Indiana
BREAKING: LSU Baseball Lands Commitment From Indiana State Pitcher Luke Hayden
Jay Johnson and the LSU baseball staff continue their hot streak in the NCAA Transfer Portal after adding their fourth pitcher this offseason: Indiana State’s Luke Hayden.
Hayden, a right-handed pitcher who shined for the Sycamores in 2024, is Baton Rouge bound with a chance to become a pivotal relief pitcher for the Tigers next season.
During the 2024 season, Hayden tallied 91 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched with a 3.81 ERA. The Indiana State stud adds to the Tigers’ impressive Transfer Portal haul, becoming the fifth addition in the last seven days.
Johnson and Co. have now reeled in Indiana State’s top two players from a season ago in both Hayden and slugger Luis Hernandez.
Hernandez revealed his commitment to LSU earlier in the week with the Tigers adding the electric power-hitter.
Hayden is the fifth transfer to announce his commitment to LSU.
BREAKING: Here come the Tigers… Jay Johnson and the Tigers land another Transfer Portal commitment: Luke Hayden.
The Indiana State star is Baton Rouge bound with a chance to make an impact for #LSU.
The 2024 Numbers: The Tigers are rolling. pic.twitter.com/dIwyrNbKMP — Zack Nagy (@znagy20) June 15, 2024
78 IP
3.81 ERA
91 strikeouts
47 BB
A dive into the five Transfer Portal commitments:
Chandler Dorsey: South Florida
On Monday, LSU secured its first portal commitment after South Florida relief pitcher Chandler Dorsey announced he would be taking his talents to Baton Rouge.
The right-handed relief pitcher announced on social media:
“Blessed to announce my commitment to LSU to further my academic and baseball career,” Dorsey said via Instagram. “I want to thank God, my family and coaches who helped me throughout this journey! Geaux Tigers!”
Dorsey announced his intentions to depart South Florida after two years with the program.
During the 2024 season, the prized righty went 2-1 with eight saves and a 3.60 ERA (12 ER/30.0 IP) with a 1.20 WHIP. He also racked up 41 strikeouts on the season during year two with the Bulls.
Now, he’s Baton Rouge bound as the first commitment for LSU during the offseason after seeing nine departures over the last eight days.
Luis Hernandez: Indiana State
Hernandez revealed his commitment to Johnson and Co. on Tuesday with LSU adding a key piece to the lineup for the 2025 season.
After three years with the Sycamores, Hernandez entered the portal with a chance to find a change of scenery.
Now, he’s Baton Rouge bound with Johnson finding a talented power hitter to replace the likes of Tommy White and others.
The utility slugger finished his career with Indiana State batting .315 across his three years with the program. In 578 career at-bats, Hernandez tallied 182 hits, 118 runs, 32 home runs, 120 RBIs and has drawn 48 walks.
In 2024, he pieced together his most impressive year yet. Hernandez raked in 23 home runs with a .359 batting average and 76 runs batted in.
He has the chance to be a key component to what the Tigers do in 2025. A player who has played in the infield, catcher and served as designated hitter, Hernandez is a utility piece for LSU come next season.
Zac Cowan: Wofford
The All-SoCon right-handed pitcher went 10-2 with 124 strikeouts and 29 walks in 110 innings at Wofford this spring. Cowan also boasts a 3.35 ERA after dismantling opponents during the 2024 season with the Terriers.
It’s another big-time addition to the pitching rotation for Johnson and Co. as he continues working through Transfer Portal evaluations.
Now, he brings in an ace who’s proven he can compete at the highest level.
Cowan, who was one of the most sought-after transfers in the portal, will now head to Baton Rouge with the chance to earn a starting slot alongside several prominent arms.
Cowan is the third addition for LSU this offseason, joining South Florida right-handed pitcher Chandler Dorsey and Indiana State slugger Luis Hernandez.
Deven Sheerin: Mount St. Mary’s Pitcher
Jay Johnson and the LSU baseball staff remained hot in the NCAA Transfer Portal on Friday night after adding a commitment from Mount St. Mary’s Deven Sheerin.
