2012 Golden Spikes Award Watch: Kevin Gausman Leads LSU To Victory, Keeps SEC Tournament Victory Hopes Alive

One day after they lost to Mississippi St. in the SEC Tournament, LSU was back on the diamond in an elimination game to face Ole Miss. Colorado native Kevin Gausman was on the mound for the Tigers and picked up the victory in the 11-2 win.

Gausman struck out seven in seven innings while allowing just two runs. The Tigers offense gave Gausman an early 2-0 lead after the first inning, but this was a tight game until LSU scored seven runs over the final two innings of the game. Austin Nola, former Colorado Rockies draft pick in 2008, went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and one RBI.

Gausman is now 10-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 107.2 innings.

The Tigers will face either Mississippi St. or Kentucky on Friday.

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Golden Spikes Award Watch 2012: Kevin Gausman Hurls Complete Game Victory Vs. South Carolina

LSU right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman improved to 9-1 on Friday afternoon with a 5-2 victory over South Carolina. He allowed both runs while pitching a complete game and striking out six. A couple of singles, a wild pitch and a walk led to the first run scoring in the fourth inning. Then in the ninth inning, a hit by pitch, a steal and a single plated the other run.

LSU spread out its offensive attack over four innings. Two thousand eight Rockies draft pick Austin Nola led off the game with a single and scored the first LSU run. Jordy Snikeris went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and three RBI.

Gausman threw his second straight complete game of the season and now has a 2.86 ERA in 100.2 innings. He has 118 strikeouts to 23 walks.

For more on this game, read LSU's full recap.

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Kevin Gausman Faces South Carolina In Game 1 Of Doubleheader

LSU sophomore ace Kevin Gausman is set to face South Carolina All-American Michael Roth in the first game of a double-header between the two SEC powerhouses on Friday. Gausman, a Colorado native and Grandview High School alum, has started to turn heads this season. He was named SEC Pitcher of the Week on Monday after firing a complete-game five-hitter in LSU's 2-1 victory over conference rival Vanderbilt on Friday. It was the first complete game by an LSU pitcher in over a year.

Related: Kevin Gausman Projected As No. 5 Pick In 2012 MLB Draft

Gausman is gaining serious traction as a potential first round pick in this summer's 2012 MLB Draft. He enters the Friday afternoon meeting with South Carolina at 8-1 overall with a 2.95 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 91.2 innings.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

Golden Spikes Award Watch 2012: Kevin Gausman Strikes Out 11 In Complete Game

LSU right-handed pitcher and Colorado native Kevin Gausman is closing out the regular season in dominant fashion and has one more start before the SEC Tournament. On Friday night, Gausman threw a complete game in a 2-1 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Gausman allowed the run in the third inning on a Mike Yastrzemski RBI single (an earlier single and a walk putting a runner in scoring position). He gave up just five hits and walked one batter while striking out 11 batters.

Gausman is now 8-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 91.2 innings (13 starts). This was LSU's first complete game of the season and Gausman's second of his career (throwing the last LSU complete game in May 2011).

LSU scored its two runs on a single and a sacrifice fly in the second inning.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

2012 Golden Spikes Award Watch List: Kevin Gausman Looks Strong At Midseason Announcement

The 2012 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List is out and LSU Tigers pitcher Kevin Gausman is in a strong position to make it to the semifinalist list that will be announced on May 29. The midseason award list features 60 players and Gausman was a no-doubter for this announcement given his performance so far this season.

Before Friday's game, Gausman was 7-1 with 97 strikeouts and a 3.12 ERA. He received a no-decision in Friday's 4-3 10th inning victory over Ole Miss, but he gave the team a solid 7.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out four. He now stands at 7-1 with a 3.16 ERA and 101 strikeouts.

Here is the complete list of players on the midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List:

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2012 Golden Spikes Award Watch: Kevin Gausman Strikes Out 11 In 5-4 Victory

Colorado's own Kevin Gausman continues to pitch successfully down in the bayou for the LSU Tigers. On Friday night, he did allow four runs on 10 hits over seven innings, but he was able to strike out 11 and win his seventh game in the 5-4 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats. This was his third game of the season with 11 punch-outs, but one less than his career high (which also came this season). He showed good control once again by walking just one batter.

