| LSU gymnastics coach Jay Clark wants "fire starters" at the top of each lineup, competitors who will go out and set the momentum rolling for the lineup. No one was hotter in that role Friday night against Oklahoma than Sierra Ballard. The fifth-year senior posted a winning 9.95 leading off on beam and a 9.925 in the second spot on floor, both career high-tying marks, a huge factor in No. 2 LSU's 198.050-197.675 victory over No. 1 OU. The Tigers moved into a first-place tie with the Sooners atop the SEC regular-season title chase at 4-1 with three conference meets each left to go. Check out Michael Johnson's photo gallery from a rocking night in the PMAC. Across campus, the LSU baseball Tigers got off to a roaring start for 2025 with a 14-0 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne that included 17 strikeouts from LSU pitching. The teams play again at 11 a.m. Saturday in a game moved up because of the threat of rain. Meanwhile, OU has a good chance at revenge against LSU as its men's basketball team hosts the Tigers on Saturday in Norman, LSU's first trip there since the Sooners joined the SEC. Tipoff is at 5 p.m. on the SEC Network. Our Reed Darcey is headed to Austin for the LSU women's top-five showdown Sunday at Texas, but first he posted this profile on Tigers point guard Shayeann Day-Wilson. On the subject of women's basketball, former LSU great Sylvia Fowles has been named a finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Hoping she gets iin right away, but it's only a matter of time until she does. Finally, the LSU softball team swept a chilly pair of games Saturday to remain unbeaten on their young season. That's all we've got for today, folks. Thanks as ever for reading and subscribing. Enjoy your sports weekend, everyone. Scott Rabalais | 