Saturday night didn’t exactly start the way that LSU fans wanted, but the end result was plenty satisfying for the 11,836 fans inside Alex Box Stadium. After a poor first inning from Alex Lange, the Tigers were able to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the eighth to take the first game of the Super Regional 4-3.
Lange’s final game in the Box saw him load the bases early in the first inning and give the Bulldogs a free run after he hit Jake Mangum. However, the junior was able to get back on track and keep it down to one run until the eighth.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Cody Brown fired a two-run single deep into left field to extend Mississippi State’s lead.
That lead didn’t last long as LSU got back into the game with a two-run double from Greg Deichmann finally put the Tigers on the board. Zach Watson continued to show off some strength with an RBI single to left field that was just deep enough to get Deichmann home safely.
Later in the inning, Michael Papierski hit a sacrifice fly that sealed the victory for LSU.
Zack Hess came on in relief and improved to 7-0 allowing only one hit in one and a third innings of work.
LSU will try to punch their ticket to Omaha on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 8 pm.
-Clint Domingue