The electric right-handed pitcher is fresh off of a dominant first season of college baseball after dismantling opponents in year one.
Sheerin logged a 4.76 ERA in 2024 with 109 strikeouts, 32 walks, 10 HBP and 37 earned runs in 70 innings pitched. The numbers speak for themselves, but Sheerin’s arsenal pitches has proven to be what makes him so lethal.
As just a freshman, his fastball has been clocked at 98mph while hovering in the 95mph range routinely.
The addition is another impressive one for Johnson and the Tigers, but the key factor here is that Sheerin won’t be eligible for the MLB Draft until 2026, meaning he’ll be in Baton Rouge for at least two seasons.
It’s a dynamic piece for the Tigers, and now with Sheerin in the mix, LSU has now secured a trio of immediate impact pitchers for the 2025 season.
Other LSU News:
LSU Baseball: Tigers Secure Commitment From Wofford Ace Zac Cowan
BREAKING: LSU Lands Commitment From Indiana State Slugger Luis Hernandez
LSU Baseball: Jay Johnson Reacts to Paul Mainieri Being Hired By South Carolina
Join the Community:
Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Country: @LSUCountry_FN for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump spoke at length about Indiana football’s perfect season Monday afternoon during a ceremony on the South Lawn at the White House honoring the team.
“This was a year that will live forever in the hearts of Indiana football fans,” Trump said. “There’s no story like this.”
Trump relived that journey, offering his own commentary on IU’s 16-0 season. Here’s a look at the standout moments from the President’s speech:
Trump compares Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti to Muhammad Ali
The President referenced Cignetti’s famed “Google Me” press conference as he traced IU’s path to the national title. While Trump said he normally hates guys with “cocky” attitudes, he couldn’t help but admire Cignetti’s style. Trump compared it to the way Muhammad Ali backed up his tough talk.
“Just two years later, he brought home the national championship,” Trump said. “When you do that stuff, you have to be able to produce when you act that way.”
Trump laughs off Indiana football’s notable absences
Trump didn’t expect quite so many former Indiana football players to be busy with OTA’s in the NFL. While Fernando Mendoza’s absence made headlines last week, Trump was surprised to find out that key starters like Pat Coogan and D’Angelo Ponds weren’t in attendance either. The President sought to highlight their contributions during his remarks.
“We’ve got 15 of them in (NFL) training camp right now,” Cignetti told Trump.
“Oh, I can’t believe it,” the President said. “No wonder you won.”
According to Trump, Mendoza called the President last week to tell him he wouldn’t be able to attend the event. There were a handful of former IU players on the trip who graduated, but none of the ones who were drafted or signed to NFL teams.
Trump impressed with IU’s blowout win over Alabama in Rose Bowl: ‘You’ve got to be kidding’
Trump has maintained close ties with former Alabama coach Nick Saban, Cignetti’s one-time mentor. It might help explain why the President was so impressed by the lopsided final score of IU’s 38-3 victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
“Coach, you’ve got to be kidding,” Trump said after reading the final score. “That’s right, over Alabama. That’s a big one.”
Cignetti, who won a title as an assistant at Alabama for Saban, even poked fun at his former school as Trump spoke about the game.
“Roll tide,” Cignetti shouted.
Trump spotlights Indiana football’s gutsy QB draw in CFP title game
Former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s diving touchdown against the Hurricanes made quite the impression on Trump, who attended the CFP championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. The President raved about the play call on Monday afternoon with Cignetti by his side.
Facing a fourth-and-four from Miami’s 12-yard line, Cignetti called a QB draw with his team holding onto a slim lead in the final 10 minutes. Mendoza scored by breaking a series of tackles and making a Superman-esque dive across the goal line.
“No coach in America would have done what this guy did,” Trump said of Cignetti. “They said, this guy is making such a mistake, and he won. That was a hell of a play. That’s the kind of play if they don’t do that play, if it doesn’t work, that’s like career-threatening, right?”
Trump circled back to the thought before talking about Jamari Sharpe’s interception.
“He kept doing all this stuff,” Trump said. “The things that weren’t supposed to happen. You’re just lucky you won that game because if you didn’t, they would have said, this coach is crazy.”
