LSU’s first Southeastern Conference battle of the 2013 season against No. 13 Mississippi State proved to be the toughest challenge yet for the Tigers (17-1), but senior first baseman Mason Katz led the way in a 6-4 victory.

Though Katz had slammed four home runs in three games coming into the weekend series against the Bulldogs, he wasn’t satisfied. The No. 5 hitter in the Tigers’ batting order launched two more over the left field wall on Friday night, increasing his season total to eight.

Both home runs were two-run shots, but their timing was all the more impressive.

Katz’s first long ball came in the sixth inning, as Mississippi State jumped out to an early 4-1 lead at Dudy Noble Field. The home run closed the LSU deficit to one run, and the Tigers would later tie the game on a wild pitch in the seventh inning.

With the score knotted up at 4-4 at the end of nine innings, both squads went into extras looking to take the first game of the three game series. It didn’t take long before Katz found his power stroke again, as he launched a ball over the bleachers in left field to put the Tigers up by two runs in the top of the tenth inning.

Senior southpaw closer Chris Cotton would seal the deal in the bottom of the tenth, securing a series opening victory for LSU.

The Tigers’ ace of staff, sophomore right-hander Aaron Nola, struggled in 5 2/3 innings on the mound, as he surrendered four runs on nine hits while striking out four. The trouble started for Nola in the bottom of the first inning, as Mississippi State junior right fielder Hunter Renfroe lifted a two-run home run.

Seniors Brent Bonvillain and Joey Bourgeois would pitch 3 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball in relief, allowing the Tigers to keep pace late in the contest.

LSU will send junior Ryan Eades (3-0) to the mound when it faces Mississippi State tomorrow at 6 p.m. in Starkville.