Alcorn State University came into Alex Box Stadium looking to crush the No. 3 Tigers’ momentum after the squad swept Missouri last weekend, but the Tigers (27-2, 8-1 Southeastern Conference) slowly diffused an early Braves firework display in a 7-3 victory.
LSU freshman starter Russell Reynolds struggled early and often, as ASU (6-27) hit two home runs, a solo shot and a two-run bomb, in his only two innings of work. The Tigers were in a 3-0 deficit early, and they needed an offensive comeback to avoid the upset on Tuesday night.
It didn’t take long before LSU began to crawl back, as senior second baseman Casey Yocom put the Tigers on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. Senior left fielder Raph Rhymes lifted a sacrifice fly to put LSU within one in the bottom of the third. Two innings later, LSU grabbed a 4-3 lead after a Rhymes RBI double and senior DH Alex Edward’s RBI single.
“We got off to a little bit of a rough start there, but some guys had some really good at bats that got us back into the game,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “It was a nice win for us, and that Alcorn team played really scrappy tonight. Eventually we were able to get to the pitcher, but the best thing about this win is that it’s over.”
It was LSU freshman left-hander Hunter Devall that stole the show on the mound, though, as he held down the Braves’ offensive attack for four innings. Devall surrendered only one hit and recorded three strikeouts, stifling Alcorn St. and allowing the Tigers to climb back into the contest.
“Hunter Devall really did a super job for us,” Mainieri said. “I was hoping to get through seven innings in the combination of Reynolds and Devall, but quite frankly I was expecting it to be six innings of Reynolds and one of Devall. Devall probably could have gone one more, but I didn’t want to push it.”
Devall was quickly greeted by the Braves’ batting order when he entered the game in the top of the third inning as he allowed a leadoff double, but he kept his composure and never allowed a run to cross the plate.
“It felt good to get out on the mound and throw and get the touch back for the ball and get ready for the weekend against Kentucky,” Devall said. “[Coach Mainieri] just told me to go out there and do my job. I kept grinding, and everything was working tonight.”
The Tigers pounded out three more runs in the contest before calling it a night, including a Raph Rhymes blast that cleared the left field bleachers in the bottom of the seventh. It was Rhymes’ second home run of the season, and he said that was the hardest he’ll ever hit a baseball.
“The at bat where I hit the home run, I was just trying to put a good swing on the ball,” Rhymes said. “That is as hard as I can hit a ball. You’ll probably never see another one like that again.”