Gausman allowed most of the runs on singles, but back-to-back doubles to start the fourth inning allowed the first of two runs that frame. Chris Cotton and Nick Goody were perfect over the final two innings of the game to complete the win.

Former Colorado Rockies draft pick SS Austin Nola went 2-for-4 with three RBI in this game. The 48th-round draft pick singled in a run in the first inning and then doubled in the other two during the fifth inning. He attempted to stretch that hit into a move to third base, but a multi-throw relay pegged him out at third base, ending the inning.

Gausman is 7-1 in 10 starts with a 3.00 ERA in 69 innings pitched. He has allowed 60 hits and 20 walks while striking out 88 batters. He has pitched himself into a top 10 spot in the June MLB Draft.

For a complete recap of this game, visit LSU's official site.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

Golden Spikes Award Watch 2012: Kevin Gausman Improves To 6-1 After Friday Victory

LSU Tigers pitcher Kevin Gausman improved to 6-1 on Friday night with the team's 10-2 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Gausman, a Colorado native, went eight innings, allowed two runs on six hits and two walks and struck out seven.

Gausman received his run support early on with a Mason Katz three-run homer in the first inning. In the fourth inning, 2008 Colorado Rockies draftee Austin Nola launched a ball to left center field for a grand slam, capping a six-run inning for the Tigers.

This was a nice rebound from his loss the previous week against the Florida Gators. Gausman allowed six of seven runs in 6.1 innings while walking four and striking out eight.

For the season, Gausman has a 2.76 ERA over 62 innings, allowing 50 hits and 19 walks. He has struck out 77 batters and held the opposition to a .216 batting average.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

Golden Spikes Award Watch 2012: Kevin Gausman Overcomes 5-Run Inning, Strikes Out 12 For 5th Win

Colorado-native Kevin Gausman continues to pitch his way into strong Golden Spikes Award finalist contention with the way he is striking out batters this season. Already armed with two 11-punchout games this season, Gausman broke that career high on Friday night with 12 strikeouts against the No. 3 Arkansas Razorbacks in a 10-6 LSU Tigers victory.

Gausman allowed two hits and a walk over the first two innings of the game before he ran into trouble in the third, ending LSU's 2-0 lead. He struck out Jacob Morris to start the inning and then looked to have the second out on a swinging whiff by Tim Carver, but his fifth strikeout turn into a wild pitch. A single, a fly out and a double later, the Razorbacks had tied the game at two. A two-run triple and a wild pitch put the other three runs on the board, but the inning ended on his sixth strikeout of the game.

The Tigers answered back with eight runs over the next three innings: three in the third, one in the fourth and four in the fifth. Gausman, for his part, didn't allow another hit for the next 3⅔ innings. He struck out six over the following three innings, including three in the fourth.

Gausman is now 5-0 in seven starts with 62 strikeouts in 47⅔ innings pitched.

For more on this game: LSU's game recap.

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2012 Golden Spikes Award Watch: Kevin Gausman Strikes Out 8, Walks 5 In No-Decision

The LSU Tigers dropped a 4-3 decision to the Auburn Tigers on Friday night when Ryan Tella singled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning. But at that point, Denver native Kevin Gausman had been out of the game for several innings, leaving him with a no-decision for the Tigers.

Gausman couldn't follow his last two games and strike out 11 batters, but he did send eight batters back to the dugout on the K. He allowed the first two runs Auburn scored on a two-run single in the fourth inning. He left after the fifth inning having allowed those two runs on six hits and five walks, uncharacteristic for the latter category.

For the season Gausman is 4-0 in six starts with a 1.54 ERA. He's struck out 50 and walked 11 batters in 41 innings pitched. LSU's Saturday starter and former Colorado Rockies draftee, Ryan Eades, is a following him closely in performance with a 4-1 record and a 1.94 ERA. However, he has just 27 strikeouts in 32.1 innings.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

2012 Golden Spikes Watch: Kevin Gausman Strikes Out 11

Colorado native Kevin Gausman continues his outstanding sophomore season with the LSU Tigers. On Friday night, Gausman struck out 11 batters for a second week a row, though he took his first no-decision of the season. He threw 122 pitches over 8.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits. He did walk an uncharacteristic four batters, however.

