The No. 19 LSU baseball team was unable to overcome Tulane’s strong 5-0 start after the second inning, and was eventually defeated, 7-1, in Alex Box Stadium on Tuesday night.
“It was just one of those nights where we played poorly,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “Everything went as poorly as it could possibly go. I thought we were ready, but obviously we were not ready to play tonight.”
LSU freshman starting pitcher Cole McKay retired the Green Wave’s (18-7) first two batters to start the game for the Tigers (16-8, 2-4 Southeastern Conference), before walking Tulane’s next four batters to put the Green Wave up 1-0.
McKay lasted 0.2 innings before being replaced by junior pitcher Collin Strall.
“I felt great before the game,” McKay said. “I felt like I could go long, but unfortunately I just could not find my game on the mound.”
Strall struckout the leadoff batter in the second before allowing Tulane two more runs. Devall entered in Strall’s place to close the inning but not before even he gave up two more runs to the Green Wave.
After the two-inning burst, the Tigers held Tulane from getting a hit until the eighth when junior second baseman Jake Willsey hit a homerun, followed by two more hits and another Green Wave RBI in the final inning.
Tulane managed to hold LSU scoreless until the ninth when sophomore third baseman Greg Deichmann hit an RBI single to bring in the Tiger’s lone run of the night.
The closest LSU came to scoring earlier was in the fourth inning when the Tigers singled three times to load the bases with just one out.
Junior first baseman Bryce Adams grounded out to second base for a double play to keep LSU scoreless.
“It was just one inning, but we wanted to do something with it.” Deichmann said. “It could have been a big inning to get a run across. But every inning is a battle and you cannot count on one inning to be a big one and win the game for you”
Both teams had seven hits, but the Tigers also gave up three errors while the Green Wave allowed none.
LSU hit 5-of-13 with runners on base while Tulane knocked in one less at 4-for-14.
The Tigers inability to get hits with runners in scoring position has been a recurring problem this season. Against Texas A&M over the weekend, LSU hit a mere three of 29 clip with runners on second or third base.
“‘The ball just has not bounced our way but we are not going to make any excuses,” said junior shortstop Kramer Robertson. “Excuses are not going to get us anywhere. We need to get hits. We need to get better, because our fans deserve better. Our pitchers deserve better. Our coaching staff deserves better. I am going to do everything in my power to get this turned around.”
Tulane’s win was its first in the new Alex Box Stadium and the Tigers first loss against Tulane in Baton Rouge since 2007.
The loss also snapped a 16-game winning streak against Louisiana opponents for the Tigers since losing to Nicholls State last season.
“It is over with,” Deichmann said. “We cannot do anything about it. We are come out to practice and get ready for Auburn.”