For the first time ever, an LSU baseball player has scored four home runs in a single game.
It was Cade Arrambide who hit three solo shots and a dagger grand slam in the 12th inning to help pull LSU to a 16-6 comeback victory against Tennessee on Sunday.
His four home runs joined deep balls from John Pearson, Seth Dardar and Steven Milam to make it seven total homers for the Tigers, also tying a program record for most home runs hit in a game. Milam’s shot capped off a 10-run 12th inning that blew the game out of proportion.
The Tigers’ tendency to perform best in the late innings was once again present, from back-to-back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning to their ninth-inning score to get it to extras.
Gavin Guidry came in to finish the seventh and stayed in through the offensive marathon to pitch 5.1 innings, where he only allowed two hits and one run. It was an elite showing.
In the ninth, Jake Brown came up with the bases loaded and delivered an RBI grounder up the middle that Jay Abernathy couldn’t get to in time, tying the game at five.
The Tigers had a chance to take the lead in the 10th when Derek Curiel missed home plate on his slide home by about an inch.
LSU had a rough third inning when a string of plays had a butterfly-effect on the score. Zach Yorke’s error allowed runners on the corners with one out, then a subsequent pop-fly caught by Brown allowed the runner from third to advance home.
Brown’s throw was in time at home, but it took catcher Omar Serna up the line, where Wright collided with Serna’s head and knocked him out for a few moments. He exited the game.
The delay with getting Eddie Yamin IV in at catcher and an increased contact for Volunteer hitters in the second time through the lineup chased Grant Fontenot from the game.
Zac Cowan came in and forced a grounder to Milam, but the shortstop’s first error of the year kept the inning going.
Blaine Brown hit a grand slam on the next pitch, capping off a five-run inning.
The disastrous inning overshadowed a solid start from Fontenot, who went a season-high 2.2 innings where he struck out three while allowing two hits and two walks.
He was able to maneuver around trouble until the lineup turned over, and is further establishing himself as a viable bullpen arm in big games.
Cowan helped breathe life into LSU as he continues to build on strong appearances after a slow start to the season. In relief, he went four innings and only allowed one hit to keep LSU within reach in the rubber match.
His day would end after LSU’s fourth error of the game came from Pearson with two outs in the seventh.
Tennessee’s workhorse Evan Blanco went 6.1 innings and threw 102 pitches to limit LSU to just two runs, which were both solo home runs.
LSU will travel back home to face Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Tigers then travel to Oxford to take on Ole Miss for a three-game weekend slate.
