After dropping Thursday Night's game to South Carolina, the LSU Baseball team put themselves up against it as the Tigers needed to win the final two games to secure a Top 4 seed in the SEC Tournament. The good news for LSU on Friday Night was that the Tigers got to send one of the best in the Country Kade Anderson to the mound.
The LSU offense got to work early for Anderson as Jared Jones led the 3rd inning off with a Bear Blast to right field to get the Tigers on the board.
Bear Bomb 🐻@bearjones_3 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/eTTnk7CZqM
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 16, 2025
After Daniel Dickinson worked a walk, Ethan Frey made the Gamecocks pay blasting a 2 run home run to right field.
SEE YA LATER 👋@ethanfrey_16 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/N7MIhMxx0s
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 16, 2025
The Gamecocks worked against Kade Anderson in the bottom of the 3rd inning with a leadoff double followed by an RBI single which made it a 3-1 game.
The Tigers offense got back to work in the top of the 5th inning as Jared Jones and Ethan Frey singled while Daniel Dickinson walked to load the bases. Luis Hernandez flew out to right field to make it 4-1 before Josh Pearson's sacrifice bunt made it 5-1.
Kade Anderson was lights out again for the Tigers in a game where LSU needed him to give the team length. Anderson turned in 6.2 innings of work allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 9.
Gettin' In a Groove 🕺@KadeAnderson32 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/WJoavN4QHt
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 17, 2025
Jared Jones went out in the 8th inning and got the Tigers some more breathing room blasting a 2-run Home Run into the woods in centerfield.
Bear To The Trees 🌲@bearjones_3 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/dxQCJNy906
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 17, 2025
In the 9th inning, Jake Brown doubled and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch, which set the Tigers up to score another run on a Michael Braswell sacrifice bunt.
Brazzy Plates JB7@brazzy_11 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/UZaWlIHFea
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 17, 2025
As LSU stretched its lead to 7 runs, the Tigers turned the game over to Grant Fontenot to close out the final inning. Fontenot made quick work of the Gamecocks sending the Tigers to game 3 with a chance to pick up another SEC series win.
Jared Jones came through for the Tigers in a game the team needed to win going 3-3 with 2 home runs, 3 RBIs, and 2 walks. Ethan Frey just continues to impress every game with a 2-5 day at the plate with yet another home run. Chris Stanfield may be the Tigers best advantage as he constantly floods the bases drawing 3 walks in this game.
LSU now has a clinching scenario on Saturday as a win over South Carolina with Anthony Eyanson on the mound would clinch a Top 4 seed in the SEC for the Tigers.