re: IYO, who honestly looked like the better team today?

LSU was the better defensive team, and that was without its best second baseman. LSU got to more balls, and LSU did not hesitate to make the proper throws or cover the right bases.

Vanderbilt was the better base running team. I don't know why, but LSU makes more base running mistakes than one would expect from experienced baseball players.

LSU was able to overcome its base running disadvantage better than Vanderbilt was able to overcome its fielding disadvantage in yesterday's single game. LSU was the better team yeaterday.

Yesterday's game did not show who has the better pitching staff, and that would be critical in determining who has the better team over the course of a season. Stating who has the better team for the season is still open to debate. That being said I think a defensive advantage is more valuable over the course of a season than a base running advantage. So I think LSU has the upperhand slightly.