What stood out from LSU baseball's sweep at Jacksonville showcase?
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It was a successful business trip for No. 1 LSU baseball to Jacksonville, Florida.
Head coach Jay Johnson and the Tigers (8-0) swept through the competition at the Jax College Baseball Classic, doubling up Indiana, 14-7, Friday, followed by beating Notre Dame, 9-4, Saturday afternoon before completing the undefeated weekend with a 11-0 run-rule victory over UCF Sunday.
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LSU's offense continued its torrid start to the 2026 season, outscoring three Power Four opponents in a three-day span 34-11.
Here are three takeaways from LSU's 3-0 performance in Jacksonville.
William Schmidt makes loudest statement yet for weekend rotation spot
The Baton Rouge native's first start of his sophomore last weekend was a little shaky, going four innings and giving up three runs. But against the best team LSU has played to this point in UCF, Schmidt dazzled, pitching five shutout frames while allowing just three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
After two weeks, the freshman now leads LSU's vaunted pitching staff in ERA at 1.11, has given up the fewest hits per nine innings, has the best opponents' batting average of any LSU pitcher that has started a game in the early going and is second on the team in strikeouts with 16.
LSU baseball offense delivers in big-time spots
Over the weekend, the Tigers' offense went 17 for 45 (.378) with runners in scoring positions. Considering how much better the competition was and the pitchers this week versus last week, that number is encouraging for LSU just two weeks into the season.
Batting in the leadoff spot, sophomore Derek Curiel said it best after completing the sweep Sunday that the Tigers' lineup is made up of different hitters, but the chemistry is there.
"We all mesh so well as a team," Curiel said. "It's great that we can not only hit home runs, but we can bunt, we can hit-and-run, we can execute two-strike hitting, runners on second and third and get the guy in. We just now how to do our job and that's a credit to the coaches. We feel like we have a great plan and we're executing it perfectly right now."
Curiel finished the weekend 5 for 13 with four RBIs and five runs scored.
Seth Dardar feels cemented as starter at second base
Coming into the season after the departure of Daniel Dickinson, second base was one of the heavily contested positions on the field for LSU. Returner Tanner Reaves along with transfers Seth Dardar and Brayden Simpson have all been vying for time there.
After two weeks, Dardar has earned six starts at second and considering his production, he feels like the starting second baseman for the Tigers going forward. The Louisiana native and Kansas State transfer is second on the team in hitting with a .400 average, leads LSU in doubles, has 10 RBIs and his on-base percentage is the highest on the team as he has drew 11 walks so far.
It's hard to ignore the impact Dardar has had on LSU's offense so far, especially setting the table for the bottom half of the order, which has been able to come through a lot as Dardar as recorded nine runs in eight games played.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: 3 takeaways from LSU baseball's sweep at Jax College Baseball Classic