An eighth inning offensive masterpiece helped LSU erase a four run deficit and knock off Alabama 7-5.
Trailing 5-1 in the eighth, LSU rallied with a six run inning to complete the improbable comeback of Alabama.
LSU was in business in the eighth with Zach Watson and Hunter Feduccia both reaching base with one out and loaded the bases with Jake Slaughter’s second walk of the night.
Pinch hitter Nick Coomes blasted an RBI single that brought one run home to make the score 5-2. Bama relief pitcher Deacon Medders would walk in run number three, forcing Alabama to make a pitching change.
Enter Beau Jordan.
The senior, who graduated today, gave Tiger fans a gift wrapped grand slam to complete the monumental comeback effort.
“It’s a breathtaking moment,” Jordan said. “I feel like I was levitating off the earth and in a moment like that I really blacked out. I just took a moment to breathe because I was screaming so much.”
LSU ace Zack Hess made his twelfth start of the season and went through some early struggles Friday night.
Hess faced trouble in the second after a mistimed fly ball from left fielder Daniel Cabrera put runners at second and third with one out. Two runs came across on the very next pitch due to a single from shortstop Jett Manning.
Hess seemed to find his footing toward the end of the second, striking out the last two batters but LSU would trail 2-0.
Command became a problem again for Hess in the third with two walks to start the inning followed by a sac bunt that put runners at second and third. Left fielder Keith Holcombe extended the Alabama lead to 4-0 with a single that darted past the head of Hess, scoring two.
Mainieri said the first few innings were just bad baseball but was thankful for the the offensive outburst in the eighth.
“We knew what was at stake but we couldn’t have played any worse than we did in the first few innings,” Maineiri said. “They get a lead and you start pressing. Then out of nowhere, here we come. What a moment for Beau, it couldn’t have happened to a greater kid.”
The LSU offense found some success in the second with back-to-back walks for Hunter Feduccia and Jake Slaughter that runners on first and second. Beau Jordan came to the plate two batters later after the third walk of the inning loaded the bases.
Jordan would pop out to first base in front of the LSU bench, ending the threat.
The Tigers got the offense rolling in the third after a routine fly ball was dropped by Holcombe, putting Duplantis on base. Two batters later, left fielder Daniel Cabrera ripped a double to center field that scored Duplantis from first base.
Hess loaded the bases for the third straight inning in the fourth, but battled with a strikeout and groundout that kept runners in tact. With two outs, Hess threw the pitch of the night to record his fourth strikeout and keep Alabama off the board.
Hess lasted another inning before freshman Devin Fontenot replaced him in the sixth. The Tiger ace finished with six strikeouts on six hits and four runs all earned.
Baserunning errors in the third and fourth innings cost LSU dearly with two potential runs being thrown out at the plate. Slaughter was thrown out in the fourth as part of a double play that took the air out of Alex Box.
Fontenot was great in the sixth an seventh innings, retiring all six batters and striking half of them out
LSU will be back in action Saturday at 7 p.m. to try to secure a series win with freshman Ma’Khail Hilliard taking the mound.
