Throughout the season, LSU’s offense has struggled to hit left-handed pitching.The Tigers’ southpaw struggles continued on Saturday as Alabama left-handed pitcher Del Howell pitched seven innings and struck out nine LSU hitters to spark a 13-5 Alabama win.The Crimson Tide struck first in the bottom of the third inning on a solo home run by first baseman Wes Henerson.That lead held up until the top of the fifth inning when the Tigers took a 2-1 lead on a two-run home run by junior outfielder Blake Dean.But Alabama answered back again and scored two fifth inning and six sixth inning runs to take a 9-2 lead.The Crimson Tide took advantage poor control by LSU starter Austin Ross to help take the lead.Ross walked four Alabama batters on Saturday. Prior to this starter, the Shreveport native had just four walks all season.Senior reliever Ryan Byrd replaced Ross in the sixth inning, but Byrd also had control problems and walked two batters in two-thirds of an inning to help spark the Alabama rally.LSU added three combined runs in the seventh and eighth innings, but were unable to creep closer as the Crimson Tide answered back with runs in the seventh and eighth innings to keep LSU at a distance. ——Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]