Heading into the month of May, no one expected what the LSU Tigers (39-17, 21-9 SEC) would do in the last three weeks of the season. Saturday was the crescendo of an up-and-down regular season with the Tigers completing the sweep of Mississippi State (34-22, 17-13 SEC) to earn a share of the SEC regular season crown.
LSU got out to a strong start with a four-run inning in the top of the second highlighted by a two-run blast from Beau Jordan. However, the Bulldogs fired back with Ryan Gridley hitting a two-run double in the bottom half of the inning.
Hunter Stovall tied things up in the bottom of the third with his first home run of the season that was sent out towards the Left Field Lounge. Greg Deichmann got the Tigers back out in front with an RBI single in the top of the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, Nick Coomes hit an RBI single to start off a three run inning to put the Tigers way out in front. However, the Bulldogs responded in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run inning of their own capped off with a two-run single from Jake Mangum.
Cole Freeman became the deciding factor when Cole Freeman capitalized on a throwing error from Gridley to extend their lead. Freeman put the final nail with an RBI double to left center to give the Tigers an 11-7 victory.
Caleb Gilbert improved to 3-1 on the season, shutting out the Bulldogs and striking out four in one and two-thirds of an inning of work.
LSU will now wait to take on the winner of Texas A&M or Missouri on Wednesday with first pitch to follow the completion of the Kentucky game at 10:30 am.
-Clint Domingue