How it happened: Usually when Casan Evans or Zac Cowan pitch, the Tigers win. Evans started but struggled with his command as he walked three and hit two batters and allowed one run in 3.1 innings. Cowan entered in the eighth inning and allowed a three-run home to Caden Sorrell as Texas A&M rallied to beat LSU 6-4 to win the series two games to one.
LSU was 27-0 on the season leading after the 7th inning. They are now 27-1.
Turning point: LSU led 4-2 going into the eighth inning. With two outs and a runner at third base, left-handed pitcher Conner Ware came in relief of Chase Shores.
Ware was on to face left-handed power hitter Jace LaViolette. LSU held LaViolette in check all weekend, including three strikeouts on Sunday.
Ware made a good pitch, but LaViolette fought it off and hit a slow bouncer to third baseman Michael Braswell. LaViolette flew down the first base line and easily beat the throw from Braswell.
Coach Jay Johnson went to the bullpen again.
This time he brought in Cowan, who did not have a good weekend in College Station. In game one of the series, Cowan recorded just one out and allowed three hits and two runs.
On Sunday, Cowan gave up a single to Wyatt Henseler and that set up the three-run blast from Sorrell. Sorrell had just one hit on the weekend before that home run and he had struck out six times.
LSU’s bats quiet: The last time LSU played a road series, they scored eight runs at Auburn. And the Tigers’ bats did not travel to College Station, scoring seven runs. If Texas A&M knew how to execute a relay throw from the outfield, they screwed it up twice on Sunday, LSU would have only scored five runs for the weekend.
Two of LSU’s most consistent hitters have finally hit a slump. Derek Curiel was 1 for 12 with 4 strikeouts for the weekend. Daniel Dickinsont was 1 for 8 with two strikeouts and three walks.
Tough weekend for Christ Stanfield. He had trouble in game one of the series in centerfield and was moved to left field for games two and three. He also struggled at the plate going 2 for 10 with 6 strikeouts.
Michael Braswell started each game of the series at third base with Texas A&M starting left-handers in each game and he went 1-for-11 with a strikeout.
Jay Johnson is trying to find a spark. He moved Curiel out of the lead off spot, which makes no sense. He’s been one of the best lead off hitters in college baseball this season, keep him there until he really hits a prolonged slump.
Jared Jones batted lead-off in games 2 and 3 of the series, it worked in game 2, but on Sunday he was 0-for-4.
Steven Milam had three hits, but none of them went for extra base hits.
Ethan Frey and Josh Pearson each had four hits on the weekend, but Jake Brown had just four at-bats, and Brown is one of your better hitters.
It also didn’t help that Cowan and Evans were not as sharp as they’ve been this season. You also can’t expect these guys to be perfect every time out.
There are just seven more regular season games left, and the Tigers will be tested again this weekend as they try to secure a Top 8 national seed in the NCAA Tournament.
They have a red-hot Arkansas team coming to the Box for SEC series that will start on Friday. The Razorbacks just swept top ranked Texas.
LSU also has its final midweek game of the year on Tuesday when they host Grambling. The Tigers are 16-8 in the SWAC.
