Things seemed like they were turning around for LSU (26-19, 10-11 SEC) in the top of the ninth after a pair of singles by Austin Bain and Antoine Duplantis. However, they just couldn’t get over the hump and lost the rubber match to Ole Miss (34-11, 12-9 SEC) 9-8.
How It Happened
LSU struck first in the second with an RBI single out to center field by Jake Slaughter, but the Rebels fired back with a three-run bomb by Chase Cockrell in the bottom frame. Later in the second, Grae Kessinger made it 4-1 with an RBI single out to center field.
The Tigers responded in the third in a big way with a six-run inning highlighted by a two-run double down the left field line. Ole Miss wasn’t about to go away quietly though, putting together five runs in the seventh, capped off by a three-run blast to right field by Thomas Dillard, made it a 9-7 ballgame.
The Tigers tried to get things going in the ninth with the bases loaded, but came up short after Jake Slaughter flied out to right field to end the ballgame.
Big Number: 5
Another big inning for the Rebels on Saturday was the key for them winning the rubber match, scoring five runs in the seventh.
Player of the Game: Antoine Duplantis
Duplantis was a big reason why LSU had a puncher’s chance of winning the series against Ole Miss in the ninth with a leadoff single. Add that to another multi-hit game for the junior, it was enough for him to earn player of the game honord
Next Up: Arkansas Series; First Pitch 7 pm
-Clint Domingue