The LSU Tigers didn’t need any extra innings on Thursday night against Mississippi State. They didn’t even need a late rally to come away with a 6-2 victory over Mississippi State.
LSU started out strong in the bottom of the third with Jake Fraley sending an RBI single through the right side to take a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Mike Papierski hit a sac fly to center field that allowed Bryce Jordan to scamper home. Later in the inning Antoine Duplantis hit a single to center field that allowed Greg Deichmann to score.
Deichmann struck again in the bottom of the fifth with a single up the middle that allowed Chris Reid to score.
But the Bulldogs of Mississippi State weren’t about to go away quietly as they tried to mount a rally in the top of the seventh. Jacob Robson got things started with a triple to left center field that allowed Reid Humphreys to score. The very next batter Jacob Robson cut the lead in half when he hit a grounder to second base that allowed Robson to come across home plate.
But LSU would put the game away in the bottom half of the inning with Papierski striking again with a two-run single to left center field.
Jared Poche improved to 7-4 on the year allowing two runs off of seven hits, walked two, and struck out three in six and two thirds innings of work. Parker Bugg got his fourth save of the season allowing one hit and striking out two in two and a third innings of work.
The Tigers now advance to the semifinals to take on the winner of Florida and Mississippi State with first pitch scheduled for Saturday at 3:30 pm.
-Clint Domingue