SEC Baseball Recap: No. 1 LSU Wins Series against No. 2 Texas A&M

No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Texas A&M played a three game series over the weekend with the SEC West lead on the line. It was one of the most highly anticipated series in college baseball in the last few years.  These two teams did not disappoint as all three games were well played and very exciting.  In the end, LSU won two out of the three games and solidified their number one ranking.

Game 1: LSU 4, Texas A&M 3

The Aggies jumped out to a 2-0 lead against LSU starter Jared Poche after two innings.  The Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game after RBIs from centerfielder Andrew Stevenson and first baseman Chris Chinea.

Texas A&M starter Grayson Long pitched well through 6.1 innings. Long struck out four, gave up six hits but unfortunately gave up three runs. Long was taken out of the game when LSU took a 3-2 lead after right fielder Mark Laird drove in left fielder Jake Fraley on an RBI fielder’s choice.

The Aggies loaded the bases in the top of the eighth but failed to score. In the top of the ninth, Aggie third baseman Logan Nottebrook drove in J.B. Moss to tie the game. Texas A&M then loaded the bases and threatened to take the lead but LSU reliever Collin Strall struck out G.R. Hinsley to end the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, LSU second baseman Jared Foster singled then advanced to second on a wild pitch by Texas A&M reliever Andrew Vinson. Designated hitter Danny Zardon then hit a bouncing ball down the left field line to drive in Foster and win the game for LSU.

“It’s a great example of what perseverance and determination can accomplish,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri after the game.

Game 2: LSU 9, Texas A&M 6

Texas A&M starter Ryan Hendrix baffled LSU hitters through six innings. Hendrix had nine strikeouts and limited the strong LSU offense to only two runs. Meanwhile, the Aggies scored five runs on LSU starter Alex Lange through seven innings, who had posted a 1.30 ERA in SEC play entering the game.

Nick Banks had the big blow for the Aggies with a two run single in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 5-2.  In the bottom of the seventh, the LSU bats came alive and knocked Hendrix out of the game. The Tigers scored two runs right away off singles from Foster and designated hitter Chris Sciambra.

LSU shortstop Alex Bregman then came up to the plate with two runners on and the Tigers trailing 5-4. With one swing, Bregman drove a double to left field and gave LSU a 6-5 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers extended their lead to 9-5 after RBIs from first baseman Chris Chinea, Fraley and Foster. Texas A&M closed the gap to 9-6 in the top of the ninth after scoring on an error by the Tigers third baseman. LSU reliever Hunter Newman then shut the door on the Aggie offense and clinched the save.

Game 3: Texas A&M 6, LSU 2

The third game of the series was a victim to a three hour rain delay. Kyle Simonds got the start for Texas A&M and gave up five hits through the first two innings. Luckily, LSU did not score as they had a runner thrown out at home to end the first two innings.

In the top of the third Texas A&M loaded the bases with two outs after an error by LSU first baseman Chinea. Logan Taylor then drove a single to right field which scored two runs for the Aggies. Texas A&M got two more runs in the inning after RBI singles from Hunter Melton and Ronnie Gideon.

LSU cut the lead in half after scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Sciambra drove in Andrew Stevenson for the Tiger’s first run then scored later in the inning to make it 4-2 after Aggie centerfielder J.B. Moss committed an error. Texas A&M second baseman Ryne Birk hit a solo home run in the top of the six to make it 5-2.

In the top of the ninth, Aggie shortstop Blake Allemand tripled to drive in Moss to make it 6-2. Vinson pitched the final 2.1 innings for Texas A&M shutting down the LSU offense and picked up the save.

After the game, LSU Coach Paul Mainieri, “It obviously would’ve been nice to finish the job but it just wasn’t our day. We were just like a step slow.”

Texas A&M Coach Rob Childress said, “For us, we matched up evenly with them, they just made a few more plays, got a few more timely hits in the first few games and we were able to do that today. Going forward playing in this environment, in front of this crowd, in this facility, it’s only going to do us good.”

 

LSU (37-7, 14-6 in SEC) hosts Alcorn State on Tuesday then heads to Mississippi State for a weekend SEC showdown.

 

Texas A&M (37-7, 13-7 in SEC) hosts Texas State on Tuesday then travel to Tennessee for a weekend SEC series.

 

Both teams have 10 games left in the regular season and only time will tell who emerges as the SEC West winner.

 

Written by Charlie Beuttel

Photo credit: lsusports.net; Alex Bregman locks in on a pitch for LSU.