No.2-ranked LSU Baseball is stunned as the Omaha Mustangs pull off an improbable upset victory inside Alex Box Stadium, sneaking away by a final score of 5-4.
Coming into this matchup, the Tigers averaged approximately 10 runs scored in each game and have been involved in conversations about having one of the nation's most complete and challenging batting orders.
However, the harsh reality of how humbling college baseball can be for powerhouse programs with championship aspirations would soon be discovered.
Throughout the first five innings, both teams were presented with opportunities to bring baserunners across the plate.
During the bottom of the first inning, junior second baseman Daniel Dickinson and freshman Jared Jones managed to reach on consecutive walks.
With the bases becoming loaded due to a hit-by-pitch taken by left fielder Ashton Larson, this threat would soon be handled after an inning-ending pop-up that came off the bat of shortstop Steven Milam.
Despite this missed opportunity, this would not be the last time that the bases were loaded with Tigers baserunners.
After three consecutive walks that were drawn by the bottom three hitters of the batting order, Omaha called its second mound visit of the game to calm the nerves of starting pitcher Ben Weber.
And this meeting helped mitigate looming damage on the basepaths.
Weber recorded back-to-back flyouts and made it out of this inning unscathed.
Finishing with an interesting final line of 3.2 IP, 6 BB, 0 H, 0 R, and zero strikeouts, Weber played an essential role in somehow keeping the game within reach.
From the beginning of the third inning to the end of the sixth inning, each team’s pitching staff started to hunker down and find its stride. In terms of recording base hits, only the Omaha Mustangs could manage to muster up two base knocks.
Junior right-handed pitcher Anthony Eyanson had an impressive outing, including his final stat line: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, and seven strikeouts with 93 total pitches thrown. While the offense struggled to produce, Eyanson’s performance kept the Tigers knocking on the door.
Entering the top of the seventh inning, the purple and gold faithful packed inside Alex Box Stadium watched in complete shock as the Tigers struggled with their offense.
Coming in to replace Eyanson, redshirt junior Grant Fontenot looked to take care of business with the bottom half of the Mustang’s batting order.
Facing the first batter of the inning, with an 0-2 count, Omaha catcher Trent Burkhalter would be pelted with a pitch. Additionally, the next batter would be beamed by the next pitch.
With two base runners on and nobody out, Omaha centerfielder Eli Hoerner connected on a single that landed in the left-field grass. Burkhalter came across home plate standing up, and the Omaha Mustangs scored the game's first run.
For the first time this season, LSU Baseball trailed in a game.
However, this offensive production for the Omaha Mustangs was just getting started.
Undoubtedly rattled and facing extreme amounts of pressure, Fontenot threw an incredibly wild pitch that allowed the Mustangs to plate yet another run. The score was now 2-0.
After walking Omaha second baseman Grant Sommers, Fontenot struck out consecutive batters and found himself with only one out remaining in the inning.
Senior right fielder Jackson Trout, the Mustangs’ cleanup hitter, approached home plate with two baserunners on and two out. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Trout annihilated the pitch, and the baseball would eventually land several rows deep into the left field grandstands.
Going into the eighth inning, the Omaha Mustangs lead the No.2-ranked LSU Tigers by a score of 5-0.
Additionally, the Tigers would remain hitless as a team until the bottom of the eighth inning.
Other than the loudly celebrating Omaha Mustangs dugout, you could almost hear a pin drop in the crowd at Alex Box Stadium.
Entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the Tigers faced a daunting task of getting back into the game. With only needing three outs, the Mustangs were so close to completing the unthinkable.
But the Tigers wouldn’t go down without a valiant fight.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Tigers bats came alive.
After plating four straight runs, sophomore left fielder Ashton Larson came to the plate with an opportunity to complete a hard-fought comeback victory and send Tigers fans home happy.
Larson would strike out swinging in just three pitches.
With the game on the line, fan-favorite shortstop Steven Milam looked to, at minimum, send the Tigers to extra innings with some offensive magic. However, with a favorable count, Milam sent a measly fly ball to center field and the game was officially over.
In a stunning turn of events, the Omaha Mustangs handed the LSU Tigers its first loss of the season and convincingly completed the upset.
No.2-ranked LSU Baseball will look to get back on track in their next matchup against Nicholls State on Monday, Feb. 24, at 6:00 p.m. CST at Alex Box Stadium. This game is a makeup for the postponed matchup that was scheduled to take place on Feb. 19 due to winter weather.
