The term pitching duel casually gets thrown around in low-scoring baseball games, but there is no other way to describe what happened in LSU’s walk-off 3-2 win in its Southeastern Conference opener against Mississippi State.
LSU’s sophomore hurler Kevin Gausman and Mississippi State’s junior right-hander Chris Stratton each turned in 8.2 masterful innings Friday night, but neither factored into the decision, as they canceled each other out.
Stratton baffled LSU hitters, who struggled mightily with his slider. The junior, starting for the first time this season, fanned 17 batters in the outing – a career high.
“I knew Stratton was good,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “He got into a groove, and he kept getting that slider over, first pitch. We’ve seen some great pitchers, and it was more of the same. When a kid can mix his pitches like he was mixing them, it’s hard see other.”
Gausman said he’d never been in a pitcher’s duel like Friday’s before. He didn’t even have time to consume his customary four powdered donuts between innings.
“I’d sit down and reach over to eat one of my donuts and the next thing you know I’m back out there,” Gausman said.
At the end of the ninth inning, the two teams were tied at one, and both were having trouble finding a seam against the others’ stout pitching.
It looked like the Bulldogs found the first crevasse in the top of the 10th. LSU coach Paul Mainieri sent closer Nick Goody out to preserve the tie, but No. 8 hitter Mitch Slauter sent a 3-1 offering into the left field bleachers to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.
But the Tigers, who scored their only previous run in the first inning Jones’ RBI double, got hot at the right time.
Senior third baseman Tyler Hanover started the rally with an infield single, and senior designated hitter Grant Dozar tied the game when he ripped a double down the right field line.
With two left-handed hitters due, Mississippi State decided to take the chance and intentionally walk both, bringing Jones to bat with one out and the bases full.
Jones whiffed on a first-pitch slider, then sent the 0-1 offering into center field for the Tigers’ second walk-off win of the year and the first of Jones’ career. Goody got his first LSU win in relief.
It was a good SEC opener for LSU, as they slid to a 1-5 start in conference play last season.
“This is a great win for us,” Jones said. “[Mainieri] wanted us to win one close game, and that’s what we did. He said there are going to be a lot of close games, that’s what determines winning teams.”
Sophomore Ryan Eades (3-1, 2.13) will get the start tomorrow for LSU, with first pitch coming at 6 p.m.
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Contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]