LSU Baseball Faces Injury Concerns Ahead of Key SEC Series

Coach Jay Johnson provides updates on three veteran hitters dealing with injuries.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:58am

A cubist, geometric painting in the colors of LSU and Ole Miss, depicting the fragmented action of a college baseball game through overlapping planes and shapes.Injuries to key starters could complicate LSU's chances against a ranked SEC opponent like Ole Miss.Oxford Today

LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson revealed that several key veteran players are dealing with injuries ahead of a crucial SEC series against Ole Miss. Fifth-year second baseman Seth Dardar was unavailable to play on Sunday after a lower leg injury he suffered last Tuesday worsened over the weekend.

Why it matters

LSU is looking to bounce back after a tough start to conference play, and the health of their veteran lineup will be crucial as they face a ranked SEC opponent. Injuries to key starters could significantly impact the team's performance and chances of making the postseason.

The details

In addition to Dardar's injury, Johnson also provided updates on two other veteran hitters - junior outfielder Gavin Dugas and senior first baseman Cade Doughty. Dugas has been dealing with a hand injury that has limited his playing time, while Doughty is recovering from a recent illness that kept him out of the lineup.

  • Dardar suffered a lower leg injury last Tuesday.
  • Dardar was unavailable to play on Sunday.

The players

Seth Dardar

A fifth-year second baseman for the LSU baseball team.

Jay Johnson

The head coach of the LSU baseball team.

Gavin Dugas

A junior outfielder for the LSU baseball team.

Cade Doughty

A senior first baseman for the LSU baseball team.

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What they’re saying

“Seth Dardar was unavailable to play on Sunday, according to coach Jay Johnson, after the lower leg injury he suffered last Tuesday got worse as the weekend commenced.”

— Jay Johnson, Head Coach

What’s next

The extent of the injuries to Dardar, Dugas, and Doughty will be closely monitored as LSU prepares to face Ole Miss in a key SEC series this weekend.

The takeaway

Injuries to veteran starters could significantly impact LSU's chances of success in a crucial SEC matchup, underscoring the importance of player health and depth for college baseball teams as they navigate a demanding conference schedule.