If the first two games between No. 13LSU (16-3) and No. 21 Mississippi State (14-7) were any indication of how Southeastern Conference games are going to play out for the Tigers, Baton Rouge may see a spike in cardiac cases.
The Tigers closed out a 4-3 win late, but the Bulldogs didn’t go quietly, scoring twice in the final two innings.
Down two runs, Mississippi State had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth with nobody out. But junior closer Nick Goody retired the final three batters he faced – allowing one to drive in a runner via sacrifice fly.
When Goody struck out No. 3 hitter Trey Porter – who was 4-for-4 before his final at bat – the 7,504 fans in Alex Box Stadium let out a collective roar that was equal parts joy and relief.
“What really got me is when the crowd erupted [after the first strike],” Goody said. “I was like, ‘Alright, I’m about to get it here.'”
Sophomore Ryan Eades (4-1) earned his fourth win of the season, though it wasn’t one of his best outings to date.
The LSU defense helped stymie whatever momentum the Bulldogs got going with their eight hits off Eades by turning four double plays in the game.
Eades deserved credit for one, as he made a diving snag of a popped-up bunt in the third inning, then turned and doubled up the runner who had left first base on contact.
The win comes on the heels of Friday’s thriller in the Box, when the Tigers won in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the tenth.
Goody, who surrendered the go-ahead run in the tenth inning Friday night, before the Tigers rallied and earned him his first win at LSU, sounded like he had a closers’ mentality after the game.
“I just throw what ever they tell me to throw,” Goody said. “Throw it as hard as I can and as best as I can.”
Freshman Aaron Nola (3-0, 1.80) will get his first weekend start on the mound tomorrow as the Tigers search for the series sweep, and Junior right-hander Kendall Graveman (1-0, 2.82) will get the nod for Mississippi State.