BATON ROUGE — The LSU baseball team picked up its first midweek win of the young season with a 8-3 victory over Southern at Alex Box Stadium on Tuesday. With the win, LSU improves to 3-1 on the season.
How It Happened:
Southern took a lead with a one-out blooper to right field by William Nelson in the bottom of the second inning. The Jaguars then added to their lead with a sacrifice fly by Frankie Montesino.
LSU responded in the bottom of the second.
After LSU drew a pair of walks to start the frame, Zack Mathis’ sac fly brought in Gavin Dugas from third. Saul Garza then laced a RBI single to score Daniel Cabrera and Cade Beloso followed suit with a RBI triple which brought home Garza to give the Tigers their first lead of the game.
After Southern stranded two runners on the base paths in the top of the fourth, LSU proceeded to increase its lead with a solo home run by Dugas — his first homer of the season. In the bottom of the fifth, Garza got in on the long ball action as he hit a two-run shot over the left field wall to give LSU a 6-2 lead.
Garza wasn’t done as he then hit a RBI single up the middle to bring in another run — this time scoring Cabrera — in the bottom of the seventh.
LSU added another run in the bottom of the eighth when Hayden Travinski took a pitch and sent it over the right field wall.
Southern managed to put runners on the corners in the top of the ninth with no outs. Two batters later Hampton Hudson drew a walk from Chase Costello to load the bases with one out.
Jovante Dorris hit the ball softly to the right side of the infield for the easy out at first but it did bring home a runner. Costello though managed to get the next batter to pop out in foul territory to end the game.
Big Number: 12
That was the number of total pitchers both teams used in Tuesday’s contest between the two squads. LSU utilized five arms in the game while Southern used seven different pitchers.
Player of the Game: Saul Garza
LSU’s designated hitter had a tremendous night at the plate for the Tigers. Garza went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI, including the two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.
Next Up: LSU returns to action on Wednesday when they travel to Thibodaux to take on Nicholls State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.