LSU senior first baseman Blake Dean’s home run stick came out of a coma Friday night as LSU defeated Alabama, 12-5, in front of 8,556 fans in Alex Box Stadium.
Dean’s two out, three-run home run in the bottom of the second and a solo home run to lead off the fourth provided LSU with some much needed offensive support.
It was the fourth two-home run game of Dean’s career and his 50th career homer, moving him into a tie for fifth place on LSU’s all-time list with Ryan Patterson.
It was also Dean’s first home run since back on March 13 against Kansas.
“I started swinging at better pitches tonight,” Dean said. “I didn’t work myself deep into counts to have to work from behind, and that helped me out a little bit.”
LSU junior right hander Anthony Ranaudo threw six innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out eight and walking three.
Ranaudo allowed four runs in the second after LSU had picked up a run in the bottom of the first.
Three of those runs came on a two-out double by centerfielder Taylor Dugas. The ball was a sharply hit grounder down the third base line that home plate umpire David Savage called fair, much to the disdain of the Tiger faithful, who reverberated the stadium with one loud “boo.”
Ranaudo settled down for the rest of his outing.
“I’m just going to build off this week just like I did last week,” Ranaudo said. “I had some pretty good stuff out there tonight.”
LSU shortstop Austin Nola got the scoring underway in the bottom of the first with a one out blast over the left field fence, his first of the season. The Tigers later used a three-run third inning to break open to a 9-4 lead with all three runs coming with no outs.
—-Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected].