A seven-run seventh inning proved to be the difference for LSU on Saturday in Alex Box Stadium against Arkansas.
LSU bats came alive for three hits in the frame as the Tigers (15-3, 1-1) evened their Southeastern Conference opening series against the Razorbacks (13-4, 1-1) with a 8-7 victory.
“We started to put a few hits together,” said senior first baseman Blake Dean. “Once we started to do that, we started rolling and we put a few runs on the scoreboard.”
LSU started the scoring first when junior catcher Micah Gibbs knocked an RBI single to left field that allowed sophomore second baseman Tyler Hanover to score.
But the Tigers would be blanked over the course of the next five innings while their counterparts took control of the game through solid pitching and timely hitting.
Sophomore left fielder Colin Kuhn put Arkansas on the scoreboard when he blasted a two-RBI double to left field in the top of the third inning. Sophomores, second baseman Bo Bigham and designated hitter Matt Vinson scored on the play to bring the count to 2-1.
The Razorbacks weren’t finished scoring in that inning, though.
Junior catcher Monk Kreder would drive in two more runs with a double of his own three batters later.
Kuhn and sophomore third baseman Zack Cox would score on that play to make the score 4-1.
LSU pitcher Joey Bourgeois wasn’t rattled following the inning and would come back to pitch three more shutout innings.
“I ran into a little bit of trouble in the third,” he said. “It took a little bit to dig down deep and go get a little bit extra and keep my team in the game.”
The Razorbacks would tack on another run when Cox hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh.
Then, it was LSU’s turn again.
Three singles, two walks, a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch would lead to seven runs and give the Tigers an 8-5 advantage.
“95 percent of that was probably the fans,” said junior catcher Micah Gibbs. “They were playing ‘Calling Baton Rouge’ out of the scoreboard and they started getting into it. When they did that, the pitchers kind of lost it a little bit and that’s what this stadium does for home field advantage.”
Arkansas didn’t just roll over and die, however.
In the top of the next inning, Kuhn blasted a two-run homer to bring its deficit to one at 8-7.
It was only the second home run LSU relief pitcher Matty Ott has given up in ten innings of work.
Ott said at that point, specific lessons from pitching coach David Grewe went through his head.
“Just stay focused, ” he said. “They got two runs. Cut it off there and don’t let it keep going to where they get three or four or five runs.”
Ott did cut it off.
The sophomore would strike out three batters during the course of the next 1 2/3 innings en route to his seventh save of the season.
The rubber match between the teams starts Sunday at 1 p.m.
—-Contact Johhanathan Brooks at [email protected].