Gausman's season line: 4-0, 5 GS, 36.0 IP, 24 H, 6/5 R/ER, 6 BB, 42 K

Mississippi State's Chris Stratton went toe-to-toe with Gausman and actually outperformed him by striking out 17 and walking just two. He went 8.2 innings and allowed one run, as well. After both pitcher's left the game, the fans received extra baseball. Mississippi State's Mitch Slauter hit a solo home run in the top of the tenth, but Grant Dozar's RBI double and JaCoby Jones' RBI single in the bottom of the inning gave the Tigers the 3-2 victory.

Former Colorado Rockies draft pick Ryan Eades will be on the mound for LSU on Saturday night.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

Golden Spikes Award Watch 2012: LSU's Kevin Gausman Twirled A Gem Vs. Michigan

Denver native and current LSU Tigers pitcher Kevin Gausman tossed what surely was his best collegiate start of his career on Friday night in a 6-0 victory over the Michigan Wolverines. Gausman threw eight shutout innings of two-hit ball and struck out 11 batters. But that doesn't begin to show that he put down 24 of 26 batters he faced, retired 22 batters in a row at one point and struck out six straight over the second and third innings. He induced eight ground ball outs and needed 100 pitches (69 strikes) to get through eight frames.

Gausman is now 4-0 in four starts with a 1.32 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. He's thrown four wild pitches and walked two batters.

LSU scored four runs in the fourth inning to blow the game open and then added two more in the bottom of the eighth inning. Raph Rhymes went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Austin Nola, one-time draft pick of the Colorado Rockies, went 2-for-4 with one run scored.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

Golden Spikes Award Watch 2012: Peter O'Brien, Preston Tucker Reach Stalemate, Combine For 10 Hitless At-Bats In Florida-Miami Battle

Two 2012 Colorado Rockies draft picks, Florida Gators outfielder Preston Tucker and Miami Hurricanes catcher Peter O'Brien, got into a battle of bats on Friday night when their teams clashed at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Fla. The No. 1 Gators picked up the 7-5 victory, but neither O'Brien nor Tucker contributed much to the offensive effort.

The two candidates for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award got bogged down and each went 0-for-5. Tucker's season line now stands at .333/.359/.806 with five home runs and eight RBI. O'Brien is hitting .407/.500/.800 with four doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI.

Florida catcher Mike Zunino, a top 2012 MLB Draft prospect and Golden Spikes candidate, went 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. He is hitting .500/.556/.933. Hudson Randall allowed struck out six and allowed four runs in 5.1 innings for the Gators, but Alex Randall was dominant, striking out seven over 3.1 innings for his third save of the season.

These teams will be back at it again on Saturday night.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

2012 Golden Spikes Award Watch: Kevin Gausman Picks Up 3rd Win, But Allows 4 Runs Against Dartmouth

The LSU Tigers improved to 8-2 on the season following Friday night's 8-4 victory over the Dartmouth Big Green at Alex Box Stadium. Kevin Gausman didn't have his best start of the season, but he was able to stay in the game long enough to see his offense give him a one-run lead by the time he left the game.

Gausman pitched 6.1 innings and struck out six batters, but he allowed four runs (three earned) on 10 hits. In the second inning, Gausman allowed a double and single to start the inning before Jeff Seller doubled in both of them. However, Seller was thrown out on third trying for the triple. In the fifth, Gausman allowed another leadoff double, which led David Turnbull to knock him in on the next at-bat. To start off the next inning, Ennis Coble singled in Dustin Selzer, who reached on a single and then advanced to second base on a wild pitch and to third on a throwing error.

In the bottom of the sixth, LSU's offense scored four runs to put LSU ahead, 7-4. Raph Rhymes hit a two-run single in the middle of the scoring.

Ryan Eades will be on the mound for the Tigers on Saturday.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

2012 Golden Spikes Award Watch: Ross Stripling Strikes Out 10

Another week is in the books for college baseball and former Colorado Rockies draft picks continue to perform well throughout the nation.

Outfielder Preston Tucker (2011 16th Round pick) continues to be a key contributor to the Florida Gators offense as a senior returnee. He went 3-for-11 over the weekend two home runs and a stolen base. He is now hitting .387/.412/.935 with five home runs and eight RBI.

Miami Hurricanes catcher Peter O'Brien (2011 3rd Round pick) picked up three hits in eight at-bats, driving in six runs and scoring four times. Two of those hits went for doubles, and his third went for a home run. O'Brien's season line stands at .519/.576/1.000 with four doubles, three home runs and nine RBI.

