Fast-Starting Tigers

Pair of local players helping LSU in early going

By Jim Gazzolo - February 19, 2026

The defending national baseball champs are off to a fast start once again, and just like last season, Southwest Louisiana players are helping set the stage.

Nobody is hotter than Jake Brown, the junior outfielder who was a big part of last season’s title Tigers. 

Brown has started this season bashing the baseball. The left-handed outfielder hit four home runs in the opening four games, two on Sunday and another two on Monday.

That’s half the total he hit last year.

Brown said the power surge is because of “a lot of hard work in the weight room,” he proclaimed. 

Whatever the reason, it has worked in the early going. 

During the first weekend, Brown went 9-for-17 with two doubles to go with the four homers. He also hit his first career grand slam on Sunday.

Brown finished the weekend driving in 10 runs and scoring seven. He was named to Baseball America’s College Team of the Week.

“Great player,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said of Brown. “He’s one of the keys to our season, and I say that with a lot of excitement because I know the character, the makeup, and the intent. When we have a good message, it’s not just coach-to-team; he’s going to help filter it through the players. He’s a good leader, one of the best I’ve had in all my years. 

“The talent speaks for itself; it’s why we played him as a freshman. Chapel Hill Regional, we’re sinking or swimming; he homered in that last game. He had a great season last year, a huge reason we won the national championship. I believe he hit fourth in the national championship game. It’s his time.”

While Brown helped the Tigers last year, Gavin Guidry could only watch. The right-handed hurler from Barbe High School in Lake Charles was injured and missed the season. 

With his first 14 pitches this season, he struck out three Milwaukee batters on Opening Night, earning the victory as the Tigers rallied for the win. Monday, he came back and earned the save as LSU beat Kent.

“I think he is the best closer in the country,” Johnson said. “I just think he's special. I always have. This is exactly what you want. 

“He wanted to be an infielder, we worked on that, but it was, what you're seeing is meant to be. And it takes a special competitor to be the Friday pitcher or the closer. And he's got it.”

Over his two outings, Guidry has allowed just one hit and walked nobody in 4⅓ innings. He has struck out 10 while throwing 43 of his 61 pitches as strikes. 

For now, he’s just happy to be back pitching.

“I get to go out there and play a game that got taken away from me for the last year,” Guidry said. 

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS-Lake Charles.