One-run ball games have become the norm for No. 11 LSU in Southeastern Conference play.
After winning a pair of one-run contests last weekend against then-No. 21 Mississippi State to open the SEC schedule, LSU (18-6, 3-3 SEC) saw that pattern carry over into its series at Auburn (15-9, 4-2 SEC) this weekend.
LSU dropped the first two games, each by one, with Auburn taking the lead in the eighth inning or later both times. But LSU flipped the script in the series finale Sunday, taking a 4-3 victory to avoid the sweep at Plainsman Park.
Sophomore second baseman JaCoby Jones drove in the go-ahead run with a one-out single in the ninth inning on Sunday.
Freshman designated hitter Jared Foster opened the ninth inning with a four-pitch walk against freshman pitcher Trey Cochran-Gill. Senior third baseman Tyler Hanover moved Foster to second base with a sacrifice bunt, setting up Jones for the game-winning opportunity.
“I’m extremely proud of our team for giving another tremendous effort and getting a well-deserved victory,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri in a news release. “We faced a lot of adversity and some bad luck during this series, but we came out today and played with a lot of intensity. The entire team contributed to an important win for the Tigers.”
After going hitless through the first three innings, the LSU offense came alive, taking a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. After Jones and junior first baseman Mason Katz reached base, junior left fielder Raph Rhymes gave LSU the lead with a RBI single to right field.
Sophomore catcher Ty Ross followed with a two-out single to left field that drove in Katz and Rhymes and provided freshman pitcher Aaron Nola with an early cushion.
Nola, who made his second career SEC start after surrendering five runs in the first inning last week against Mississippi State, cruised through the first five innings, allowing just four hits and striking out two batters.
But Nola hit a speed bump in the sixth inning after surrendering a lead off double to sophomore right fielder Jay Gonzalez. Nola got the next batter to ground out, but sophomore center fielder Ryan Tella homered to right field to cut the LSU deficit to just one run.
Auburn tied the game in the seventh when senior catcher Caleb Bowen tripled with two outs. LSU freshman center fielder Chris Sciambra attempted to make a diving catch on the play and appeared to hit his head. Sciambra left the game, and Katz moved to center field.
The next batter dropped one in front of Katz, driving in Bowen for the game-tying run.
Nola and junior pitcher Chris Cotton, who earned his second victory of the season, combined to retire the next four batters before LSU took the lead in the ninth. Sophomore pitcher Kurt McCune, who lost his spot in the rotation to Nola, entered in the ninth to earn the first save of his career.
LSU lost Friday after Tella drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning against junior pitcher Nick Goody with a two-out single. LSU nearly rallied back with two outs in the ninth inning.
Senior shortstop Austin Nola doubled and was replaced by pinch runner Arby Fields, who attempted to score on an error but was thrown out at the plate.
Saturday’s game went into extra innings after Auburn tied it in the eighth inning. Goody again surrendered the game-winning run after replacing junior pitcher Joey Bourgeois. Goody walked the first batter he faced and a wild pitch advanced runners to second and third.
Auburn shortstop Dan Glevenyak lifted a pitch to right field, and left fielder Cullen Wacker scored on the sacrifice fly.
 
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Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]