How it happened: In game one of the series, LSU took advantage of two errors to score six runs for a dramatic walk-off victory. In game two of the series, Tennessee took advantage of two hit batsmen in the eighth inning to score six runs in a 9-3 win over the Tigers.
Turning point: LSU got back into the game in the bottom of the 7th inning when Steven Milam and Michael Braswell hit back-to-back home runs.
But in the top of the 8th inning, relief pitcher Chase Shores hit the lead-off hitter. With one out, Gavin Kilen singled opposite of the shift and then stole second. LSU then decided to intentionally walk Andrew Fischer.
With the bases loaded, Shores hit Hunter Ensley to drive in a run. Two batters later, with Cooper Williams pitching, Dalton Bargo drove in two runs when he chopped a hard hopper past LSU first baseman Jared Jones, who didn’t get in front of the ball.
Williams then allowed a three-run home run off the bat of Cannon Peebles to cap off the six-run rally and that was the ball game.
Tough night for the bullpen: LSU’s starting pitcher Anthony Eyanson gave the Tigers a chance to win. Despite walking four hitters over 5.2 innings, he struck out eight and allowed two runs.
The first guy out of the bullpen was William Schmidt, but he walked the only hitter he faced. Mavrick Rizy relieved Schmidt and he walked two hitters, including the lead-off hitter in the 7th inning which resulted in a run.
Shores allowed four runs in one inning and Williams was charged with two runs in a third of an inning.
On the night, LSU pitching walked eight and hit three other batters. Hard to beat a team like Tennessee when you give away 11 free passes.
Where’s the offense?: Just like in the Tuesday nonconference loss to Northwestern State, LSU only scored on three solo home runs. If you take away the miraculous ninth inning on Friday night, LSU would have three earned runs for the series.
As a team they have ten hits for the series in 65 at bats with a .153 batting average.
Give credit to Tennessee’s starting pitchers, Liam Doyle and Marcus Phillips. These two guys are major league arms. Tennessee came into the series with a team ERA of 3.17, third best in the country.
But LSU’s bats have been mostly held in check since the Mississippi State series. They have scored four runs or less in seven of their last nine games.
LSU’s team batting average in SEC play is .269, which is good, but needs to be better for the Tigers to get to where they want to go.
All good things must come to an end: Derek Curiel’s on-base streak ended at 43 games. The freshman left-fielder got on base in every game this year, except Saturday night. He went 0-for-4. Coach Jay Johnson said it was Curiel’s decision to try and lay down a bunt with two outs in the 5th inning with runners on first and third and two outs.
Game 3: Neither team has announced a Sunday starting pitcher. On Friday night, Johnson decided to use Zac Cowan with the Tigers were down by a run. He chose not to go to Cowan on Saturday night in a similar situation. But that leaves Cowan and freshman Casan Evans available for this pivotal rubber game at 2 PM.
