The LSU Baseball team came into this weekend, needing a massive showing after the Tigers were swept against Auburn last weekend. That's never a small feat however, when the 15th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide come to town. The LSU Tigers sent their ace to the mound in Kade Anderson, who was coming off of rough game of his own.
After taking his first loss of the season last week, Kade Anderson got himself in some trouble early on allowing a solo home run to Kade Snell in the Top of the first. In the third inning, it was former LSU Tiger Brady Neal who got to Anderson this time with a solo shot of his own to left center.
In the bottom of the third inning, LSU made it a 2-1 deficit as Derek Curiel plated Chris Stanfield on a single to right field.
The pitchers then found their groove keeping the score at 6-1 into the top of the sixth inning. Kade Anderson looked like he was going to post another 0 before Kade Snell hit his second home run of night giving Alabama a 4-1 lead. Richie Bonomolo Jr then followed it up with a solo home run giving Alabama a 5-1 lead and a double would follow ending Kade Anderson's night. Jacob Mayers was called on and was able to keep the runner from scoring getting a strikeout to end the inning.
LSU found itself at the exact same spot it was in last weekend, trailing late in the game with just one run on the scoreboard. The difference in this game was that the LSU Baseball team would finally explode scoring the next 10 runs winning the Tigers this game.
Jake Brown drew a one out walk, Jay Johnson then put Josh Pearson in who rewarded Johnson with a pinch hit single and Johnson's decision to bring Ashton Larson off the bench paid off in a big way as he sent a rocket into the bleachers in right field bringing LSU within 1.
Jacob Mayers plunked the first batter he faced in the 7th which caused Johnson to call on Casan Evans who got two outs but, put runners on 2nd and 3rd for one of the best hitters in the Country Justin Lebron. Evans dug deep and was able to freeze Lebron getting a called strike 3 helping LSU escape the inning.
Ethan Frey and Jared Jones got into scoring position in the 7th inning and the Tigers made Alabama pay as Steven Milam gave LSU its first lead of the day with a three run blast to right field.
The Tigers were then gifted another run in the 7th inning as what looked like a routine double play turned into the Tigers scoring a run on incredible base running by Jake Brown.
After Casan Evans worked a scoreless 8th inning, LSU's offense quickly went to work to put this game on ice. Derek Curiel led the inning off with a single to centerfield and Ethan Frey gave LSU a 5 run lead with home run to right field. The Tigers then tacked on an 11th run when Jake Brown was able to lay the safety squeeze down giving LSU an 11-5 lead.
Jay Johnson called on Connor Benge, looking to close this game out with a 6-run lead, which instantly became a concern as he issued 4 free passes while only recording one out. Johnson went to Zac Cowan, his ace out of the pen, to dig the Tigers out of trouble, and he quickly sealed the deal, getting a game-ending flyout in just four pitches.
While Kade Anderson got tagged late in his outing, he still gave the Tigers 5.2 innings pitched with 5 earned runs with 10 strikeouts, and on most nights, he won't allow 4 home runs which is a reason to keep belief. The Tigers bullpen led by Casan Evans gave the team 3.1 innings pitched allowing just one hit without allowing an earned run.
The most disappointing part about Gavin Guidry missing this season with injury is that we'll miss out on seeing a bullpen anchored by Casan Evans, Zac Cowan, and Guidry which could've been a truly special trio.
The Tigers offense was finally able to come alive in this game, scoring 10 runs in the final three innings at the plate. LSU was incredibly tough to get out in this game as the Tigers tallied 13 hits and 4 walks which is what this team needs as it's built on base hits rather than the long ball.
The Tigers now will look to clinch a series win on Saturday which would go a long way toward getting back into the race for the SEC Regular Season crown.