After picking up a series win in the first two games of the series, the LSU Baseball team came into Saturday with a chance to pick up a crucial series sweep. Before the game even began, things were shaken up as Chase Shores was named the starter for the game before the series began but, when LSU released it's lineup, Conner Ware was the Tigers starter.
Ware gave the Tigers two scoreless innings to start the game but, in the third inning Ware allowed a leadoff single ending his day. Chase Shores finally appeared taking over for Ware but, he got the first batter he faced out before surrendering a walk before allowing a 3-RBI Home Run.
As LSU was in a 3-0 hole, Jared Jones looked to get the Tigers back into this game hitting a solo shot to right center.
The Crimson Tide quickly clawed the run back from the Tigers as a walk and a wild pitch led to Alabama scoring another run on a single to center field. In the 5th inning, a single to the pitcher and an error put a runner on third base with no outs which led to LSU allowing another run which made it 5-1 Alabama.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, Jay Johnson's decision to pinch hit Jake Brown panned out as Brown blasted a two run home run bringing LSU back into this game.
The Tigers weren't able to get anything going in the 7th or the 8th inning which especially hurt the Tigers in the 9th inning. William Schmidt walked the first two batters he faced and when Jaden Noot came on, he allowed a single to load the bases. A sacrifice fly and a walk would allow Alabama to score two runs making it 7-3.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Tigers started the inning off with a walk and a triple by Jake Brown to make it 7-4 LSU. The Tigers then weren't able to plate another run as Tanner Reaves and Dalton Beck struck out while Daniel Dickinson's foul out ended the game.
Two decisions in this game stood out in this game as confusing decisions which impacted the game. After Chase Shores has started every game on Sunday, going with an opener seemed to only throw the Tigers out of rhythm. The pitching decision may have been the right decision but, Jay Johnson bringing in Dalton Beck who hadn't taken an SEC at-bat yet, replacing Chris Stanfield who's been one of the best hitters in the conference didn't make any sense in the moment and it didn't make any sense when Beck struckout as it was a tough spot to bring him into.