What LSU’s (37-17, 19-9 SEC) Alex Lange has done at the tail end of this season has been reminiscent of his freshman season. His last two starts, he’s only allowed one run and that was in tonight’s game against Mississippi State (34-20, 17-11 SEC).
It was against the Bulldogs first batter Ryan Gridley who sent a solo shot out toward the Left Field Lounge of Dudy Noble Field. After that leadoff, Lange shut it down to help LSU get one step closer to winning the SEC West with a 3-1 victory.
Josh Smith got the Tigers on the board in the top of the fourth with a sac fly to centerfield that scored Greg Deichmann. Zach Watson followed that up with an RBI single up the middle to take the lead.
Lange got into some trouble with bases loaded jams, but was able to keep the Bulldogs scoreless before his day was over. Watson gave LSU’s bullpen an insurance run in the eighth with a sac fly out to right field that scored Smith.
Lange improved to 7-5 on the season allowing one run off six hits. The junior also fanned 11 and walked five in seven innings of work.
Hunter Newman got his ninth save of the season walking one and striking out one in the ninth.
LSU will look to take the series on Friday with first pitch set for 6:30 pm.
Extra Bases:
Lange On Strike: One of the best parts of Lange’s game has been his strikeout ability and the last two games he’s been in saw the junior fan 21 batters in 16 innings of work.
Hold the Bulldogs Down: Mississippi State’s been one of the best teams when it comes to hitting all season long. However, in the last three SEC games, the Bulldogs have only put up one run. Paul Mainieri has to be smiling when he sees all those zeroes on the scoreboard from Cannizaro’s team.
-Clint Domingue