Things did not look good for the LSU baseball team in the opening game of its road series against Alabama on Friday night.
The Tigers trailed 5-2 going to the eighth inning after junior reliever Paul Bertuccini was unable to cool a four-run Alabama rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.
But just when it appeared LSU was heading toward a series-opening loss, the Tigers fought back and rattled off two eighth-inning and four ninth-inning runs capped by a game-winning two RBI double by junior outfielder Jared Mitchell to secure an 8-5 win.
The Tigers struck first in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by freshman third baseman Tyler Hanover to take a 1-0 lead.
Hanover’s sacrifice fly scored fellow freshman right fielder Mikie Mahtook who led off the inning with a single before advancing to third base on a throwing error by Crimson Tide catcher Vin Difazio.
The Tide had a scoring opportunity in the fifth inning when freshman outfielder Taylor Dugas hit a base hit to right field with a Crimson Tide runner on second base.
But senior catcher Vin Difazio was thrown out at home plate on the play by Mahtook to preserve the shutout for another inning for the Tigers.
Junior second baseman Ryan Schimpf pushed LSU’s lead to two runs in the top of the sixth inning and hit a solo home run.
Alabama junior designated hitter Clay Jones closed the gap back to one run in the bottom half of the sixth and recorded an RBI on a fielder’s choice ground out.
The Tide ran LSU sophomore starter Anthony Ranaudo from the game in the seventh inning and exploded for four runs with Bertuccini in the game.
But with the lead back in hand, LSU freshman closer Matty Ott was able to record the final three outs to preserve the win.
LSU might have won Friday’s game, but Manieri announced prior to Friday’s first pitch that freshman pitcher Randy Ziegler will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ligament in his pitching elbow.
Mainieri said Ziegler is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery, a surgery that usually yields a nine to 12 month recovery time for pitchers.
In the procedure, doctors will remove the torn ligament and replace it with a tendon in another portion of the body, usually in a player’s knee or foot.
 
—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]