With LSU baseball holding a commanding lead in another elimination game, they were doing so without centerfielder Giovanni DiGiacomo.
LSU's centerfielder and extra-inning hero against Central Connecticut left the game after trying to beat out a double play in the 4th inning, according to a report on the broadcast. He appeared to suffer a hamstring injury on the play, and was replaced in center to start the 5th by Drew Bianco, who started the game at 2nd base.
Digiacomo started the game 0-for-3, reaching in the first inning on a fielder's choice, a day after notching the walk-off hit in the 10th inning against Central Connecticut. Freshman Will Safford, who drew the start in the first matchup with Gonzaga, took over for Bianco at 2nd.
DiGiacomo's injury left him unavailable for the late-night matchup with Oregon. Bianco remained in center, while Zach Arnold took over at 2nd base and Brady Drost served as the designated hitter.
The Tigers held an 8-3 lead at the time of DiGiacomo's injury, jumping ahead early and chasing Gonzaga starter Alec Gomez, who allowed 6 earned runs and recorded just three outs. LSU went on to win 9-4 to eliminate Gonzaga and set up a showdown with unbeaten Oregon.
LSU was playing its second elimination game in as many days after a shutout loss to Gonzaga on Friday, a complete-game gem by Bulldogs ace Alec Jacob. The Tigers had no such issue getting untracked on Sunday, pushing across four runs in the first inning and two apiece in the 2nd and 3rd after Gonzaga jumped out to an early 2-0 lead against LSU starter AJ Labas.
The severity of DiGiacomo's hamstring injury was not immediately known, nor was his potential availability for Monday should the should the Tigers win Sunday and force second game for the regional crown. The junior was battling a hamstring injury late in the season, missing the Tigers' SEC Tournament loss to Georgia.
Check back for updates.
