Jay Johnson explains LSU's decision to use Casan Evans on Friday
TL;DR
LSU baseball lost 11-1 to Florida, resulting in a series loss. Head coach Jay Johnson explained the decision to use Casan Evans in relief for nearly two innings, noting his effective change-ups.
Key points
- LSU baseball lost 11-1 to Florida.
- Casan Evans pitched in relief for nearly two innings.
- Jay Johnson planned for Evans to throw around 40 pitches.
Mentioned in this story
LSU baseball dropped Game 2 of the three-game set to Florida 11-1 on Friday. It solidifies a series loss to the Gators. On both sides of the ball, the Tigers struggled.
Following Friday's contest, head coach Jay Johnson explained the decision to pitch Casan Evans in relief for nearly two innings.
"It was always the plan to have him throw tonight, around 40 pitches, two innings," Johnson said. "I thought his stuff looked good. [I] thought he threw some really good change-ups, which is a signature for him."
Following Thursday's loss, Johnson said neither Evans nor fellow regular weekend starter William Schmidt would see the bump. He clarified on Friday that neither would get a start against the Gators, but he didn't mean to say Evans was unavailable.
Evans went 1.2 innings in relief on Friday, He surrendered three runs on a home run and allowed two hits while picking up two strikeouts. Johnson confirmed that Schmidt won't play in the regular season finale on Saturday, but both he and Evans will be available for the SEC tournament.
Here is what Johnson said about both starting pitchers following Thursday's contest.
"I make these decisions all the time," Johnson said. "Do I love not having William Schmidt and Casan Evans against Florida? No. I hate it. It makes me sick to my stomach."
Johnson knows LSU's only path to the NCAA Tournament is somehow winning the SEC. With that in mind, LSU is saving its bullets for Hoover, rather than emptying the tank in the final regular-season series.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU's Jay Johnson explains why LSU used Casan Evans in Game 2 vs Florida
Q&A
Why did LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson use Casan Evans on Friday?
Jay Johnson explained that it was always the plan for Casan Evans to pitch around 40 pitches for two innings, and he felt Evans' performance was strong.
What was the outcome of the LSU vs. Florida baseball game on Friday?
LSU baseball lost to Florida 11-1, which confirmed a series loss against the Gators.
Did Casan Evans start against Florida during the series?
No, neither Casan Evans nor regular starter William Schmidt started against Florida, but Evans was available to pitch in relief.
