In a battle between two top-five teams in the country, No. 1 TCU out slugged No. 4 LSU, winning 9-6 in the first game of the Shriner’s Classic in Houston.
The first three innings of the contest included offensive fireworks.
“Alex had outstanding control through the first two weeks of the season, but tonight he just couldn’t find his rhythm,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said in a press release. “When he would get two strikes, he was having a tough time putting them away. TCU’s hitters are battlers, and that’s why they have such a good team. Everybody’s entitled to have one off night, and Alex will back strong next week I’m sure.”
After two innings, LSU (8-2) and TCU had combined for 10 runs, with five hits from both sides. The Horned Frogs led throughout the game and chased junior pitcher Alex Lange out of the game after 1 ⅔ innings.
It was Lange’s (2-1) shortest outing of his career, his previous was a three inning stint against Florida last season.
Lange threw 65 total pitches and allowed six earned runs.
Following Lage’s rocky start, the Tigers quickly rebounded in the bottom of the first after an RBI single by junior right fielder Greg Deichmann.
With the bases loaded for first baseman Jake Slaughter in the first, the freshman singled up the right side that scored two more and senior designated hitter Jordan Romero doubled to score another, giving LSU a 4-1 advantage.
In the second inning, TCU connected on a three run homer to tie the game and took the lead three batters later with a two run shot to left.
TCU led the game 6-4 after two innings, ending Lange’s night. Most of TCU’s damage was done with two outs. The Horned Frogs finished the game with five two-out RBIs.
The bullpen came in and a corralled the Horned Frogs lineup after Lange’s rough start.
Junior Austin Bain relieved Lange, allowing three hits and one earned run in the three innings he pitched.
Both teams settled in over the next two innings, but the game turned in the Hogs favor in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring runs in both.
The Tigers were threatening in the sixth with two runners on base but were unable to capitalize after a groundout by sophomore centerfielder Andrew Duplantis.
Taking advantage of opportunities offensively, hurt the Tigers.
LSU finished the game batting 5-for-21 with runners on base.
However, the Tigers tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, with Duplantis’ single and senior shortstop Kramer Robertson reaching first on a fielding choice.
Deichmann stepped up to the plate with a chance to cut into the Horned Frogs lead with a home run, but he ended up hitting a RBI single to bring home Duplantis.
Freshman third baseman Josh Smith followed Deichmann, hitting an RBI groundout, as Robertson scored, making the score 9-6.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Slaughter grounded out to shortstop to end the game.
“We hung in there, and we battled right to the very end,” Mainieri said. “It was kind of a strange game, we got some breaks, but we had some bad luck as well. We just have to put it behind us and get ready to face another great ball club tomorrow.”
LSU will take on Baylor tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. for game two of its weekend series in Houston.
