LSU Beats McNeese for Mainieri's 1200th Win

BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU coach Paul Mainieri earned his 1200th career win in a 10-3 victory over McNeese State Wednesday night at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.

Mainieri, who has a career record of 1,200-633-8 in 32 seasons as a college head coach, is one of only nine active NCAA Division I head coaches to reach the 1,200-win mark.

“It’s always nice to reach a milestone like 1,200 wins, but I didn’t win the games, all of the great players I’ve had the pleasure of coaching won the games,” Mainieri said. “I’ve worked with so many tremendous players and coaches over the past 32 years, and it’s a tribute to them as well.

“I was just happy to get a win tonight, because it’s been a while since we’ve won a game. “I thought we played a good all-around ball game tonight that will hopefully give us some momentum heading into the Mississippi State series.”

No. 9 LSU (21-8-1) returns to action this weekend when its plays host to Mississippi State (20-10). First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT Friday at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.

Shortstop Alex Bregman launched a three-run homer and designated hitter Sean McMullen unloaded a two-run dinger to pace the Tigers’ 10-hit attack.

“Both Alex and Sean have been going through a rough stretch at the plate lately, and it was great to see them swing with confidence and hit the ball hard,” Mainieri said.

McNeese State got off to a fast start with two runs in the second inning. Clay Payne hit a two-out single up the middle to plate Connor Lloyd. After a walk, Cameron Toole singled to center field to plate Matt Gallier.

McMullen responded in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run that carried over the left field wall to tie the game at 2-2.

Lucas Quary regained the lead for the Cowboys in the fourth when he hit a solo home run to make it 3-2.

Bregman hit a three-run home run to left field in the sixth inning to make it a 5-3 game. LSU then erupted for five runs in the sixth inning to take control.

Tyler Moore and Andrew Stevenson started the inning with back-to-back singles. With runners on the corners, Christian Ibarra placed a bunt down the first base line for a sacrifice to score Moore.

With the bases loaded, Chris Sciambra hit a single to left-center field to score Stevenson and Ibarra. Kade Scivicque followed with a two-run RBI single up the middle.

Kurt McCune (1-0) , the fourth of eight LSU pitchers, earned the win for the Tigers by working one scoreless inning with one strikeout.

McNeese starter Michael Desabrais (0-1) was charged the loss, as he allowed five runs on three hits in six innings with two walks and two strikeouts.