LSU Baseball Impresses in Season's First Five Games

Tigers start 5-0 with strong offense and bullpen, but starting rotation still a work in progress

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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LSU baseball has opened the 2026 season with a 5-0 record, including a 12-1 run-rule victory over Nicholls State on Wednesday. Standout performances from junior Jake Brown, who has hit 4 home runs in the first 5 games, and the Tigers' bullpen have been bright spots, while the starting rotation outside of ace Cooper Moore has struggled at times. LSU's offense has also impressed, scoring 17 runs with two outs over the first 5 games.

Why it matters

LSU is looking to build on its success from last season and make a deep postseason run. The Tigers' fast start and impressive offensive production have raised expectations, but the inconsistency of the starting pitchers is a concern that will need to be addressed as the season progresses.

The details

LSU has played 5 games in the first 6 days of the season, going 5-0 in that stretch. Standout performances have come from junior Jake Brown, who is hitting .500 with 4 home runs and 12 RBIs, and the Tigers' bullpen, which has been dominant. However, the starting rotation outside of ace Cooper Moore has struggled at times, with Casan Evans and Zac Cowan failing to pitch as well as expected. LSU's offense has been a strength, scoring 17 runs with two outs over the first 5 games, including a first-inning grand slam by Trent Caraway against Nicholls State.

  • LSU opened the season on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • The Tigers played 5 games in a 6-day span from February 13-18, 2026.
  • LSU defeated Nicholls State 12-1 in a run-rule victory on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The players

Jake Brown

A junior outfielder for LSU who is off to a torrid start, hitting .500 with 4 home runs and 12 RBIs in the first 5 games of the season.

Cooper Moore

LSU's ace starting pitcher who has pitched well to start the season.

Casan Evans

An LSU starting pitcher who has struggled in his early outings this season.

Zac Cowan

An LSU starting pitcher who has not pitched as well as expected in the early part of the season.

Jay Johnson

The head coach of the LSU baseball team.

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What they’re saying

“I think pitching we're not totally just dialed just quite yet. I think we will move closer to it. There's way more positives from the mound than not. It's obviously a deep staff. And that's five games in six days. We're running out (freshman) Reagan Ricken for the last three innings and that guy probably could pitch on Friday.”

— Jay Johnson, Head Coach (houmatoday.com)

What’s next

LSU will travel to Jacksonville, Florida to play in the Jax College Baseball Classic over the weekend, facing Indiana, Notre Dame, and UCF.

The takeaway

While LSU's offense and bullpen have been impressive to start the season, the inconsistency of the starting rotation is a concern that the Tigers will need to address as they look to build on their fast start and make a deep postseason run.