Righty Kevin Gausman (Denver native) helped the LSU Tigers to its only victory of the weekend over the Appalachian St. Mountaineers with seven shutout innings of four-hit ball. He struck out seven. He is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA a 14:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Texas A&M righty Ross Stripling (2011 9th round pick) took a no-decision after allowing three runs in 6.2 innings on Saturday. He struck out 10 Holy Cross batters in what turned into a 7-3 loss for A&M. Stripling is now 1-0 with a 3.29 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

Golden Spikes Award Watch 2012: Kevin Gausman Strikes Out 7 In Win No. 2

LSU Tigers pitcher Kevin Gausman picked up his second win in as many starts to begin the season with a 4-0 victory over the Appalachian St. Mountaineers. He and reliever Aaron Nola threw a four-hit shutout to move the Tigers to move to 5-0 for the season.

Gausman allowed all four hits in seven innings of work. He struck out seven more batters to total 14 for the season, lowering his ERA to 0.69 in the process. Sixty of his 92 pitches went for strikes.

Austin Nola, the Colorado Rockies' 48th round draft pick in 2008, went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.

Former Rockies draft pick Ryan Eades will take the mound on Saturday at Alex Box Stadium to pitch against Appalachian St. The game is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. MT.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

2012 Golden Spikes Award Watch: Preston Tucker Hits Key RBI Single To Help Florida To 8-6 Victory

The Florida Gators improved to 3-1 on Tuesday by defeating the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 8-6. The Gators entered the bottom of the eighth inning down, 6-5, after catcher Mike Zunino hit his second solo home run of the game. A couple of singles and a fielder's choice had the bases loaded for Preston Tucker, former Colorado Rockies 16th round draft pick. On a 3-2 count, Tucker knocked out a single to left field, knocking in one run for the 7-6 lead. A sac fly two batters later put one more run on the board for the Gators.

Tucker is now 7-for-16 (.438) with one double, two home runs and five RBI. He and the Gators place the Central Florida Knights on Wednesday night to close out the midweek schedule.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

2012 Golden Spikes Award Watch: Florida's Preston Tucker Hits 2 HRs Over Weekend

The Colorado Rockies drafted Florida Gators first baseman Preston Tucker in the 16th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, but he didn't sign with the team over the summer. Now, as a senior, Tucker is part of the No. 1 team in the nation, one that took two of three games from the Cal State Fullerton Titans over the weekend.

Tucker went 6-for-11 with one double, two home runs and four RBI against what was a top 25 team at the time (but has since fallen out of the polls). Keep this up and Tucker should make the cut periods later in the season for the Golden Spikes Award. Aaron Fitt has more on Tucker's approach to the game, which certainly could help him win the award for best college baseball player.

LSU Tigers right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman, a Colorado native, struck out seven over six inning and allowed one run (1.50 ERA) for his first victory of the season. Rockies 2011 ninth round draft pick Ross Stripling struck out eight batters over seven innings while allowing two runs on six hits for the Texas A&M Aggies in an 8-2 victory. Also a Rockies 2011 draft pick, third-round selection Peter O'Brien went 7-for-15 with a double, two home runs, three RBI and five runs scored for the Miami Hurricanes.

O'Brien, Stripling and Tucker will all be eligible for the draft again as seniors.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

2012 Golden Spikes Award Watch List: Kevin Gausman, Preston Tucker, Ross Stripling And Peter O'Brien Make The Cut

USA Baseball released its 2012 preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list on Thursday afternoon, and several players with some local ties made the cut. Kevin Gausman, a Denver-native and starting pitcher for the LSU Tigers, is one of the top players to watch this season. And three players who were drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2011 -- but didn't sign with the team -- also made the list: Preston Tucker of the University of Florida, Ross Stripling of Texas A&M University and Peter O'Brien of the University of Miami (FL).

Related: 2012 Preseason College Baseball All-America Teams: Kevin Gausman, Preston Tucker And Brandon Thomas Appear

The Golden Spikes award is given to the person judged to be the top amateur baseball player in the nation. This initial 50-man watch list will be expanded to 60 at midseason (May 1), and then they will begin to narrow down the candidates. The award will be presented to the winner between July 9 and July 13.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more Colorado Rockies coverage, head over to Purple Row. And for more on Major League Baseball prospects, visit Minor League Ball.