How it happened: LSU left 11 runners on base and was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in a 4-2 loss to Auburn. The Tigers left them loaded twice. LSU 31-5, 10-4 in the SEC. Auburn 25-10, 8-6 in the SEC.
Key Moment: Fourth inning. LSU had the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning. But Chris Stanfield struck out to end the inning.
Auburn had two run scoring doubles in the fourth inning and on both of those hits, LSU’s outfielders could have made the play. Ike Irish smacked an RBI double over the head of left fielder Derek Curiel, who took a couple of steps in, and the ball got over his head. The next batter, Cooper McMurray, hit a ball into right center field and right fielder Josh Pearson could not make a running catch as the ball hit his glove. It looked like Chris Stanfield had a better chance catching the ball.
Offensive slump? In LSU’s last six games, the Tigers have scored 26 runs and they are hitting .248 as a team. Take away a ten-run performance in the middle game of the Oklahoma series, it’s safe to say the Tigers have hit a little offensive slump.
The strikeouts are starting to pile up for first baseman Jared Jones. He went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts on Saturday night. In six of his last seven games, Jones has struck out multiple times in the game.
Slumps happen even to one of the best offenses in the country, but the Tigers have a chance to bust out on Sunday.
Bright Spots: Steven Milam came into this game hitting .217 in SEC play, but had two hits on Saturday, including his 6th home run of the season. The Tigers haven’t used their two best relief pitchers in this series, but the bullpen has pitched well. The bullpen in the series has allowed one earned run in 6.2 innings. Conner Ware looked really good on Saturday, striking out two in five innings.
Another bright spot, Texas and Arkansas both lost. So here are the standings.
Arkansas: 12-2
Texas: 12-2
LSU: 10-4
Tennessee: 10-4
Series finale: LSU will try to avoid the sweep on Sunday when they face Auburn at 2 PM.
Chase Shores will start for LSU. He’s 5-1, with a 4.66 ERA. Auburn will start freshman right hander Andreas Alvarez. He’s 1-0 with a 7.50 ERA. Made his first SEC start last week and allowed three earned runs in 2.2 innings.