The LSU Tigers baseball team defeated the #1 ranked Texas A&M Aggies 6-4 on Friday night inside Alex Box Stadium. The win gives LSU two chances to secure a much-needed series victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU sent left-hander Gage Jump to the mound to begin the game. He struck out the first batter he saw, but then Jace LaViolette launched a solo home run into the right field bleachers to make it 1-0 Aggies early on. Jump minimized the damage to get out of the first afterwards.
Texas A&M sent ace lefty Ryan Prager to the mound, who entered play with an 8-0 record. He looked sharp early, retiring the Tigers in order in the bottom half of the first inning.
In the second inning, the Aggies would extend their lead the same way they got it: a solo home run. This time it was to left center off the bat of Ali Camarillo. That made it 2-0, and A&M had a chance to further the lead later in the inning. However, a strange base-running blunder led to two outs on one play as the Tigers defense found a way to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the third, LSU’s offense got to work. They worked the bases loaded via two walks and a single. With one out, Tommy White grounded to third on a would-be double play ball. However, the throw to first got into right field, allowing two runs to score. That tied the game 2-2.
Camarillo was not done in this game. He gave the Aggies back the lead in the top of the fourth with his second solo home run of the game. That started a segment of the game where the offenses went quiet. There would not be any more scoring until the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, LSU’s offense made their charge. Two singles and an error loaded the bases with no outs. Then, Josh Pearson delivered a two-run double to give the Tigers a 4-3 lead. That lead would be extended further in the inning and get to 6-3 by the end of it.
LSU went to Griffin Herring out of the bullpen, seeing an opportunity to take game one. He did give up a run in the eighth, but that was all. In the bottom half of the frame, it appeared as if Hayden Travinski had added an insurance run via a home run. However, the play was reviewed and called fan interference, meaning Travinski was out.
Herring stayed out there for the ninth, and got the job done. Despite allowing two baserunners, he closed the door and gave LSU the 6-4 win.
BIG NUMBER: 2
LSU left just two runners on base in this game. They were efficient with their offense, and that proved key against the Aggies.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Josh Pearson
Pearson only had one hit in this game, but it was critical. His two run double gave LSU the lead in the sixth inning. They would not relinquish the lead after that.
UP NEXT: Game two between LSU and Texas A&M will be tomorrow, May 4th at 6:30 PM.