For the first six innings Saturday, the much anticipated LSU-Tulane matchup lived up to its hype with LSU leading 3-2 before a noisy, LSU-dominated crowd of 7,091 at the Baton Rouge regional in Alex Box Stadium.
Things looked bleak for LSU pitcher Nate Bumstead in the sixth when the Green Wave got runners on second and third base with no one out and threatened to take the lead over the Tigers. But Bumstead slipped out of the inning unscathed behind a Tulane base-running error and some gutsy pitching, while the Tigers then scored 10 runs over the next three innings to blow past their instate rivals, 13-5.
First baseman Clay Harris ripped a two-run home run off the Intimidator in right field and second baseman Blake Gill followed with a solo shot to start a five-run LSU seventh inning. After Tulane (44-18) closed the cap to 8-4 in the bottom of the inning, the Tigers (42-19-1) scored five more in the ninth behind a three-run blast by third baseman Ivan Naccarata.
“It was a really good ballgame until the seventh inning,” said Tulane coach Rick Jones. “It was a heck of a ballgame. Then we couldn’t get out of the inning. They strung together some really good at-bats.”
Bumstead (11-2) earned the win for LSU, pitching 7 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on nine hits while striking out five. Freshman left-hander J.R. Crowell (8-1) suffered his first loss of his Tulane career and gave up seven earned runs in 6 1/3 innings.
“Nate (Bumstead) kept delivering the right pitch at the right time and got out of one big jam himself, got the guy out at home plate, struck a guy out and we got out of
the inning,” said LSU coach Smoke Laval. “We kept having pressure, pressure, pressure so eventually when these guys got their base hits, there where guys on base. We were fortunate enough to run a few balls out of the park and break the game open.”
LSU ripped 18 hits on the day, but blew an early scoring opportunity in the first inning when it had the bases loaded with no outs and did not score.
“We had a chance in the first inning and let it get away,” Laval said. “We were a little bit worried that panic may set in for the first time because we were new to it, but they didn’t.”
The Tigers did not miss many chances after that.
LSU got on the board in the second when Naccarata reached on a double and scored when J.C. Holt bunted for a base hit and Tulane third baseman Turner Brumby threw the ball over first base. Catcher Matt Liuzza then bunted Holt to third base and he later scored on Bruce Sprowl’s ground ball.
Naccarata finished the game 4-for-5 with four runs scored and three RBIs.
“Today I was going up there and trying to look for my pitch,” Naccarata said. “I am not trying to do too much, just see the ball and hit it. I was just trying to have quick hands up at the plate and keep my foot down because I have not been doing that lately. I am just trying to help the team and we won today and hopefully we will do the same tomorrow, so I am excited.”
Holt, after hitting 4-for-5 Friday, went 3-for-4 Saturday with two runs and three RBIs, raising his season batting average to .302.
“We won the ball game and I went up there and swung the bat well today and so did the rest of the team,” Holt said. “Nate [Bumstead] pitched a heck of a game today so congratulations to him and the rest of the team.”
LSU designated hitter Ryan Patterson also went 4-for-6 on the day.
Jones said Crowell seemed to tire in the seventh inning when he gave up five hits.
“In this ballpark, versus LSU, you’ve got to make every pitch,” Jones said. “I thought he gave a tremendous effort, but he tired. They did a great job putting together some outstanding at bats.”
Tulane answered LSU’s runs in the second with a home run from Wes Swackhamer off Bumstead, but the Tigers got that run back in the when Naccarata singled and scored on Holt’s triple down the left field line.
“They’re a great team,” Crowell said. “You have to come in with your best stuff against them and I didn’t have it today. You can’t come out and miss spots with these hitters. They’re going to capitalize every time.”
Tulane cut it to 3-2 when center fielder Jonny Kaplan homered to left. Kaplan and Liuzza seemed to exchange words when Kaplan crossed home plate, and the Alex Box crowd kept their focus on booing Kaplan the rest of the game.