LSU coach Paul Mainieri knew his team would eventually figure things out.
In a crucial time of the season, the Tigers (39-16, 19-10 Southeastern Conference) clinched a series against top-ranked Florida, to put them in position to earn a bye in the SEC tournament.
“It’s a testament to patience meets hard work,” Mainieri said when talking about the growth of his team. “We have a great group of coaches on our staff that work with these kids…It’s a process.”
Severe weather caused game one to be postponed, but it resumed with LSU freshman right fielder Antoine Duplantis at-bat with a full count and a runner at second. Florida (43-11, 18-10 SEC) freshman pitcher Brady Singer threw a sinker that was called for ball and Duplantis would take his free base.
Mainieri said Singer (2-1), reminded him of one of his former pitchers, Aaron Nola and praised Duplantis for his patience at the plate.
“Duplantis sleeping on a 3-2 pitch all night wondering what’s going to happen,” Mainieri said. “Then he takes a nice sinker ball and lays off it like a seasoned veteran. It was huge to come out and do something right away.”
Taking a 2-1 lead to the bottom of the fifth, Duplantis was due up again, and the result was the same, a walk.
Two singles later, freshman third baseman Chris Reid entered the batter’s box and battled. Reid’s ten pitch at-bat would result in a walk that would load the bases and set LSU up to put things out of reach.
Sophomore outfielder Bryce Jordan would get hit by pitch for a school record 22nd time of the season to score a run, and his brother Beau Jordan drew a walk to add another run.
“We’ve got a bunch of scrappy guys,” Mainieri said. “I think Chris Reid epitomizes that attitude. He’s not going to knock the fences down, he’s not going steal 30 bases, but he’s going to battle you in the batter’s box.”
Sophomore first baseman Greg Deichmann’s two-out, three RBI double gave LSU a comfortable 7-1 lead and gave enough run support for junior pitcher Parker Bugg to close out the game.
All five of the runs scored in that inning came with two-outs.
LSU will try to sweep Florida for the first time since 2013, at 3:30 p.m.
“It’s going to be a dog fight again,” Mainieri said. “We got a chance to do something special this week. We don’t want to let up.”
