James chips in three hits and Allen drives in two runs in finale game of SEC opening weekend
BATON ROUGE, La. – Six runs between the sixth and eighth innings gave No. 10 LSU enough offense to top No. 2 Mississippi State baseball, 6-2, in the series finale at Alex Box Stadium on Sunday (March 21).
Mississippi State (16-3, 2-1 SEC) tallied single runs in the first, third and eighth innings. LSU (16-5, 1-2 SEC) scored twice in the first, once in the sixth, three times in the seventh and twice in the eighth to avoid the sweep after the Bulldogs won the first two games of the weekend.
LSU out-hit MSU by just one, 7-6, but the extra base hit played a big role. The Tigers hit a pair of home runs and added three doubles, while the Bulldogs had two extra base hits, with both coming in the third inning. Kamren James led the offense with three hits and one RBI on the afternoon, including a double. Tanner Allen singled, was hit-by-pitch, scored one run and drove in a pair of RBIs in the series finale.
Jackson Fristoe (2-1) took the loss in relief with one run allowed on three hits in four innings of work. He walked two, struck out six and allowed just a solo home run in the sixth inning. Eric Cerantola made the start and allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings of work in a no decision.
For LSU, Brody Drost and Gavin Dugas each hit home runs and drove in two RBIs, while Jordan Thompson plated a pair of runs with an eighth-inning double. AJ Labas (1-0) got the win with six innings pitched in a start. He allowed four hits and two runs with four strikeouts.
Quotable
Head coach Chris Lemonis
On How do you characterize the weekend?
CL: It was a good weekend. Today is a new day and I didn’t think we were really good today. It was a little disappointing, but I give LSU credit. I would have liked to have seen us come out and give a better effort today.
Scoring Recap
Top First
Tanner Allen was hit-by-pitch and stole second before Kamren James’ single up the middle with two outs opened the scoring.
Mississippi State 1, LSU 0
Bottom First
Tre’ Morgan walked to start the inning and Brody Drost walked. Dylan Crews reached on a fielder’s choice before Morgan scored on a wild pitch. Gavin Dugas grounded out to shortstop to plate Crews.
LSU 2, Mississippi State 1
Top Third
Scotty Dubrule doubled to right field and advanced to third on Rowdey Jordan‘s ground out. Dubrule scored on Allen’s fly out to left field.
Mississippi State 2, LSU 2
Bottom Sixth
Dugas homered to left field to score for the Tigers.
LSU 3, Mississippi State 2
Bottom Seventh
Mitchell Sanford singled up the middle and advanced to second on Jordan Thompson’s ground out. Collier Cranford advance Sanford to third before Morgan doubled to plate one. Drost then homered to right center to cap the three-run inning.
LSU 6, Mississippi State 2
Top Eighth
Tanner Leggett singled up the middle moved to second on Jordan’s walk. Leggett scored on Allen’s infield single with one out.
LSU 6, Mississippi State 3
Bottom Eighth
Cade Doughty walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch in front of a Drew Bianco walk. Thompson doubled to push across the final two runs of the game.
LSU 8, Mississippi State 3
Up Next
Mississippi State will head home for nine straight games beginning on Tuesday, March 23 against North Alabama. The Lions and Bulldogs will throw the first pitch at 6:30 p.m.