LSU finally found its offense.
Entering the night 10-for-62 in their last two games, the Tigers (19-9, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) were looking for some type of spark from their lineup.
A noticeable change was made as well.
Freshman Rankin Woley received his fourth start of the year, filling in for freshman Jake Slaughter at first base. Slaughter went 0-for-8 in LSU’s previous two games.
That spark helped lead LSU to a 7-4 victory on Friday night.
Senior pitcher Jared Poche’ started on the mound, and held the Aggies scoreless through six innings.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri was at a loss for words.
“I don’t even know how to describe Poche’ after having him for four years,” Mainieri said. “Tonight was more vintage Poche’. Runners on base every inning. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody. He made so many clutch pitches tonight. We were able to get out of jams all night.”
The Tigers put an end to their offensive slump in the third inning.
Freshman centerfielder Zach Watson started the rally with a one-out double down the left field foul line. Senior second baseman Cole Freeman followed him up with a single into right field that advanced Watson to third.
Sophomore left fielder Antoine Duplantis drilled an RBI single into left to score Watson and move Freeman to third. The Tigers scored their first run of the series against the Aggies following a 4-0 shutout on Thursday night.
A misthrow on a pitchout from A&M’s starting pitcher Stephen Kolek advanced Freeman to third, and Duplantis to second.
Senior shortstop Kramer Robertson brought them both home.
Entering the game on a 1-for-25 slump, Robertson blasted an RBI double into left field to score two runs and put the Tigers ahead 3-0 at the end of the third inning.
Duplantis and third baseman Josh Smith added onto the lead in the fifth inning.
Duplantis led things off with a single into right field, a steal of second base, and then Smith nailed an RBI single to right to bring him home and put LSU out in front 4-0.
In each of the first four innings, A&M’s leadoff batter reached base, but senior pitcher Jared Poche’ remained unfazed and never allowed any runs to cross home plate.
However, Poche’ (6-1) realized he needs to put an end to that habit.
“I felt really good early on,” Poche’ said. “I felt like I was pretty crisp. As far as getting the leadoff hitter out each inning, I think I was 2-for-7, which is unacceptable. I’ve got to get a lot better at that. When those guys are getting on, it’s tough.”
A&M’s two runs off of Poche’ came from a home run into left field from the Aggies’ senior left fielder Walker Pennington in the top of the seventh inning.
Poche’ rebounded to take out the side, but his night on the mound ended after that. He went seven innings with eight hits, two runs, two walks, and six strikeouts.
Senior pitcher Hunter Newman came on later to close out the game for the Tigers in the eighth inning. It was his first appearance on the mound since March 12 against Wichita State.
Newman disclosed after the game that had been out of the rotation due to a herniated disc in his back.
“It’s been a long two weeks just watching them go out and play,” Newman said. “I felt great being back out there on the mound.”
Alex Box Stadium turned into a home run derby in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Robertson and junior right fielder Greg Deichmann blasted back-to-back solo home runs to opposite sides of the field to put LSU’s lead back at four runs, 6-2.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the eighth inning and tacked on one more run for insurance when junior designated hitter Beau Jordan was walked in to make the lead 7-2.
Texas A&M’s Cole Bedford hit a two-run home run off of Newman in the top of the 9th inning, but Newman bounced back to get the final out.
LSU faces Texas A&M once at Alex Box Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN2.