In their final weekday game of the 2023 season, the McNeese Cowboys traveled to Alex Box Stadium to face the number five-ranked LSU Tigers in a Tuesday night matchup. LSU took the early lead but McNeese roared back to tie the game. The Tigers would seize the lead with back-to-back home runs and defeat the Cowboys 7-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU started the scoring at the bottom of the first. With one out, Tre Morgan struck out but made it to first on a wild pitch and Dylan Crews reached first base on a fielding error. Tommy White drove in Morgan with an RBI double into right center field.
The Tigers went up by three runs in the second inning as Hayden Travinski stole home after he was hit by a pitch, advanced to second after Brayden Jobert was walked, and advanced to third on Jordan Thompson’s groundout. Jobert also stole the third and then scored on Alex Milazzo’s groundout.
Blake Money had a good night in the first two innings but McNeese changed that at the top of the third. Monday gave up five straight singles as Tre’ Obregon III, Brad Burckel, and Braley Hollins made it home to tie the game at three.
The Cowboys loaded the bases with one out in the sixth as Brayden Duhon and Josh Leslie reached on fielding errors and Payton Harden hit a single to second base. McNeese took the lead as Duhon scored an unearned run to go up 4-3.
LSU would respond at the bottom of the frame as Cade Beloso and Travinski hit back-to-back home runs to reclaim the lead. Jobert singled and Thompson was walked but Milazzo struck out, then Dugas hit a single with Jobert getting out at second. Dugas got out at second base to end the inning.
McNeese threatened to score at the top of the eighth after Leslie and Obregon III hit a single with two outs. Burckel got out at first after he hit the ball right to pitcher Sam Dutton.
LSU added on to their lead at the bottom of the eighth after Milazzo recorded a single and stole second. Morgan was walked and Crews drove in Milazzo with an RBI single to third base. A throwing error allowed Morgan to advance to third and then home off a sacrifice fly by White.
The Cowboys had one last chance to at least tie the game at the top of the ninth. Hollins and Cooper Hext each hit a single with Taylor Darden and Kade Hunter each striking out. Duhon was walked to load the bases and Thatcher Hurd came in for LSU. Harden would hit a ground ball and would get out at first as the Tigers beat the Cowboys 7-4.
BIG NUMBER: 26
Even with a good amount of runs scored in the game, there were plenty more opportunities to score as 26 runners left on base. McNeese left on 16 while LSU had the remining 10.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tommy White
Mr. RBI continued to rack up the stats as he went two for three from the plate tonight and helped drive in two runners as LSU defeated McNeese 7-4 in a week night in-state matchup.
UP NEXT: The LSU baseball team will travel to Athens, Georgia for their final weekend series against the Georgia Bulldogs starting Thursday. McNeese will host the University of Miami (Ohio) starting Wednesday.