LSU wasted no time making a Super Regional statement, launching three home runs and blasting West Virginia 16-9 in Game 1 at Alex Box Stadium.
Josh Pearson and Steven Milam each hit grand slams as LSU put up all 16 of their runs between the 4th and 6th innings. The Tigers did it all on just 8 hits, with West Virginia pitchers issuing 8 walks and hitting five batters. Two of the runs were scored on bases loaded walks.
Lineup change works again: For the second straight game, Coach Jay Johnson unveiled a lineup that the Tigers had not used yet this season. With LSU facing a left-handed pitcher, Johnson moved Curiel from the leadoff spot to seventh in the lineup. Pearson took over in the leadoff spot and delivered.
Curiel has not hit well against lefties and the move paid off as the freshman left fielder got the Tigers on the board by hitting a three-run homer to give LSU a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning. Curiel finished with 5 RBIs.
Milam’s rollercoaster day: The LSU second baseman committed his first two errors since March 25th, but his bat put this game out of reach in the fifth inning. Milam hit an opposite field grand slam that just got over the wall in right field.
It was his only hit of the day, but he continues to produce in the postseason.
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He hit a walk-off home run to beat South Carolina in the SEC Tournament last year and then a home run the following week to beat North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Regional.
The grand slam he hit on Saturday gave LSU a 7-1 lead. Milam is a career .237 hitter in the SEC, but continues to come up big in the postseason.
In the Regional last week, Milam had five hits, five runs scored and drove in three runs.
WVU walks: It was not an easy day to pitch with the feels-like temperature around 105 degrees. Mountaineers pitchers struggled to throw strikes. They walked eight and hit five batters. Luis Hernandez and Daniel Dickinson were hit twice. The Tigers had eight hits, but scored 16 runs to capitalize on West Virginia’s wildness.
LSU Pitching: LSU left-hander Kade Anderson allowed a season-high 7 runs, but, again, it was not an easy day to pitch. Along with the heat, Anderson also took a liner off his right arm and had to wait out some long innings. Anderson did get through 7 innings to help save the bullpen.
It was a tough outing for William Schmidt, as the former Catholic High star continues to struggle in his freshman season. Schmidt came out of the bullpen in the eighth inning, but walked two and gave up a two-run homer and did not record an out.
One more for Omaha: LSU will send Anthony Eyanson to the mound for Game 2 of the Super Regional as the Tigers look to win the series. West Virginia will counter with right-hander Jack Kartsonas. He’s 6-3 with a 2.94 ERA.
Since Karstonas is a right-hander, expect a different lineup for LSU tomorrow. Curiel could move back up to the top of the order after his strong Saturday.
The game will start at 5 PM, so that will be beneficial to the players and the fans.