LSU rallied in the ninth inning Thursday night to defeat South Carolina 11-10 at the Southeastern Conference Tournament at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex. With the victory, LSU advances to the tournament semifinals on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU struck first as Josh Pearson drew a leadoff walk in the second and then advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Steven Milam laced a single into right field and then reached second on a throwing error, which allowed Pearson to cross home.
South Carolina took the lead by scoring five runs in the bottom of the third inning.
LSU’s Thatcher Hurd walked the leadoff hitter Gavin Casas and then hit Austin Brinling with a pitch. A wild pitch by Hurd allowed both runners to advance, he then gave up an RBI double down the right field line to Ethan Petry and then loaded the bases by walking Blake Jackson.
Jay Johnson pulled Hurd for Nate Ackenhausen who came in and gave up a grand slam to Cole Messina.
LSU came back in the top of the fourth inning.
Pearson led off the inning with a double down the right field line and scored when Hayden Travinski doubled to left center. Milam then singled to right field which scored Travinski. Jake Brown then lifted a pitch from McCoy over the wall in right-center field.
The two teams both scored in the fifth as Jones had a solo home run for the Tigers, while Petry scored on a flyout for South Carolina.
LSU retook the lead in the top of the sixth as Milazzo led off with a double, and then later advanced to third on a wild pitch. He would then score on a ground out by Tommy White.
Christian Little got into a jam in the bottom of the sixth.
The LSU pitcher gave up a leadoff single to Talmadge LeCroy and another to Casas. Brinling reached on a fielder’s choice but Little got Petry to line out to get two outs.
Little then Jackson to load the bases and gave a two-run single to Cole Messina. After he stole second base, Little gave up a single to Parker Noland, bringing home two more Gamecocks. The Tigers got out of the inning by turning a 2-6-3 double play.
In the eighth, Milazzo reached on a throwing error and Michael Braswell III drew a walk to give the Tigers two runners on with only one out. White would fly out but then Jared Jones drew a walk to load the bases.
Pearson then reached first as a ground ball he hit went through Casas’ legs which scored two Tigers, trimming the deficit to a single run.
LSU threatened again in the top of the ninth as Milam and Brown led off the innings with back-to-back singles. A fly out by Ashton Larson allowed a Paxton Kling — who was pinch running for Milam — advance to third. Brown then stole second base to runners on second and third with only one out for the Tigers.
LSU tied the game as Milazzo flied out to left field to score Kling. Braswell then singled down the line to score Brown.
BIG NUMBER: 10
LSU’s pitching staff got roughed up by South Carolina in Thursday’s game, as Thatcher Hurd, Nate Ackenhausen, and Christian Little combined to give up 10 runs (all earned) on 10 hits while walking four Gamecocks and hit two more in 5 and 2/3 innings of work.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: STEVEN MILAM
LSU’s second baseman had himself a day at the plate as he went 4-for-5 with one run scored and 2 RBI.
UP NEXT: LSU (39-20) will take on the winner of Kentucky-Tennessee in the semifinals on Saturday. The pregame begins at 11:30 a.m.. and the first pitch is set for noon. You can listen to all the action live on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.