There was hope LSU had turned the corner. They swept South Carolina and took a five-game winning streak into Georgia. But the Tigers could not contain the Bulldogs offense.
Georgia, which leads the nation in home runs, added to the total by hitting four more on Friday night as the top team in the Southeastern Conference rallied to beat the Tigers 11-8.
It is LSU’s seventh straight SEC road loss, and in the last four losses, they could not hold on to a lead of three runs or more.
Another blown lead: LSU led 7-4 in the 5th inning and seemed to be in control. Omar Serna, Cade Arrambide, and John Pearson all homered, and Steven Milam had a two-run single.
William Schmidt was on the mound and had six strikeouts through four innings, but it was walks that hurt him.
Schmidt walked the lead-off hitter to begin the 5th inning, his 5th walk of the night.
Coach Jay Johnson went to the bullpen and brought in Deven Sheerin. Sheerin retired the first two hitters he faced and then gave up back-to-back home runs, and the game was tied.
Georgia took the lead in the 7th inning on a three-run home run by Tre Phelps off of Gavin Guidry. It was Phelps 18th home run of the season.
Turning Point: After Georgia tied the game, LSU had a chance to regain the lead and the momentum. Tanner Reaves and Mason Braun singled to start the inning.
Omar Serna struck out, but Derek Curiel singled to load the bases.
Cade Arrambide came up to the plate, the guy you would want at the plate, but he hit into a 5-4-3 double play.
It looked like the first baseman’s foot came off the bag, but a freeze frame of the play on the internet shows Georgia first baseman Brennan Hudson’s toe was barely on the bag as the ball entered the webbing of his glove for the third and final out.
What it means: In LSU’s last four road losses, they’ve scored eight runs, which should be good enough to win on the road, but they lost all of those games.
LSU is down two starters, but the pitching just has not been good enough this season.
The Tigers' team ERA is 5.16. That is simply not good enough to win.
Gavin Guidry’s ERA is 6.81, which is certainly not good enough.
LSU has two more games in Athens to try and win one game, to keep its slim NCAA regional hopes alive.
