When a three and a half hour rain delay kept LSU and Tennessee from clashing until late into the night everyone should've expected a crazy game between two of the Nation's best teams. When the teams took the field, it was a matchup between two of the best pitchers in the Country as Kade Anderson faced off against Liam Doyle.
Kade Anderson held up his end of the bargain, bouncing back after two shaky starts the last two Fridays. Anderson turned in a gem going 7.1 innings allowing just two runs on 6 hits and 3 walks while striking out 11 against one of the best offenses in the Country.
The issue for the Tigers was that Liam Doyle somehow outdueled Kade Anderson no hitting the Tigers into the 6th inning. Doyle went 6.2 innings allowing just one hit and 3 walks while striking out 6 but, the Tigers looked fooled all night.
When a passed ball cost LSU in the 8th inning and again in the 9th inning a three run deficit seemed insurmountable with how Tennessee's pitching staff was performing. A fan however may have turned the tide for LSU as a ball was throw onto the field to start the 9th inning and the chaotic moment wasn't even one of the craziest moments of the game.
An error by Dean Curley at 3rd base allowed the Tigers got get the leadoff runner aboard and another error by Curley gave the Tigers two on with one out. Tanner Reaves would then work a walk followed by a clutch pinch hit 2 RBI single by Dalton Beck in his second SEC at-bat which made it 3-2 with two on.
Derek Curiel then came up for the Tigers and delivered a clutch 2-out RBI single to tie the game giving the Tigers all of the momentum.
As things were falling apart for Tennessee, it only got worse as Bear Jones came up to the plate with Alex Box Stadium buzzing. Jared Jones put the exclamation mark on an incredible game blasting a 452 foot bomb over the batters eye sending the Tigers faithful home with the memory of one of the craziest games you'll ever see.
For LSU picking up a win in this game is massive especially as the Tigers looked dead in the water for 8 innings. The Tigers head into Saturday looking to pick up a series win and they'll do so with the entire bullpen available as Jay Johnson wisely pulled Zac Cowan after the 8th inning. After a rocky stretch this game could be exactly what the LSU Baseball team needed to get right back on track.