The University of Oklahoma's Sooners broke through for three runs in the eighth inning to turn a two-run deficit into a 4-3 lead that held up for a big series win for the Sooners, and a gut-wrenching loss for Louisiana State Univesity's Tigers.
8th inning was tough to watch for LSU fans: LSU relief pitcher Gavin Guidry had to expend a lot of energy to get out of jams in the 5th and 7th innings and didn’t have much left when he started the 8th inning.
Guidry walked the first hitter in the 8th inning on four pitches. After back-to-back singles, Guidry walked in a run, before Guidry was lifted for Devin Sheerin with LSU leading by one run.
It looked like Sheerin induced a double play ball to get out of the inning, but freshman second baseman Jack Ruckert mishandled it, allowing the tying run to score.
Coach Jay Johnson has used Ruckert as a defensive replacement, but he’s been shaky in the field with three errors.
Oklahoma would then push across the winning run on a sacrifice fly.
LSU’s bats continue to scuffle: Just four hits for the Tigers on Saturday and 18 for the series. LSU scored its runs on home runs.
Freshman Omar Serna blasted a two-run home run in the 1st inning. Serna started at first base for a struggling Zach Yorke.
Chris Stanfield also homered. His second in his LSU career.
Solid start for William Schmidt: Schmidt allowed just one run on six hits and struck out seven. Give credit to Oklahoma’s hitters, as they drove up Schmidt’s pitch count with a lot of foul balls with two strikes. Schmidt only pitched four plus innings.
Both Schmidt and Guidry did a great job getting out of tough situations. Oklahoma left 14 runners on base.
Cooper Moore injury update: Cooper Moore left Friday night’s start in the fifth inning because of an arm injury. On Saturday, Coach Johnson said an MRI revealed a bruise and will be shut down for the next 7-to-10 days. It will take another 7-to-10 for him to ramp back up. Johnson is expecting Moore to miss two to three starts, which means Schmidt will move into the Saturday starter role and Zac Cowan could be the Sunday starter.
What it means: It’s not good right now for the Tigers as they fall to 2-4 in the SEC. LSU is not swinging the bats well. Too many walks by the pitchers. Eight on Saturday. And the defense remains a problem,wo more errors in the series finale. Shortstop Steven Milam can’t play every position in the infield.
LSU has a couple of days off before Tuesday night’s home game against Louisiana Tech.
This team could use a Sunday away from the ballpark.
