If this is a sign of what’s to come for LSU this weekend in Columbia, things could get very weird, very quickly. After a wild first inning, LSU was able to take the opening game of the series from Mizzou.
How It Happened:
The first inning was quite eventful with a two-run double from Chris Reid got LSU on the board and that was followed up by an RBI single by Brandt Broussard quickly made it 3-0. However, things got weird when Zack Hess exited the game early with a leg injury. That gave Mizzou an opportunity to put up six runs, including a pair of two-run singles by Peter Zimmerman and Thomas Broyles.
LSU responded with a big third inning that saw Daniel Cabrera hit an RBI single which was followed up by a two-run double from Broussard. Cade Beloso gave the Tigers the lead though later in the inning with a two-run double. The runs kept pouring in with a two-run home run from Zach Watson and an RBI single from Beloso made it 11-6.
Mizzou responded in the bottom of the fifth and sixth inning and a three-run blast from Chad McDaniel in the bottom of the sixth tied things up at 11 runs apiece. Todd Peterson held off Mizzou’s offense to force extra innings and that saw Antoine Duplantis give LSU the edge with a fielder’s choice that got Josh Smith across home plate.
Big Number: 13
LSU’s bats woke up from their slumber in a big way with 13 total hits, four of which went for extra bases. This was definitely something that they needed after the way their midweek matchup against Southern went.
Player of the Game: Cade Beloso
Beloso has been one of the pleasant surprises for LSU all season and Friday night was a prime example why. The freshman went three-for-five and got three runs across on the evening.
Next Up: Saturday vs Mizzou; First Pitch at 5 pm
-Clint Domingue