The No. 2-ranked LSU baseball team has seen its share of struggles in midweek matchups against in-state opponents this season.
And when Centenary (31-14) scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning Tuesday, the Tigers (38-14) appeared to be in for more of the same — until the bottom of the seventh rolled around.
“I’m always nervous. I hide it, butI get nervous all the time,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “We’re up, 5-0, and it looks like we’re cruising to victory, and all of a sudden some things go wrong there, and it’s 5-3.”
The Tigers’ bullpen bounced back from Gents’ three-run fifth to hold Centenary scoreless leading into a seventh inning that would be all the difference in LSU’s 12-4 victory.
“We got the big inning there in the seventh,” Mainieri said. “That kind of put it on ice, and we got a chance to play everybody.”
LSU’s first three hitters of the inning — catcher Sean Ochinko, left fielder Leon Landry and shortstop Austin Nola — all reached base safely to put Centenary starter Joe Hagen into a terrible position after putting together four straight scoreless innings.
With the bases loaded with no outs for the top of the Tigers’ order, LSU first baseman Ryan Schimpf knocked a single through the right side to to move each runner ahead a base and extend the lead to 6-3.
Center fielder Mikie Mahtook grounded into a fielder’s choice to stretch the lead to 7-3 with runners at the corners, and Hagen’s night ended as Jacob Lugo replaced him on the mound.
Designated hitter Blake Dean earned a walk on five pitches to reload the bases — a sign of troubles to come for the Gents.
DJ LeMahieu drove Nola home from third base on a sacrafice fly that left third base open with two outs, and then the Gents misses a prime opportunity to get out of the inning trailing only 8-3.
But the opportunity bounced off the chest of Centenary shortstop Ricky Imperiali as LSU third baseman Tyler Hanover reloaded the bases on an error.
Lugo went on to walk the next four batters — including two pinch-hitters — scoring four straight runs to prop the Tigers up to a 12-3 lead.
As much trouble as the Gents faced in the seventh inning, it was the Tigers who would go on to use eight pitchers in the game.
But Mainieri said he was not concerned with a potentially tired bullpen heading into LSU’s season-ending series against Mississippi State this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
“We know what they all can do now,” he said.”I have confidence in them that they can do the job. They have to do the job. Here we are 54 games into the season. They’re going to be OK.”
Daniel Bradshaw started the game on the mound for the Tigers, allowing only one hit and notching two strike outs in three scoreless innings.
Chris Matulis picked up the win for the Tigers with a scoreless fourth inning of relief. Ben Alsup, Nolan Cain, Paul Bertuccini, Matty Ott, Ryan Byrd and Buzzy Haydel all also saw action for the Tigers.
Landry went 3-for-3 for the Tigers’ offense, but Mahtook was the player that led the LSU scoring charge.
The freshman plated four RBIs going 1-for-4 at the plate with a three-run homer in the second inning.
“After a strike out by Schimpf, Mahtook stepped up and got the big blow for us,” Mainieri said. “That was a great thing to see.”
The Tigers now try to hold on to their first-place position in the SEC with three games in Starkville, Miss.
“This is it. This is what you come to LSU for,” Mainieri said. “You come here to play for championships. Every weekend, every game has such meaning that you’re playing for a championship every weekend. We know what we have to do.”——Contact Jerit Roser at [email protected]