Jay Johnson breaks down approach needed against scrappy Wofford team

The LSU baseball team got off to a shaky start against Wofford in the Chapel Hill Regional on Friday afternoon, surrendering an early lead.

The Tigers were hit hard in the second inning, with the Terriers plating a pair of runs thanks to some seriously timely hitting.

“Yeah what you expect. They do a good job battling with two strikes,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said on an ESPNU broadcast of the game. “They’ve put a couple balls in play there, then we got the leadoff double, they dragged and hit a sac fly. Then with two outs, two-strike single, stolen base, two-strike single. Really good team. That’s why we’re pitching them.”

Wofford got on the board first in the top of the second inning.

Catcher Daniel Jackson led the charge by hitting a leadoff double, then a sacrifice bunt moved him over to third base. He scored moments later on a sacrifice fly from first baseman Tyler Hare, breaking the 0-0 deadlock.

A full-count single by designated hitter Lucas Manning put another runner aboard, then Manning stole second. Left fielder Andrew Mannelly drove him home with a single to right field, making it 2-0

On the other side, LSU hadn’t had much luck against Wofford starting pitcher Branton Little. Little had given up just one hit through the first three innings of work, striking out two while walking just one.

Johnson broke down the approach needed to touch up Little in the Chapel Hill Regional.

“Just slow down,” he said. “Got to make sure we make him elevate the ball.”

LSU without Christian Little in Chapel Hill Regional

LSU pitcher Christian Little will be out for the entire Chapel Hill Regional, a team spokesman confirmed to The Advocate’s Koki Riley.

Little was injured in the SEC Tournament championship game against Tennessee over the weekend, experiencing discomfort following a pitch and exiting the contest as a result. Coach Jay Johnson called it a lat injury.

While Little isn’t the most statistically efficient player, he had turned into a pretty decent option out of the bullpen for the Tigers.

The senior right-hander boasts a 6.37 ERA in 29.2 innings of work, having given up 21 runs and 35 hits. He has struck out 38 batters while walking 16.

LSU was involved in first-round action against Wofford early on Friday afternoon, with the game beginning at 12 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The Tigers trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth at the time of this writing.