The LSU baseball team defeated the Florida Gators 6-1 on Friday night inside Alex Box Stadium in a rematch of the 2023 College World Series Championship Series. The win moves LSU to 19-4 overall, now 2-2 in SEC play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU sent right-hander Luke Holman to the mound. Despite hitting a batter, Holman worked a clean first inning without any damage done. Holman was opposed by Florida lefty Cade Fisher. Fisher walked one batter and hit another, setting the stage for Josh Pearson and Ethan Frey, who both delivered RBI singles to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead after one inning.
After the first, both pitchers started to settle in. They each matched each other with zeroes in the second and third innings. In the top of the fourth, Ty Evans hit what appeared to be a routine fly ball to right field. However, the wind helped carry it out for a solo home run to put Florida on the board, trailing 2-1 after four innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, LSU was finally able to chase Fisher. They loaded the bases against him with no outs, prompting Florida to make a change. They brought in Ryan Slater, but he promptly walked in a run, before giving up a sacrifice fly for an RBI by Paxton Kling. With two outs, an infield RBI single from Steven Milam extended the lead to 5-1.
The solo home run that Holman gave up ended up being the only hit he allowed. He was excellent, throwing six innings in the process. He was relieved to begin the seventh by Griffin Herring. Herring allowed a baserunner but was otherwise unscathed in the seventh. He would continue that work into the eighth, where he struck out the side in order, including two-way star Jac Caglianone.
The Tigers would add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, before sending out Herring to close things out. He was able to do so, tossing three scoreless innings of relief.
BIG NUMBER: 16
Tigers’ pitching struck out 16 Gators on Friday evening. It was a great effort to keep a very talented lineup off balance, and propelled LSU to an opening game victory.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Luke Holman
Holman was dynamic, going six innings, allowing just a single hit and run. He also struck out 13 on the night, in what was a big outing for LSU on Friday night.
UP NEXT: Game two of the series between LSU and Florida will be tomorrow night at 6:00 in Alex Box Stadium.