In a 15-inning marathon, LSU fell 7-4 to the University of New Orleans on Wednesday night.
“It was a tough loss,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “I feel for our kids. They played their hearts out tonight. Some things we could have done a little bit better. There were several positive things to take away, but unfortunately they’ll be forgotten because we lost a 15 inning game.”
LSU got behind in the first inning, but not for long.
UNO’s Samuel Capielano delivered an infield single, but advanced to second base on a throwing error from LSU’s senior shortstop Kramer Robertson. UNO’s Tristan Clarke sent a double into center field over Zach Watson’s head and Capielano came to score and put the Privateers ahead 1-0.
In the bottom of the first inning, Robertson got things started with a leadoff walk and a steal of second base. Junior right fielder Greg Deichmann also walked, and freshman first baseman Jake Slaughter brought them both home to score with a home run blasted to left field that put the Tigers up 3-1.
Hunter Kiel entered the game in the top of the fifth inning, and gave up the Tigers’ brief lead.
After taking out the first two batters he faced, Kiel allowed Capielano to single, steal second base, and score off of an RBI double from UNO’s Dakota Dean. Dean also scored due to two wild pitches from Kiel, and knotted the game back up 3-3.
LSU and UNO each scored a run in the 11th inning to continue the game tied at four.
It wasn’t until the 15th inning, that UNO put on three more runs to run away with the victory.
LSU senior pitcher Collin Strall gave up a leadoff double to Dean, who scored off of a fielder’s choice from UNO’s John Cable.
Mainieri sent in freshman pitcher Blair Frederick, who gave up an RBI single and walked a run in to put the Privateers ahead 7-4.
Strall earned the loss on the mound, pitching 4 ⅔ innings with four hits, four earned runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. He entered the game in the eleventh inning.
This was the first time LSU endured a season sweep to the Privateers since 1997.
The Tigers now begin SEC play against Georgia on Friday night in Alex Box Stadium at 7 p.m.
“We’ll get back out here tomorrow and get ourselves ready to go,” Mainieri said. “We’ve got a big game Friday night.”
