The LSU baseball team continued its winning ways Saturday night, defeating Pepperdine, 3-2, in the second ever meeting between the two schools.
LSU sophomore starting pitcher Joey Bourgeois shined as he pitched seven innings, giving up just one hit, helping LSU improve its record to 10-0 on the season.
“He [Bourgeois] answered the call,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “I thought he was absolutely phenomenal.”
A two-out single in the first inning by junior catcher Micah Gibbs scored outfielder Trey Watkins from second base, giving LSU an early 1-0 lead.
The game would remain at a standstill until LSU got on the board again in the seventh inning. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh, an RBI single by Gibbs followed by an overthrow by Pepperdine second baseman Joe Sever brought in two runs for the Tigers, extending their lead to 3-0.
“With a full count like that, you just put the ball into play and it gives us a chance for something to happen, and that’s exactly what happened,” Gibbs said. “I was just trying to make contact and make something happen.”
Pepperdine would remain scoreless until the top of the ninth inning, when junior designated hitter Floyd Given hit a two-run home run off LSU sophomore closer Matty Ott. The homer was Given’s first of the season.
“Matty made things interesting, but found a way to get the job done as usual,” Mainieri said.
Ott recorded save number five on the season and preserved the 3-2 win giving LSU its fourth one-run victory of the year.
“In the end, your season will be defined by what you do in the one-run games,” Mainieri said. “If you win the one-run games, you’re going to have a great year. If you lose the one-run games, you’re going to be a mediocre team. You’ve got to find a way to win those close ones.”
LSU faces Brown tomorrow at noon in Alex Box Stadium. Freshman pitcher Jordan Rittiner is projected to start for the Tigers.
 
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