OMAHA, Nebraska — Behind a dominant performance by Paul Skenes and some timely hits Saturday night, LSU opened up the College World Series with a 6-3 victory over Tennessee at Charles Schwab Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After striking out leadoff hitter Maui Ahuna to start the game, LSU’s Paul Skenes gave up a single to the shortstop by Hunter Ensley.
The Tigers’ All-American quickly bounced back by getting Jared Dickey to line out to third and then strike out Christian Moore.
In the bottom frame, Tennessee’s Andrew Lindsey got Dylan Crews to ground out and then Tommy White to strike out before surrendering a single up the middle to Tre’ Morgan. Lindsey would get Hayden Travinski to fly out to end the inning.
Skenes continued to put on a show as he struck out all three hitters swinging in the second.
In the bottom frame, Gavin Dugas lifted a pitch from Lindsey over the left field wall for his 16th home run on the season.
Skenes then struck out two more Volunteers in the third inning and in the bottom frame, the Tigers added to their lead.
Josh Pearson and Crews started the inning off with back-to-back singles through the right side. After a groundout by White advanced the runners, Morgan brought home Pearson with a groundout to the pitcher.
Skenes gave up a leadoff single to Ensley to start the fourth, but got the next two batters to fly out and then got out of the inning after Ensley was caught stealing.
After Dugas drew a one-out walk, Brayden Jobert hit a double into right field that put Tigers on second and third with one out in the fourth.
Lindsey got Jordan Thompson to strike out swinging and then was replaced on the mound by Aaron Combs. The Vols pitcher then got Pearson to strike out which stranded two Tigers.
Jay Johnson’s team added to its lead by scoring two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and did so with two outs.
Jobert hit a triple that brought home Travinski and then scored moments later on an infield single by Thompson.
Tennessee finally got to Skenes in the eighth inning.
After Christian Scott hit a double to left-centerfield, Skenes managed to strike out the next batter but then gave up a single up the middle by Ahuna which allowed Scott to score.
Former Barbe High star and freshman Gavin Guidry came in to relieve Skenes but gave up a two-run home run to Ensley. Tennessee had managed to make it a 5-3 game with two outs.
Riley Cooper was then brought in to replace Guidry on the bump. After giving up an infield single, Copper struck out the next hitter to end the inning and the Volunteer threat.
LSU got one of those runs back in the bottom of the eighth as Jobert blasted a pitch that landed in the bullpen behind the right field fence.
BIG NUMBER I: 200
Paul Skenes struck out 12 Volunteers in Saturday’s win which gave him 200 for this season. That propelled him past Vanderbilt’s David Price for second all-time in SEC history and only two behind LSU legend Ben McDonald.
BIG NUMBER II: 68
With a single through the right side in the bottom of the third, Dylan Crews extended his reached base streak to 68 consecutive games.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: PAUL SKENES & BRAYDEN JOBERT
LSU’s ace put on a show in Saturday’s win as Skenes fanned 12 Tennessee hitters in the victory, while Jobert was outstanding at the plate as he went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI triple and solo home run.
UP NEXT: LSU (49-15) will now face Wake Forest on Monday night. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and you can listen to the game live on THE GAME 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.