Almost nonexistent in previous seasons, LSU baseball has added a new weapon to its arsenal – speed.
Freshman speedster Mark Laird had two hits and scored three runs while fellow freshman Alex Bregman chipped in three hits of his own as LSU secured a series win against Auburn, 5-1, in Alex Box Stadium on Saturday.
Laird reached base in his first three at-bats for the Tigers (21-2, 4-1 Southeastern Conference), coming around to score each time as LSU built an early 3-0 lead.
“It’s been my goal to just get on base,” Laird said. “Hit, walk, infield hit whatever it takes. If I just get on base, there’s a good chance I’ll get in.”
Laird’s merry-go-round around the basepaths began in the first after he was hit by a pitch, scoring when senior first baseman Mason Katz laced a 2-RBI double down the third base line to give LSU a 2-0 advantage.
Two innings later, after Laird poked a single to lead off the third, he raced to third on Bregman’s second single of the night, which careened off Auburn starting pitcher Michael O’Neal.
Senior left fielder Raph Rhymes promptly sent a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home Laird for the third LSU run of the night, which proved to be ample cushion for Tiger starter Ryan Eades.
Eades breezed through his first four frames, scattering only one hit and allowing only two baserunners.
“I’m trying to stick with being consistent,” Eades said. “Attacking hitters and just letting my defense play behind me and give our team a chance to win.”
LSU’s newfound speed was showcased in the fourth as Laird chopped an easy grounder to Auburn first baseman Garrett Cooper.
Blazing down the baseline, Laird beat it out as Cooper opted to toss the ball to O’Neal covering the bag, giving LSU a glimmer of two out hope in the inning.
After Laird easily stole second, Bregman delivered his third hit of the contest to score his teammate. Bregman would come around shortly thereafter on an error by Auburn second baseman Jordan Ebert on Rhymes’ sharp grounder.
“Mark’s speed is game-changing,” Bregman said. “When he beat that out, it started a little two-out rally … Ryan was able to feed off that and pitch two more scoreless [innings].”
Those two scoreless innings weren’t without drama, though, as Auburn struck for five hits and one run, a result of Eades leaving the ball up in the zone.
Eades limited the damage in both frames, forcing Auburn to strand five runners including leaving the bases loaded in the sixth.
“In those situations, you just kind of have to dig deep and see what you’re made of,” Eades said. “[Last year] I may have left a pitch up or make too good of a two strike pitch… I’m trying not to give them anything too good to hit.”
Auburn (15-8, 0-5 SEC) wasn’t done threatening as it loaded the bases in the eighth against LSU senior reliever Joey Bourgeois.
Unfazed, Bourgeois got Auburn catcher Blake Austin to bounce into a 6-4-3 double play, preserving the lead and slamming the door on any inkling of a rally.
Senior southpaw Chris Cotton worked around a double in the ninth to seal the victory for LSU, its first series victory against Auburn since 2009.
“I’m really proud of our team because I think they show remarkable composure and poise when things start to get difficult,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “That’s a quality of a championship team.”
