Before Sunday’s contest, the LSU bullpen had surrendered just two hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings at Kentucky.
The sixth inning of Sunday’s game nearly doubled those numbers.
LSU could not overcome that three-run sixth inning and a stout Kentucky bullpen as they dropped the rubber match of the series, 7-6.
The win gave the No. 3 Wildcats (35-6, 13-5 Southeastern Conference) sole possession of first place in the SEC, while the No. 4 Tigers (32-9, 12-6 SEC) saw their nine-game winning streak come to a halt and a two-game losing streak start.
Though Kentucky secured first place overall in the SEC, LSU remains a full three games ahead of Ole Miss for first place in the SEC West.
“I felt our players competed at a high level in a tough environment against a very good team,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri in a news release.
After a superb Friday night outing by sophomore Kevin Gausman coupled with two perfect innings from juniors Chris Cotton and Nick Goody, LSU looked to be in prime position for a series win after the 5-4 triumph.
But a rough outing from sophomore Ryan Eades on Saturday put the Tigers in a precarious position against the SEC’s top hitting team, who rattled Eades for nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings.
Freshman pitcher Aaron Nola gave the Tigers an effective outing Sunday, scattering seven hits and four runs through five innings, leaving with a 5-4 advantage in the sixth.
But Kentucky hitters proceeded to touch up juniors Joey Bourgeois and Cotton to the tune of four stand-up doubles and three runs, forcing Mainieri to bring in sophomore Nick Rumbelow as the third pitcher of the frame.
Rumbelow and sophomore Kurt McCune combined to stop the bleeding, tossing 2 2/3 hitless innings, but the damage was already done.
“It was a real back-and-forth game, and we battled on every pitch,” Mainieri said. “We just fell short.”
The Tigers had chances in both the seventh and eighth innings to cut into the Wildcat advantage and take the lead, but double plays in each inning thwarted any opportunity for a rally.
Kentucky reliever Alex Phillips induced three-straight ninth inning flyouts to end the game and preserve Kentucky’s unblemished season record in three-game series.
Junior outfielder Raph Rhymes continued his historic season with a 4-for-4 day, including his second home run of the season in the second inning. He finished the game a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and with three RBIs.
Rhymes finished the weekend 8-for-12 with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs to bring his average up to .500 for the season and cementing himself as the nation’s top hitter.
The Tigers will return to Alex Box Stadium for a four-game homestand, the first a Wednesday night clash with Southeastern Louisiana. The Tigers will then welcome Georgia to the Box for a pivotal three-game SEC series.
“We can move forward and continue to play with a lot of confidence as we head down the stretch of the regular season,” Mainieri said.
 
 
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Contact Chandler Rome at [email protected]