The LSU baseball team blew the gates open with a four-run eighth inning, coming from behind to beat Northwestern State, 6-4, on Wednesday night in front of an overflow Natchitoches crowd of 2,329 fans.
Down 4-2 in the top of the eighth, the Tigers rallied thanks to back-to-back hits from second baseman Blake Gill and designated hitter Quinn Stewart.
Two NSU pitchers combined to walk the next three Tiger batters, scoring two runs. After outfielder Ryan Patterson struck out, shortstop Aaron Hill hit a two-run double to score the Tigers’ final two runs of the game.
Hill finished the game 3-for-3 with a single, a double, a home run and three RBIs.
Hill hit a solo shot to lead off the sixth inning, cutting the score to 3-2, but the Demons posted another run in the bottom of the sixth to regain a two-run lead.
In the Tigers past three games, Hill is 9-for-12 with two home runs, two triples, two doubles and nine RBIs. His batting average now sits at .368.
With the win, the eighth-ranked Tigers (22-10-1) completed the four-game, season sweep of the Demons (21-15). LSU swept NSU in three games during opening weekend in Alex Box Stadium.
Freshman lefty Cory Keener started on the mound for the Demons. Through seven innings, he dominated LSU, giving up only two runs on four hits and recording 10 strike outs, while his team earned four runs for support.
He combined with three other NSU pitchers to leave all but four Tigers hitless in the contest, but when Keener came out, the wheels fell off the Demons’ upset hopes.
Billy Sadler began on the mound for the Tigers, pitching the three innings head coach Smoke Laval said he would. Through three innings, Sadler gave up one run on four hits and struck out three Demon batters.
Chad Vaught replaced Sadler in the fourth and allowed three runs off seven hits through 2 1/3 innings.
With one man on base and one out in the bottom of the sixth, Jason Determann replaced Vaught. After giving up a double to the first batter he faced, Determann retired 11 of the last 12 Demon batters.
Through 3 2/3 innings, Determann struck out five batters on his way to the win.
Determann improved to 2-0, reducing his ERA to 1.35.
The Demons played short ball, manufacturing runs by stealing bases to get into scoring position. They recorded four stolen bases and outhit the Tigers 11-to-7.
Outfielders Josh Boop and Steven Adams led the Demons with three hits a piece. Boop, the Demons’ leadoff hitter, also stole two bases and scored a run.
The Tigers return to Southeastern Conference action this weekend when Ole Miss comes to The Box for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 7 p.m.
LSU (9-2-1 SEC) is tied with Mississippi State (9-2) atop the SEC West standings, while Ole Miss (7-5 ) is tied with Arkansas for fourth.