LSU first baseman Greg Deichmann didn’t stop running until he made it across home plate.

With the bases loaded, the 6-foot-2,191-pound infielder hustled all the way home while Rice junior outfielder Charlie Warren tried to retrieve a ball that was trapped under the bench of the LSU (44-18) bullpen.

Deichmann had just placed a ball down the right field line that rolled to the Tigers bullpen.

At first, the play was ruled a ground rule double, but after much deliberation, the umpires overturned the call, making the play an inside-the-park grand slam.

“[Jon Duplantis] threw curveball, and I was able to turn on it,” Deichmann said. “He ended up reaching for it, and I just kept running and they gave it an in-the-park [home run].”

In any other instance the play would’ve been ruled dead and a ground rule double. Warren initially threw his hands up to the umpires, which meant that the ball was trapped, but he then reached for the ball which created a live ball situation, allowing all LSU runners to come home.

On Thursday, LSU coach Paul Mainieri said he reiterated the rules to all the coaches and umpires during their coaches meeting. Mainieri sprinted out onto the field when he saw head umpire ruled the play a ground double.

“I knew we were right,” Mainieri said. “I knew what the rule was. I just wanted the umpires to get together and make sure they made the call correctly. I wasn’t trying to get something cheap. That was what the rule is. We just wanted to make sure they made the ground rules properly.”

Alex Box Stadium ground rules state, “If the ball goes under the bullpen bench, the ball is dead … unless the defensive player goes to retrieve it. A ball that goes under the bench and comes out remain live.”

The situation was created after Rice (36-23) junior pitcher Jon Duplantier loaded the bases with three walks. Duplantier’s (7-7) command was off in the first inning with only 19 of his 42 pitches thrown for strikes.

“I kind of just lost myself,” Duplantier said about his first inning performance.

It was the opposite for LSU pitcher Alex Lange, who retired 10 of 12 batters after four innings. Right when Rice seemed to have figured out Lange, after a solo home-run off Lange and an RBI double to left center cut the LSU lead to 4-2, play had to be halted in the top of the sixth inning due to rain.

After a 56-minute delay, Lange jogged back to the mound, striking out the last two batters and stranding two baserunners.

Lange was relatively refreshed after not appearing in a game after ten days. He said he didn’t have to do much “politicking” to return to the game.

“It was never even a question to come out,” Lange said. “We knew it would be a quick delay. I just tried to stay loose, and it sucks that it happened, but you have to stay locked in.”
Deichmann’s home run proved to be the only offense for LSU, as the Tigers only gathered six hits the entire game. Nevertheless, Lange’s performance on the mound kept the Tigers in control.

“When you have Alex Lange on the mound, you have a chance to win,” Mainieri said. “I’ve run out of superlatives to say about him. He’s just an amazing competitor. There’s something that makes him different than other people.”
Heading into the top of the ninth, Lange tried to finish his five hit, 10 strikeout outing, but was pulled after giving up a leadoff single. Mainieri called on his late game reliever Hunter Newman, who he said has been an integral part of the Tigers hot streak of late.  

Newman sealed the deal retiring the last three of the last four Rice batters after Lange allowed a leadoff single.
The winner Monday’s Rice-Southeastern Louisiana game will face LSU at 7 p.m. for a chance to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.