LSU baseball: Tigers capture top-3 series win vs. Arkansas

The LSU baseball team knocked off No. 3 Arkansas at Alex Box Stadium this weekend. Here’s how the Tigers battled the Razorbacks in the series that was.

With the 2-1 series victory against the No. 3 Arkansas Razorbacks, the No. 1 LSU baseball team improved to 21-3 on the young season. The Tigers disappointed in game one before rebounding during last Saturday’s doubleheader. Here at DVV, we compiled a quick recap for each game this weekend.

Game 1: Skenes remains dominate while the LSU offense snoozes

LSU baseball opened the series Friday afternoon after moving their game up due to potential bad weather. Unfortunately, the Tigers got off to a slow start, dropping game one 9-3.

Despite the final score, the game was a pitching duel between two of the SEC’s best arms.

Air Force transfer Paul Skenes (5-0) has been the most dominant pitcher in college baseball thus far. He boasts an undefeated record with a 0.59 ERA through 30.1 innings. In addition, Skenes has 59 strikeouts, an average of 1.96 per inning, and only four walks on the year. In the other dugout, Hagen Smith (4-0) has been the Razorbacks’ premier pitcher this year, posting a 1.95 ERA through 27.2 innings pitched.

Through 9 innings, the score was 1-1; hard to believe just by looking at the final score. Arkansas had three hits heading into extras compared to LSU’s seven hits. However, the Razorbacks drew four walks and rattled-off four hits, including two homers in the 10th to take a 9-1 lead. The Tigers plated two runs in the bottom of the 10th thanks to a Dylan Crews’ two-run shot but could not do any more damage.

Ultimately, Arkansas stole game one of the series and carried a ton of momentum into Saturday’s doubleheader. However, LSU baseball had other plans.

Game 2: The LSU baseball offensive awakening

Despite a poor showing on Friday, the LSU baseball team came out hungry in game two. Ty Floyd earned the start and did not disappoint the packed crowed at Alex Box Stadium.

Arkansas got on the board in the first inning with a two-run homer. However, Floyd shook off the homer and was lights out afterward. He carved up the Razorbacks through 6.1 innings, throwing seven strikeouts and allowing just two hits after the homer.

Then, down 2-0, the Tigers’ bats heated up. LSU put up four runs in the second frame, including back-to-back dingers from Gavin Dugas and Tre’ Morgan. The Tigers followed up by scoring in all four of the remaining five innings, including three batters tallying three hits.

Dylan Crews, Gavin Dugas, and Tre’ Morgan all hit home runs and posted two RBIs in the early game. Collectively, LSU saw eight batters get a hit and scored 12 runs on 16 hits to knock off the Razorbacks, 12-2 in seven innings and force a rubber match in the nightcap.

Game 3: Death Valley dinger derby

After flipping the switch in game two, LSU baseball entered the series’ final game with all the momentum.

LSU and Arkansas were tied 4-4 in the early stages of the rubber match. Then, after retiring the side in the top of the fourth, LSU’s offense exploded.

Jordan Thompson led off the inning with his first triple of the season. The Death Valley dominoes continued to fall thereafter. Gavin Dugas and Tommy White blasted a pair of home runs, crossing six runs in the inning to give LSU a 10-4 advantage through four innings.

Arkansas managed to plate a run in the fifth inning, but the Tigers answered by adding salt to the wound. Tommy ‘Tanks’ White hit his second homer of the game in grand slam fashion thus, sealing the series with a 14-5 victory.

White finished the game 2-for-4 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Also, Dylan Crews, the potential top pick in the MLB Draft, went 2-for-4 from the dish with a homer and three RBIs.

Together, White and Crews led LSU baseball to a crucial game-three win; their second SEC series victory of the season.

After a sloppy game one, the Tigers came back and showed the world why they’re the No. 1 team in all of college baseball. Led by the best hitter and pitcher in the nation, LSU remains the favorite to hoist the trophy in Omaha.