Arkansas defeated LSU 7-4 on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the series. Despite the loss, LSU takes the series 2-1.
Freshman pitcher Casan Evans got the start on the mound for the Tigers. It was Evans’ third start of his career and he pitched 3.2 innings with seven hits, four earned runs and four strikeouts.
Redshirt Sophomore Chase Shores came in to relieve Evans and Shores had himself a quality relief effort. He pitched 3.1 innings with two hits, one earned run and four strikeouts.
This game was the senior day for the Tigers and senior Luis Hernandez had himself a good game, hitting 2-5 with two hits, one home run and two RBI’s.
LSU would strike first in the bottom of the second when Luis Hernandez hit a home run to left field. Two batters later Steven Milam hit a home run to left-center field.
In the top of the third, Arkansas would strike back in a big way.
Arkansas’ Justin Thomas Jr. hit a double to lead off the inning. Charles Davalan grounded out and Thomas Jr. advanced to third.
Wehiwa Aloy flied out to right field and Thomas Jr. scored.
Then Carson Boles walked and Kuhio Aloy singled to left field. Arkansas now has runners on first and second with one out.
Ryder Helfrick would then double to left field scoring Boles. Cam Kozeal would come up to hit and singled up the middel to score Helfrick and Aloy.
Going into the bottom of the third, Arkansas would lead 4-2, but the Tigers would punch back.
Daniel Dickinson hit a leadoff single followed by a Jake Brown single. Tigers have runners on first and second. Then Luis Hernandez singled up the middle to score Dickinson.
There would be no more runs until Arkansas scored in the top of the fifth.
Ryder Helfrick led off the inning with a walk then Kozeal grounded out to third, Helfrick advanced to second.
Brent Iredale singled to right and Helfrick advanced to third. Reese Robinett grounded out to first and Helfrick scored. Score now reads 5-3 Arkansas.
LSU would finally score again in the eighth inning. Josh Pearson singled to right field and immediately after, Milam singled to left-center field.
With runners on first and third, Stanfield grounded out to third and Pearson scored. At this point it is now a one run game going into the ninth inning with the score being 5-4 in favor of Arkansas.
In the top of the ninth the game would slip away from the Tigers. The Tigers would go through four pitchers in this half inning.
Arkansas’ Logan Maxwell would start the inning with a walk then Kendall Diggs pinch ran for Maxwell and stole second.
Kuhio Aloy walked and Helfrick walked. Bases now loaded for Arkansas. Iredale walked and Diggs came home.
Robinett singled to right field and Aloy scored. That would be the final run of the game as LSU couldn’t make another comeback.
The Tigers will take on the Gamecocks in South Carolina as LSU wraps up the regular season. Game one is set for Thursday, May 15 at 6 p.m. CT inside Founders Park.
