No. 4 LSU just didn’t have enough fuel left in its tank Sunday, failing to complete the sweep of Georgia with a 5-3 defeat at Alex Box Stadium.
After hitting go-ahead home runs in the eighth inning of each of the series’ first two games, LSU (35-10, 14-7 Southeastern Conference) had the stage set for more late-game heroics against the Bulldogs (25-20, 9-12 SEC).
Trailing 5-3 in the ninth inning, LSU loaded the bases with a single and consecutive two-out walks.
Up stepped junior left fielder Raph Rhymes and his .503 batting average.
Rhymes worked a 3-1 count, but Georgia pitcher Earl Daniels threw consecutive curveballs, the second tempting enough to get Rhymes to swing despite it being in the dirt, ending the threat and the series.