LSU has not been to Omaha since 2017, and, well, that’s too long – Daily Advertiser

Paul Mainieri takes the field as The LSU Tigers take on Southern Miss in the 2019 NCAA Regional Tournament in Baton Rouge, LA. Sunday, June 2, 2019.(Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network)

BATON ROUGE Maybe, it accidentally slipped out. Or maybe, he meant it.

During LSU's baseball media day last month, coach Paul Mainieri was discussing how open his lineup could be from day one, which is Friday at 7 p.m. when the No. 12 Tigers beginthe 2020 season against Indiana at Alex Box Stadium, throughout the season.

The opening weekend series continues at 3 p.m.Saturdayand noon Sunday.

"Even after the season begins, there is going to be some fluidity to our lineup," he said. "I don't think the lineup we start with on opening day is going to be the same for 56 games and the national championship."

So, make your plans now. LSU will not only reach the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, that begins on June 13, but it will advance to the best-of-three championship series beginning on June 22, according to Mainieri.

The Tigers have not been to Omaha since 2017 when they reached that championship series before losing back-to-back games to Florida. The two-season stretch out of Nebraska is LSU'slongest since not going in three straight seasons from 2010 through 2012.

"'Omaha or bust' is our motto around here," sophomore first baseman Cade Beloso said.

LSU trips to Omaha the last two years were busted in the NCAA Regional in Corvallis, Oregon, in 2018, and at home at the Super Regional against Florida State last year, largely due to a lack of healthy pitching. Mainieri hopes to have that issue solved this season, as 11pitchers who threw last season return along with three additionswho are left-handed a precious commodity LSU did not have in 2019.

"Our pitching staff is going to be at a level that allows us to win games even while we are learning about our team (offensively)," Mainieri said. "Our pitching staff is a veteran pitching staff."

The weekend starting rotation at the moment features all sophomores in Cole Henry (4-2, 3.39 ERA, 58.1 innings last season), who will start Friday, Landon Marceaux(5-2, 4.66 ERA, 58 innings last season) and A.J. Labas (6-2, 3.48 ERA, 54.1 innings in 2018). Henry's 2019 season was plagued by elbow soreness, and Marceaux missed time with arm soreness. Labas missed all of 2019 with a shoulder injury.

That leaves out junior Eric Walker (5-4, 5.47 ERA, 72 innings), who was a weekend starter last season and an All-American in 2017 (8-2, 3.48 ERA, 95.2 innings) before an elbow injury and surgery scratched his entire 2018 campaign. Walker could be one of LSU's best mid-week starters in years if the sophomore trio pans out. Junior Ma'Khail Hilliard (0-4, 5.32 ERA, 44 innings) could also be a formidable mid-week starter if he is healthier this season. He was plagued by shoulder issues in 2019 after going 9-5 with a 3.79 ERA through 76 innings as a weekend rotation member in 2018.

Also back are junior reliever Devin Fontenot (5-4, 3.71 ERA, 7 saves, 51 innings), senior reliever Matthew Beck (3-0, 2.05 ERA, 44 innings), and sophomore Jaden Hill (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 10 innings), who is yet another pitcher who struggled with arm issues last season.

"One of the keys for us, as last year proved, is our ability to keep the guys healthy," Mainieri said.

And he has a plan for that. New sleeve devices will track LSU pitchers' arm stress this season to better avoid injuries through rest, which is not a new thought process by any means.

"We're learning more and more about the importance of recovery for kids," Mainieri said. "Just pure rest. We're giving them more days off than we ever have before. All I can tell you is this fall, the velocities were up, and there were no injuries."

The new left-handers expected to assist the bullpen are junior college transfer Brandon Kaminer,freshman Jacob Hasty of Liberty Christian High in Keller, Texas, and sophomore walk-on Michael Lagarrigue of Fontainebleau High in Mandeville.

"We are excited about adding some left-handed pitching to the staff," Mainieri said.

LSU's offense returns five position starters in junior outfielder Daniel Cabrera (.284, 12 home runs, 50 RBIs), sophomore first baseman Cade Beloso (.279, 10 home runs, 52 RBIs), sophomore catcher Saul Garza (.303, 5 home runs, 27 RBIs), junior shortstop Hal Hughes (.174), and sophomore outfielder Giovanni DiGiacoma (.275, 15 RBIs).

Incoming junior college transfer Zack Mathis could start at third base, and fourother newcomers could play a lot and possibly start as the season goes onin freshman outfielder MauriceHampton, who is a safety on the football team, freshman infielder Zach Arnold,freshman infielder/designated hitter Cade Doughty and freshman catcher/designated hitter Hayden Travinski of Airline High in Bossier City who hit .429 with 12 home runs last season.

"I am waiting to see which players are going to rise above others and make a statement that they should be starting players," Mainieri said.

Meanwhile, LSU fans have been waiting since 2009 for Mainieri's second national championship and the program's seventh. No longer is the baseball team the last LSU program to win the national championship with the football team winning that with a perfect 15-0 season in 2019-20.

"I was getting just as much enjoyment out of that as everyone else was," Mainieri said. "Now, it's time for the baseball program to uphold its end of it as well."

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LSU has not been to Omaha since 2017, and, well, that's too long - Daily Advertiser