LSU beat Auburn 10-5 to earn its first Southeastern Conference series win of the season in Auburn’s Plainsman Park on Sunday.
“Every team in this league is very talented and can beat you on any weekend, so for us to come here and win the series against an Auburn club with a lot of firepower is a significant accomplishment,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri in a press release.
Sophomore first baseman Greg Deichmann started the game for LSU with an RBI in the first inning, which was LSU’s first run in the first inning in SEC play.
Auburn (13-15, 2-7 SEC) answered in the bottom of the first with three runs and two hits.
LSU responded in the second when freshman right fielder Antoine Duplantis singled and sophomore left fielder Beau Jordan hit a two-run home run to tie the score.
In the top of the fifth, LSU managed to further its edge against Auburn.
After sophomore designated hitter Bryce Jordan got hit by a pitch for the 11th time this season, LSU knocked in three consecutive singles to court two runs before a Deichmann fielder’s choice brought in a third to give LSU a three-run lead.
“I think it says a lot about the character of our team to earn a series win on the road after we fell short in the first game,” Mainieri said.
Auburn rallied in the bottom of the sixth when junior left fielder Joshua Palacios blasted a home run in the lead off spot. Then, LSU senior pitcher John Valek III loaded the bases, before being replaced by junior pitcher Alden Cartwright who injured his arm in the middle of the next at-bat.
Junior pitcher Parker Bugg replaced Cartwright and allowed a walk to give Auburn a run in the bottom of the fifth. It was the only run Bugg would allow all game.
In the top of the seventh, junior catcher Jordan Romero blew the lid off of the game with a three-run home run to push LSU’s lead to four. Junior shortstop Kramer Robertson further expanded the gap in the eighth with an RBI single.
“We’ve played back-to-back road series against the top two offensive teams in the SEC (Texas A&M and Auburn), and we split those six games,” Mainieri said.
LSU hit 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position and connected 13 hits. Auburn hit a mere 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and had eight hits.
Auburn struggled defensively all series. Auburn gave up two errors on Sunday after giving up five errors to LSU on Saturday. In contrast, LSU gave up zero errors on Sunday and just one in the entire series.
LSU’s 10 runs on Sunday are its most in SEC play this season.
LSU hosts crosstown rival Southern on Tuesday in Alex Box Stadium on 6:30.
“We’re right in the thick of the league race, and our team will continue to develop as we move through the conference schedule,” Mainieri said.