Ball State’s late rally wasn’t enough to overcome clutch hitting by No. 6 LSU in a 10-6 win on Sunday afternoon in Alex Box Stadium, clinching the series.
“I was really glad to play Ball State,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “They are a program that I have always respected, and I love their coach. He is a friend of mine, but I am honestly glad to see them leave town. They gave us all we can handle for three days.”
The Tigers (12-3) got off to a strong start when junior shortstop Kramer Robertson reached on a Cardinal (8-9) error. Sophomore left fielder Beau Jordan brought Robertson in with an RBI-single, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
Ball State tied the game in the third, but then the Tigers broke it open in the bottom of the frame.
LSU plated three runs on four hits to take a 4-1 lead.
“We knew however much we were up, it was not enough,” Robertson said. “Credit them, they were aggressive and hit us well. I am really proud of the approach our guys had today.”
The Tigers further pulled away in the fourth.
After freshman third baseman Chris Reid singled and junior second baseman Cole Freeman reached on a throwing error, Robertson brought in Reid with a double to open the floodgates.
Another single by junior center fielder Jake Fraley scored Freeman before sophomore catcher Michael Papierski brought in two runners on a double, taking an 8-1 lead.
“We had a lot of guys really come through with some big hits for us early in the game, and that was huge for us,” Mainieri said. “That has been our M.O. We are battling, battling and all of a sudden we hit an inning and we get some guys on and come through with some big hits. It is really good to see.”
In the top of the sixth, Ball State began its comeback with a two-run double by junior center fielder Matt Eppers, cutting the lead to five.
But sophomore first baseman Greg Deichmann responded for the Tigers the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run.
Ball State added an additional three runs in the seventh to close the gap to 10-6, but the Tiger relievers closed it out with three strikeouts and allowed no runers on base in the final two innings.
“A lot of people doubted our offense at the beginning of the year, losing eight of our nine starters,” Robertson said. “I think we have proved those naysayers wrong, and we are going to continue to do that all year.”
Although LSU and Ball State’s lineups each notched 14 hits, LSU was efficient with runners in scoring position, going 7-for-17 at the plate.
Ball State only tallied 4 hits with runners in scoring position.
The Tigers host New Orleans on Wednesday and open Southeastern Conference play against Alabama on Friday at Alex Box Stadium.
“It is important to go out there and win a series,” senior pitcher John Valek said. “Any time you are in a series, that is your goal.”