LSU fans could've been forgiven if they changed the channel in frustration after 7 innings on Friday night, but if they did, they missed a rally for the ages.
The Tigers rode a 10-run 8th inning to seize control of their regional opener against Kennesaw State, and Paul Gervase slammed the door in the top of the 9th inning for as unlikely a 14-11 victory you'll ever see.
“I’m a little speechless right now. That’s how you draw it up," Jay Johnson said on the field after the game. "A lot of coaches talk about character and culture, and that’s it on full display."
The game began with uncharacteristic struggles by Ma'Khail Hilliard, who allowed 5 runs in 2.2 innings and just didn't appear to have the arsenal he's shown off all season. But Kennesaw wasn't done there. The Owls roughed up reliever Riley Cooper for another 6 runs over his 2 innings, and led 11-4 before that fateful 8th inning.
The Tigers' official Twitter account had a couple of perfect tweets amid the madness. The first: "Are you not entertained?"
The second: "yea, that was worth $6.99," a tongue-in-cheek reference to the game being carried on ESPN+, which requires a subscription.
It all started surreptitiously, with Josh Stevenson drawing a pinch-hit walk and Dylan Crews getting hit by a pitch to start the parade against Jack Myers, who had been dominant over his 5.1 innings of relief. It appeared Kennesaw State was gambling a bit in hopes of saving its bullpen, leaving Myers in to throw 109 pitches. LSU piled up 5 consecutive hits before recording an out, with 14 batters appearing in the inning before Jordan Thompson grounded into a double-play to end it. The biggest hit came from, no surprise, Crews. The co-SEC Player of the Year laced a bases-loaded double to center field that officially put the Tigers ahead 12-11.
"Honestly I’m just still in shock of what just happened," Crews said. "When you’re down by that much and all of a sudden you’re just able to string hits together and then look at the scoreboard and you're two and one runs away from tying the game."
Josh Pearson secured the insurance with a two-run single after an intentional walk to Jacob Berry.
Myers was the storyline in a good way going into the inning, but ultimately was charged with 7 of LSU's 14 runs. The loss goes to Smith Pinson, who allowed 2 hits and a walk without recording an out.
“Maybe that’s our hold the rope moment for a new era or whatever you want to call it," Johnson said, calling back to the iconic Skip Bertman rallying cry.
If there's one Tigers player who had his hands most firmly gripping that rope, it'd be veteran reliever Devin Fontenot, who took over to close out the 5th inning with LSU looking well out of the equation. He shut down Owls bats over 3.1 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 6 of the 10 batters he faced.
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The stunning rally means the Tigers climb into the winner's bracket and are now set for a matchup with host Southern Miss. at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Kennesaw State and Army will face off in an elimination game at 1 p.m.