Trump celebrates Indiana football’s ‘legendary story’
Trump frequently veered away from his prepared remarks to offer up asides on Indiana’s rags to riches story. Cignetti orchestrated a turnaround in just two seasons in Bloomington at a school with very little tradition in the sport.
“What you did is something that I don’t think anybody’s ever really done in college football history,” Trump said.
Trump, like many fans, was impressed with the way IU dispatched the sport’s blue bloods — mostly in lopsided fashion — on their journey to winning the CFP title.
“You went through a lot of great teams,” Trump said. “And real football powerhouses over the years. That’s pretty intimidating. Amazing. Top tens. This team lifted the Indiana football program from a historic low.”
For Trump, it’s what made Indiana’s 16-0 season distinct from other championship teams that have visited the White House.
“The story of Indiana University is really a legendary story,” Trump said.
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
Fernando Mendoza did not attend Indiana University’s visit to the White House commemorating the Hoosiers’ college football national championship on Monday. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback said earlier this month that he would not attend if it interfered with any activities with his new team.
“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here,” Mendoza said following a rookie minicamp practice. “I got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice. I don’t know anything official. I don’t have the calendar, but I just wouldn’t. As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look, and I want to try to best serve my teammates. And I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
According to the team’s official offseason schedule, the Raiders did not have any formal practices or workouts on Monday. The team’s next organized activity is May 18, its first OTA workout.
“Fernando couldn’t be here today because, as I said, he’s now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders,” President Donald Trump said in his address. “Let’s see how good of a team they have, and I think he’s gonna do great. He’s a winner.”
Mendoza wasn’t the only absence. Center Pat Coogan and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds were among the other Hoosiers not in attendance for the event due to NFL obligations. Indiana had a program-record eight players selected in April’s NFL Draft.
Trump highlighted Mendoza’s accomplishments and contributions to the school’s first football national title. He celebrated Mendoza as Indiana’s inaugural Heisman Trophy winner and praised his fourth-quarter touchdown run in the championship game against Miami.
“He’s gonna be a good one,” Trump said.
Indiana was well-represented by returning members of the team. Charlie Becker, one of Mendoza’s go-to receivers during the College Football Playoffs, and Jamari Sharpe, whose late interception secured the title-game victory, both spoke on behalf of the school, as did head coach Curt Cignetti.
Mendoza is one of four members of the national champion Hoosiers who joined the Raiders this offseason. Running back Roman Hemby and wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. signed as undrafted free agents in the days following the draft. Wide receiver Jonathan Brady earned a contract after impressing as a tryout player during rookie minicamp.
MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating a triple shooting that took place on Muncie’s south side Sunday evening that left a woman dead and two men injured.
According to police, at approximately 5:27 p.m., Muncie Police Officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of South Walnut Street in reference to reports of several people being shot.
Officers arrived and located three gunshot victims: A 23-year-old female who died from “multiple wounds,” a 39-year-old male who is hospitalized in stable condition, and a 40-year-old male who was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital in critical condition.
Police say a suspect is in custody, a 21-year-old man.
Police did not provide any additional information.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Muncie Police Detective Division at 765-747-4867 or dispatch at 765-747-4838.
-
Dallas, TX3 minutes agoRanking Every Cowboys Position Group By Overall Talent and Depth
-
Miami, FL9 minutes agoSevere weather, flash flooding possible in South Florida on Tuesday
-
Boston, MA15 minutes agoCanvas reportedly reaches deal with hackers for stolen data – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
-
Denver, CO21 minutes agoFormer Denver Bronco Craig Morton, who became the first quarterback to start Super Bowl for 2 franchises, dies at 83
-
Seattle, WA27 minutes agoSeattle weather: 80s on the horizon before a long cooldown
-
San Diego, CA33 minutes agoOpinion: Proposed federal rule would hammer beauty industry
-
Milwaukee, WI39 minutes agoWhat the Bucks can learn from this year’s playoffs: Eastern Conference First Round
-
Atlanta, GA44 minutes agoFrom skid pad to train car: How the public safety training center is used