The No. 17 LSU baseball team knew Tulane wouldn’t back down at home after beating the Tigers, 9-1, at Turchin Stadium last season.
LSU needed an eighth inning surge to take a 7-5 lead, and the Tigers went on to win by the same score Tuesday night against Tulane.
LSU tied the game, 5-5, with a safety squeeze by sophomore right fielder Mason Katz in the top of the seventh inning, bringing in freshman second baseman JaCoby Jones.
Junior transfer pitcher Tyler Jones tossed a four-pitch walk to start the bottom of the seventh inning, and Tulane put men on the corners with one out after a sacrifice bunt and an infield single.
In came freshman pitcher Kevin Berry, who induced an inning-ending double play from the first batter to keep the game tied.
After starting the eighth inning with a groundout, the Tigers jump on the Green Wave with two singles before Jones added an RBI single of his own to give the Tigers a 6-5 lead.
Junior center fielder Mikie Mahtook, who snapped his 14-game hitting streak in the game, was intentionally walked for junior shortstop Austin Nola, who hit a sacrifice fly for another LSU insurance run.
Berry was flawless in the eighth inning putting the Green Wave down in order.
LSU nearly added another run in bizarre fashion in the top of the ninth inning. Sophomore left fielder Alex Edward walked and stole second base before junior first baseman Grant Dozar hit a deep fly to center field.
The ball was caught at the warning track, and Edward tried to tag and score from second base but was tagged out at the plate.
Berry ended the game the same way he started it, forcing a double play in the bottom of the ninth inning.