sits in seventh place in the SEC, so the goal is to improve its standing with the league tournament set for next week. Also Thursday, the Board of Supervisors rubber-stamped an eight-year contract for new women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey and an extension for wide receivers coach Mickey Joseph, the track and field teams put four athletes on The Bowerman Award watch lists and former LSU quarterback TJ Finley opened up about his decision to move on. To our paying subscribers: Thank you for supporting our sportswriters’ work. If you’re not already, please consider becoming a digital subscriber and continue to support our journalism. Click here for a special offer from us. As a paying subscriber, you'll enjoy full access to our award-winning coverage, faster-loading web pages with fewer ads and much more. Until next time, Sheldon Mickles |