After two highly emotional games, the LSU Tigers and Tennessee Volunteers met once more in a pivotal rubber match on Sunday Afternoon. After using Chase Shores in relief on Saturday Night, the Tigers needed someone to step up and deliver a solid start so Jay Johnson could piece this game together.
Jay Johnson turned to one of his aces out of the bullpen calling on true freshman Casan Evans to make his first SEC weekend series start against one of the Countries top offenses. In the first inning it looked like Evans may be in serious trouble allowing a pair of runs on 4 hits but, he was able to strand a pair.
On Saturday Night, Derek Curiel's streak of reaching base in every game he's played came to an end which meant he had to start a new streak. Curiel wasted no time blasting a leadoff solo home run to the diamond deck in right.
Derek Curiel's home run gave the Tigers momentum after two straight games where the Tigers couldn't get anything going early on offense. Casan Evans took that momentum and turned in a stellar start pitching the next 5 innings without allowing a run and giving up just 2 more hits.
As Casan Evans continued to throw up scoreless frame after scoreless frame the LSU offense went to work with their best showing of the week. In the 2nd inning, Luis Hernandez hit a triple which allowed Derek Curiel to drive him home with an RBI double. The Volunteers then chose to intentionally walk Jared Jones which proved costly as Jake Brown blasted a homerun to left giving LSU a 5-2 lead.
Chris Stanfield led off the 4th inning with a triple, and Derek Curiel pushed another run across with an RBI single through the left side.
Continuing the theme of the day for the LSU Baseball team, Michael Braswell and Luis Hernandez walked to kick off the 5th inning and once again Derek Curiel came through with a 2 RBI double for his 5th RBI on the day.
After crushing a home run on Saturday Night, Chris Braswell started to build some momentum with a solo shot to left centerfield giving LSU a commanding 9-2 lead.
Jay Johnson's wise decision to pull Zac Cowan after one inning on Friday night played out perfectly for the LSU Tigers as it allowed him to come in and attempt to close this game out. Cowan gave the Tigers a pair of scoreless innings like he has all season continuing to perform like one of the best pitchers in college baseball.
The LSU offense told Zac Cowan to take the 9th inning off ending this game in the bottom of the 8th inning. After Michael Braswell drove in a run on a fielders choice, Luis Hernandez walked it off giving the Tigers a 10 run rule victory with a 2 RBI double off the wall.
The Freshmen power LSU to massive series victory
Coming into Sunday, the LSU Baseball team needed to pick up the crucial victory to keep building momentum. Casan Evans came out and gave the Tigers a great chance to win putting up five consecutive scoreless innings after a rocky first which allowed LSU to go to work at the plate. Derek Curiel stepped up and powered the LSU offense with a 4-4 day at the plate with a home run, a pair of doubles, a walk, and 5 RBIs. The Tigers have two of the best freshmen in the Country and on Sunday they delivered a crucial win for LSU.