Heading into the Baton Rouge Regional, freshman centerfielder Zach Watson only had four home runs on the year. After his big performance on Friday, Watson put together an encore performance on Saturday to help get LSU to the regional final by the score of 11-6.
Southeastern started off on the right foot with Ryan Byers hitting a leadoff home run off of starter Alex Lange. That lead didn’t last long though as the Tigers got four runs across in the bottom of the first, capped off by a two-run blast from Josh Smith.
The Lions responded in the second inning with a pair of RBI singles from Derrick Mount and Daniel Wasinger to chip away at LSU’s. Byers gave Southeastern the lead back later in the inning with Byers getting two runs across off of a squeeze bunt.
Beau Jordan got the game evened up at five runs apiece in the bottom of the third with an RBI single. Watson gave the Tigers the lead in the fifth with the first of two home runs. LSU got two more runs across in the fifth from Kramer Robertson and Cole Freeman.
Watson’s second home run came in the sixth to put the game on ice and give LSU the edge over Southeastern.
Alex Lange earned his 9th win of the season allowing five runs off of eight hits. The junior only walked one and struck out six in six innings of work.
The Tigers will now wait to take on the winner of Southeastern and Rice with first pitch slated for 8 pm.
-Clint Domingue