After dropping the first two games of the weekend, the LSU Baseball team came into Sunday desperately needing a victory to salvage a tough weekend. As the Tigers sent Chase Shores to the mound with both Zac Cowan and Casan Evans available, LSU was going to have every chance to win this game.
Chase Shores found himself in trouble from the start of the game allowing a walk and two doubles after recording the first out of the game quickly putting LSU down 2-0 in the first. In the second inning a leadoff walk would come back to haunt Chase Shores again as Auburn took a 3-0 lead on a double play.
After Chase Shores plunked the leadoff man in the third inning, Jay Johnson wasted no time turning the game over to his best reliever, calling on Zac Cowan. Johnson called on his ace reliever for length and to keep the Tigers in this game and he gave the team just that going 4.2 scoreless innings allowing just 4 hits while walking one to keep the Tigers alive.
The Tigers offense however, couldn't get anything going until the top of the 8th inning which made Cowan's outing so important. In the 8th inning Ethan Frey came in and drew a pinch hit walk and when Daniel Dickinson doubled it put two in scoring position. Steven Milam got the Tigers on the board with a ground out and Jake Brown would bring LSU within one on a single to left field.
Casan Evans came on in relief of Zac Cowan closing out a scoreless 7th and in the 8th inning he posted another 0 with some help from an incredible sliding grab by Derek Curiel.
In the ninth inning, Tanner Reaves came on to pinch hit and flew out, Chris Stanfield struck out looking, bringing LSU down to its final out. Derek Curiel was unable to get Jared Jones to the plate and it sent LSU to its third loss of the weekend.
While Chase Shores didn't give LSU depth, the pitching staff was outstanding and once again gave LSU every chance to win this ballgame. The Tigers' offense had trouble putting anything together at the plate with just 4 hits on the day, while Auburn granted LSU 9 free runners on walks and hit by pitches. When the offense is as stagnant as LSU's was today, the Tigers are going to find it tough to win any game and for thr fourth time this week the offense didn't have it's A-Game.
This weekend will be one that could haunt LSU later in the season as the Tigers hope to host a Super Regional and compete for the SEC Regular Season crown. The Tigers will need to shake this weekend off quickly as LSU hosts McNeese State on Tuesday before facing off againsta dangerous Alabama team next week.