The LSU Tigers baseball team had a couple extra days off after Tuesday night’s matchup versus Grambling State was canceled. That time off led to the final regular-season home series; their opponent was the Arkansas Razorbacks. LSU rallied in the last few innings to win 5-4 in extras and take the series lead. The win put their record at 39-11 and 16-9 in SEC Conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Arkansas put the pressure on LSU’s starting pitcher, Kade Anderson, with leadoff hitter Charles Davalan recording a double down the left field line. After a strikeout on Wehiwa Aloy and a groundout to Anderson by Logan Maxwell, Kuhio Aloy walked to put runners on first and third base. The sophomore left-handed pitcher closed out the opening inning with a punch-out on Cam Kozeal.
LSU’s offense didn’t start as hot. Derek Curiel and Jared Jones struck out against Arkansas’ starting pitcher, Zach Root. In the three-hole, Daniel Dickinson popped up. The baseball didn’t leave the infield, and he was out at second base.
Anderson continued to attack the plate in the second, getting to five strikeouts by the middle of the inning. Ryder Helfrick didn’t leave empty-handed and singled up the middle before being stranded.
The Tigers threatened to score in the second as Ethan Frey began with a double into left field and advanced to third on a groundout by Josh Pearson. After Luis Hernandez was hit by a pitch, Michael Braswell III hit into a fielder’s choice on a bunt. The Razorbacks’ infield chose home and got the out at the plate to keep the game scoreless. Steven Milam hit into another fielder’s choice, and Braswell III was out at second base.
LSU drew first blood in the third with nine-hole hitter Chris Stanfield leading off the bottom of the frame with a double. Stanfield got to third base on a groundout by Curiel, and Jones drove him home with an RBI single into right field, giving the Bayou Bengals the one-run lead one-third into the contest.
Arkansas responded in the fourth with a run when Kozeal went yard on Anderson. The solo shot went over the left-center field wall and tied the game at one apiece.
Frey answered right at the bottom of the inning when he hit a line drive over the right-center field wall, giving LSU the 2-1 lead through four.
At the top of the fifth, the Razorbacks evened the game for a second time. Helfrick hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a single by Justin Thomas Jr.. Davalan tied it up at two with a sacrifice fly out in center field. Arkansas then took the lead in the sixth when Kuhio Aloy hit a solo homer to open the inning.
Head coach Jay Johnson pulled Anderson later in the inning and opted for Chase Shores. Anderson finished the night with seven hits and three runs allowed in 5.2 innings. The Madisonville, Louisiana native also struck out 10 batters in his time on the mound.
Thomas Jr. extended Arkansas’s lead in the seventh when he singled into left field, advanced on a groundout and wild pitch to third base before Wehiwa, the other Aloy brother, hit a sacrifice grounder to put the Razorbacks ahead by two.
LSU started to rally after the seventh-inning stretch. In between innings, Arkansas took out Root in favor of Aiden Jimenez. Jake Brown singled, and Milam walked to open the bottom of the frame, which prompted a mound visit. A second walk, this time being Stanfield loaded the bases. Curiel came up big for the Tigers and hit a two-RBI single through the left side, tying the game once again. After the play, Jimenez was replaced by Gabe Gaeckle, who struck out two batters.
Shores went 1.1 innings and allowed a pair of hits and a run before Zac Cowan pitched nearly flawlessly in the eighth and ninth, giving up a single hit.
The Tigers had an opportunity to secure the win at the bottom of the ninth, but only Milam managed to get a hit as the game went into extra innings.
The Razorbacks had a chance to take the lead in the 10th when Cowan loaded the bases. Wehiwa singled, then Kozeal was intentionally walked, and Brent Iredale was hit by a pitch. Cowan got out of the jam by punching out Reese Robinett.
LSU secured the win at the bottom of the frame when Frey drove in Jones for the winning run. Jones began the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, then third on a groundout by Dickinson. Frey’s flyout into center field allowed Jones to get home and give the Tigers the 5-4 win in extras at 1:18 in the morning.
BIG NUMBER: 29
LSU continues to produce at home. Friday night/Saturday morning’s win was the 29th at Alex Box Stadium this season for the Bayou Bengals. A stark contrast to their 6-7 record on the road.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ethan Frey
Frey and Jared Jones were the only LSU batters to record multiple hits in Friday’s game one. Frey hit a solo homer in the fourth inning before bringing in Jones for the winning run on a pop fly into center field. That play gave LSU the 5-4 win to improve their record to 39-11 and 16-9 in conference play.
UP NEXT: Game two in the weekend series between the LSU Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks is set for Saturday, May 10th. The first pitch from Alex Box Stadium is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., and the action can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.