The ball didn’t seem to want to stay in the park Tuesday night as LSU and Tulane combined for four home runs with the Green Wave winning 7-6.
LSU (18-8, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) has now dropped three of its last four and has surrendered at least six runs in the last three outings.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said after the game the Tigers had opportunities, but pointed out recent struggles at the plate.
“We had opportunities,” Mainieri said. “We’re struggling a bit at the plate so we have to get that straightened out and get guy’s confidence back.”
Freshman pitcher Zach Hess drew the start for the Tigers and struggled to continue his dominance after a two hit outing last week against Southeastern.
Hess (3-0) was in a early groove for LSU striking out three batters in the first two innings of the game.
Tulane jumped out in third with a solo home run from second baseman Jake Willsey to give the Green Wave a 1-0 lead.
The Green Wave added another run in the fourth with and RBI off a fielder’s choice, but Hess was able to stop the bleeding with back-to-back strikeouts.
LSU started to get going in the fourth with some help from Tulane, after two straight walks but the Tigers in scoring position.
With the bases loaded in the inning, LSU got on the board with an RBI infield single from designated hitter Beau Jordan followed up by the first grand slam of the year from catcher Michael Papierski.
The Tigers led 5-2 after four innings.
Tulane responded in the fifth with a two-run homer from Lex Kaplan to cut into LSU’s lead 5-4.
Hess would be replaced in the fifth by senior pitcher Russell Reynolds allowing four runs on five hits with seven strikeouts.
Another two-run home run from Willsey in the sixth inning gave the lead right back to the Green Wave 6-5.
LSU threatened in the seventh with the bases loaded for first baseman Jake Slaughter but he lined out to end the inning.
The Tigers’ struggles with runners in scoring position continued on Tuesday night with LSU going 2-for-9.
Jordan continued his clutch play in the eighth with a single and was able to advance to third on a wild pitch with one out. Jordan was thrown out at home plate off a Kramer Robertson single three pitches later.
The play was reviewed to see if the catcher interfered with home plate but the call was upheld. Jordan said after the game he was going home no matter what type of hit occurred.
“One out at third base is a contact play,” Jordan said. “You’re going no matter what. I got a good jump on it but they made a good throw.”
Tulane added an insurance run in the top of the ninth making it 7-5 with three more tries for the purple and gold.
Junior right fielder Greg Deichmann was walked with one out tying the school record for walks in a game with four. A two out triple from Smith scored Deichmann leaving the tying run at third with Slaughter at the plate.
Slaughter popped out to center to end the LSU rally.
LSU will look to rebound with a three game series against Texas A&M starting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. from Alex Box Stadium.
