How It Happened: After leaving nine runners on base in a 3-1 loss to Texas A&M in game one of a doubleheader, Anthony Eyanson delivered his best performance in an LSU uniform in a 2-1 win over the Aggies in game two.
Magic Moment: Coach Jay Johnson rolled out a unique lineup for game two. It featured slugging first baseman Jared Jones as a lead-off man. And it paid off in the sixth inning. Jones, who had a solo home run in game one, led off the sixth inning with a double. He would score on Ethan Frey’s double to give LSU a 1-0 lead.
Frey had three of LSU’s six hits.
Derek Curiel, who was batting third instead of lead-off, sacrificed Frey to third, who scored on a beautiful bunt single Josh Pearson.
Pearson pinch-hit for his brother John Pearson, who had his first start of the season at designated hitter.
Eyanson saves the day: It’s very hard to split a doubleheader and only score three runs, but thanks to Eyanson’s performance the Tigers accomplished it. Eyanson struck out 14 in a complete game victory to improve his record to 7-2 and lower his ERA to 3.16.
He was still throwing 94 miles per hour in the 9th inning and his slider kept diving out of the strike zone all night long and the Aggie hitters could not lay off.
It’s the fourth double digit strikeout performance of the season for Eyanson, who along with Kade Anderson has established himself as one of the best pitchers in the country.
Yes, it’s frustrating to watch LSU’s offense struggle to score runs. But you’ll need to win games like game two in Omaha and it’s nice to know the Tigers have two excellent starting pitchers to count on in the NCAA Tournament.
And they may have a third. Because Eyanson went the distance, it allows Johnson to start Casan Evans in the rubber game of a series for a second straight weekend.
Maybe the Tigers have three excellent pitchers, we’ll see how Evans does at 1 PM on Sunday.