LSU Baseball vs. Kent State Starting Lineup, Start Time, TV Channel in Monday Clash

Baton Rouge, La. – Fresh off a grueling three-game weekend stretch, defending national champion LSU returns to Alex Box Stadium on Monday night for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch against Kent State in the Tigers’ fourth contest in as many days.

Jay Johnson, the 2023 and 2025 National Coach of the Year, will hand the ball to junior right-hander Jaden Noot as LSU aims to extend its streak of 24 consecutive season-opening victories dating back to 2001. The Tigers, ranked No. 1 by Perfect Game and USA Today and No. 2 by D1 Baseball and Baseball America, will trot out a retooled lineup that features seven returning position players with starting experience blended with impact transfers.

Johnson emphasized the importance of managing an eight-games-in-10-days gauntlet to open 2026. “We have to be smart about doing what we need to do to win the first game, and then put this whole picture together,” he said. “Our goal is to win every single game that we can, and figure out our best team as we go.”

Monday’s batting order showcases speed at the top with sophomore Derek Curiel in center field and junior Steven Milam at shortstop, followed by veteran corner outfielder Jake Brown in right. Sophomore backstop Cade Arrambide will handle the staff, while senior first baseman Zach Yorke—one of six LSU transfers listed among the D1 Baseball Top 50 Transfer Hitters—provides power in the heart of the order. Sophomores Seth Dardar (2B) and Trent Caraway (3B) round out the infield, with junior Tanner Reaves shifting to left field and freshman Mason Braun serving as designated hitter.

Noot, a junior who logged key innings during the 2025 title run, headlines a pitching staff that returns 10 hurlers with collegiate experience. LSU’s 20-player recruiting class, ranked among the nation’s best, supplements the roster with eight Division I transfers and nine high-school signees, six of whom appear in Perfect Game’s Top 100 Collegiate Freshmen.

The game will be televised on the SEC Network+, with streaming available via the ESPN app. Fans inside Alex Box Stadium can expect another sell-out atmosphere as the Tigers continue their pursuit of a third national championship in four seasons.