The LSU Baseball team kicked off it's final regular season series of the year, looking to maintain its spot as the Nation's top team as the Tigers faced off against Paul Mainieri and the South Carolina Gamecocks. It wasn't the typical series opener for the Tigers as Jay Johnson pushed Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson to start Games 2 and 3 starting Conner Ware instead.
The LSU offense didn't take long to strike as Daniel Dickinson followed up Jared Jones' single with a 2-run homer into the bullpen in left centerfield.
BOOM 💥@coopcoop_1 | SECN pic.twitter.com/t1gkm66S27
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 15, 2025
The issue for the Tigers was that Conner Ware was only able to give the Tigers 1 inning as he walked the bases loaded in the second inning. Jaden Noot came in and did a great job limiting the damage working out of the inning allowing just one run to score.
Both teams settled in on the mound heading into the 5th inning where LSU scored a run on a perfectly executed hit and run by Jared Jones. The problem for the Tigers was that poor baserunning likely cost the Tigers a chance at breaking open this game as Michael Braswell slid off of the bag at 3rd and Derek Curiel didn't slide into 3rd which drew an animated reaction from Jay Johnson on the hot mic.
In the bottom of the 7th, Josh Pearson made the play of the game with two runners on making an incredible sliding catch to take away a base hit before firing the ball to Steven Milam to turn the double play holding the score at 3-3.
WHAT A PLAY BY JOSH PEARSON 😱
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 16, 2025
📺 SECN pic.twitter.com/Q3Gxyv1Cqk
The sliding grab may have ignited the Tigers offense as LSU took the lead to start the 8th inning. After loading the bases with 1 out, Steven Milam put LSU on top 4-3 with an impressive at-bat hitting a sacrifice fly. Michael Braswell then made it 5-3 making his former team pay with a RBI single to give the Tigers an insurance run.
Three-Hit Night For Brazzy 😤@brazzy_11 | SECN pic.twitter.com/3dAhTx94lZ
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 16, 2025
Zac Cowan came on in the bottom of the 8th looking to protect LSU's 2 run lead but, back-to-back hard-hit balls led to the Gamecocks making it a 5-4 game. The ninth inning got worse for Zac Cowan as a 1-out solo home run tied the game before a triple put the winning run 90 feet away for the Gamecocks. Jared Jones made a massive diving catch at 1st to get the second out but, Cowan bounced one to the back stop allowing South Carolina to stun the Tigers.
LSU losing this game is a truly stunning result as the Gamecocks have struggled all season long and the Tigers looked to be rounding into form ahead of postseason play. This game may be exactly what Jay Johnson needed to motivate this team as the sloppy play cost the Tigers this game which could prove to be pivotal. The decision by Jay Johnson to leave Zac Cowan in the game when he clearly didn't have his best stuff was another sticking point from this game. The Tigers are still fighting to earn a Top 4 seed in the SEC and losing this game makes the race far more complicated.
The Tigers will need to bounce back and win this series and they'll have a great chance to do so with Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson pitching the next two games.