In a heavily anticipated Southeastern Conference series, the Florida Gators took game one of a three-game series, winning 1-0 against LSU.
It was the first time LSU (17-6, 3-1 SEC) has been shutout this year, with a pitcher’s duel between two of the top arms in the SEC.
Friday night saw LSU starting pitcher Alex Lange go against Gators’ ace Alex Faedo, pitchers both expected first round picks in the MLB draft.
Both pitchers had there best stuff going early with no runs being scored in the first five innings.
Lange (3-2) opened up the game sitting eight straight batters with two strikeouts during that span.
LSU struggled in the early innings of the game against Faedo as five Tigers were sat down on strikeouts in the first four innings.
The Gator offense came alive in the fifth as three straight singles left Lange in a hole with no outs.
The junior pitcher would not falter as Lange was able to get out of the jam with two straight strikeouts and a line drive to senior second baseman Cole Freeman.
The Tigers threatened in the sixth with senior shortstop Kramer Robertson getting in scoring position with one out.
Back-to-back groundouts by LSU squandered its run for a score leaving the game scoreless mid sixth.
Florida got the scoring started in the sixth off of a sac fly from JJ Schwartz that made the score 1-0 after six innings.
LSU struggled with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-6 in the category over the first seven innings.
Faedo was replaced in the eighth inning but the Tigers were unable to put pressure on the Gators bullpen.
Lange threw a complete game allowing one run on six hits and seven strikeouts and throwing 107 pitches.
Junior right fielder Greg Deichmann came with a huge grab, saving potential extra runs for the Tigers heading into the top of the ninth.
An opening walk to start the ninth put the Tigers in business for a comeback. A wild pitch advanced freshman third baseman Josh Smith to second base and scoring position with no outs.
Nothing materialized for LSU in the inning with three batters striking out in a row ending the game.
LSU will send senior pitcher Jared Poche’ to the mound tomorrow afternoon for game two of the series with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
