In a game that looked all but over in the early innings, LSU stormed back from a daunting deficit to secure a victory over Mississippi State on Thursday night.
The Bulldogs wasted no time putting pressure on the Tigers, jumping out to an early lead with a two-run homer in the first inning. LSU attempted to respond in the bottom half, but Mississippi State pitcher Evan Siary struck out each hitter. The Bulldogs tacked on another run in the second, forcing the Tigers to play from behind early.
LSU finally broke through in the second inning when Jake Brown stole home, getting an unearned base. But just as the Tigers gained momentum, Mississippi State returned with a home run from Hunter Hines, extending their lead again.
This pattern repeated throughout the game: the Bulldogs had an answer whenever LSU inched closer. Also, seeing the pitches to keep the hits coming was no issue, and the Bulldogs’ pitcher had no problem tripping up the hitters.
In the third inning, the Tigers mounted a much-needed charge. Freshman star Derek Curiel hit his third home run of the season. Still, Mississippi State responded again, plating one run in the first five innings to give them a 6-2 lead.
But the Tigers refused to go down quietly. With a loaded count and fans on their feet, Daniel Dickinson launched a three-run home run at the bottom of the fifth inning, making it his seventh of the season, putting LSU within one.
Stevan Milam approaches the plate two pitchers later, hitting a two-run home run to send Alex Box Stadium into a frenzy. The Tigers fed off the crowd’s intensity, stringing together key at-bats and delivering in high-pressure moments.
LSU’s pitching staff struggled at first to keep the Bulldogs’ lineup in check, allowing timely hits in crucial moments. Sophomore Kade Anderson pitched 4.1 innings, with only five strikeouts and 101 pitches. Compared to last week’s game against Texas, Anderson took six innings to reach 101 pitches, which is still a season-high for him.
Tigers relief pitcher Zac Cowan pitched four innings with only one allowed hit and seven strikeouts in a standout performance.
Although the first five innings were rocky and inconsistent, there became a sense of comfort and free-flowing play for the Tigers.
As the final out was recorded, the crowd’s deafening roar matched the magnitude of the comeback, one that could be remembered as a defining moment in LSU’s season.
With the 8-6 victory, the Tigers proved that no lead is safe when they have the power of Alex Box Stadium behind them. They will face off against Mississippi State again in Game 2 tomorrow at 6:30 pm.
