Heading into its series against Vanderbilt, LSU baseball had yet to win a single SEC series. In fact, the Tigers hadn’t won a series since the first weekend in March, when they won two games of the three against Xavier.
In Game 2 against the Commodores, it seemed that LSU would finally break the streak. That’s not what happened, though.
The back and forth battle ended in an 8-6 loss for LSU.
There was a change in pace for the Tigers at the plate in Game 1 of the series against Vanderbilt and Game 2 was no different. In just three innings, the Tigers had managed to plate four. Two Tommy White homeruns and one from freshman Ashton Larson headlined the stat sheet for the first three innings.
“I think he’s in control of himself,” head coach Jay Johnson said about Larson following the game. “He just keeps getting better and that’s a good sign for things to come.”
The Commodores were quiet until the top of the third inning, when they closed in on LSU’s three-run lead and scored two. The inning marked the start of what quickly became a back-and-forth offensive battle.
When one team scored the other quickly answered. With shaky pitching performances and defensive errors to match on either side, it became evident that strong at-bats would be the most crucial component of the game.
In the top of the fifth inning, Vanderbilt, with the help of LSU’s defense, evened up the scoreboard for the first time in the game.
Center-fielder Calvin Hewitt singled to first base to kick it off at the plate for the Commodores. He reached second quickly after a pitch from Gage Jump passed Brady Neal behind the plate. Jump’s next batter was hit by a pitch. Lead off hitter RJ Austin grounded out to shortstop, allowing his teammate on third to score. The game was tied 4-4.
“There’s no margin for error with these mistakes,” Johnson said, “and when you’re going through it, of working to get over the hump, it’s tough.”
Any offensive hiccups that the Tigers had in the top of the fifth inning carried over to the Commodores like a yawn. Their starting pitcher walked Steven Milam and noted a hit by pitch on Tommy White shortly after. LSU’s Jared Jones came in clutch with two batters on. His RBI single scored Milam and gave the Tigers the lead once more.
Then they lost it.
Vanderbilt tied up the game again in the top of the sixth on a ground out that roped in a run. LSU quickly responded with a ground out RBI of its own. The Tigers once again held a one-run lead.
It was a cat-and-mouse game and neither team was able to decide who was who.
The Tigers held onto their 6-5 lead until the top of the eighth inning.
They had run out of offensive steam and unfortunately for them, Vanderbilt was full of it.
Jayden Davis sent a shot over to right field. The two-run home run gave the Vandy Boys a lead that they would ultimately never let go of.
