LSU RALLIES FOR 9-5 WIN OVER NORTHWESTERN STATE IN NCAA CORVALLIS REGIONAL
LSU erupted for five
runs in the top of the ninth inning Sunday, erasing a 5-4 deficit and
posting a 9-5 win over Northwestern State in an NCAA Corvallis Regional
elimination game at Goss Stadium.
The Tigers
improved to 39-26 this year, while Northwestern State ended its season
with a 38-24 record. LSU advanced to an NCAA Regional championship
round for the seventh straight year with Sunday’s victory.
LSU
will play at 8 p.m. CT Sunday night against Oregon State in a game that
will be televised by ESPNU. If Oregon State wins the game, the Beavers
are the regional champions and advance to play host to a Super Regional
next week.
If LSU wins Sunday night, the Tigers and Oregon State will meet again at 9 p.m. CT Monday to determine the regional champion.
All
LSU games may be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network.
Live audio and stats are available at www.LSUsports.net.
LSU
reliever Matthew Beck (4-1) was credited with the win as he worked
three innings and allowed two runs – one earned – on two hits with one
walk and three strikeouts.
Todd Peterson worked a perfect ninth inning, including one strikeout, to secure the victory for the Tigers.
Northwestern
State closer Jose Vasquez (6-2) was charged with the loss as he
surrendered five runs – four earned – on five hits in three innings
with one walk and one strikeout.
“Their closer was
tough, but we were able to get some big hits in the ninth inning,” said
LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “The hitters came through in a big way for us
after we had struggled with some scoring opportunities throughout the
game. We’re going to go back to the hotel for a couple of hours and
work on a pitching plan to face a very good Oregon State lineup
tonight.”
Rightfielder Antoine Duplantis walked to
lead off the top of the ninth inning, and after leftfielder Daniel
Cabrera flied out, Duplantis stole second base. First baseman Austin
Bain followed with an infield single, and catcher Nick Coomes tied the
game at 5-5 with a single to left field.
LSU
grabbed the lead on an RBI single by third baseman Jake Slaughter, and
shortstop Hal Hughes increased the advantage to 8-5 with a two-run
double. The Tigers’ final run of the inning scored when centerfielder
Zach Watson’s ground ball was mishandled at shortstop, allowing second
baseman Brandt Broussard to score from third base.
The
Demons took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth when first baseman
Peyton Davis launched a solo homer off of Beck for his fifth dinger of
the season.
LSU opened the scoring in the top of
the first when Watson deposited the first pitch from Northwestern State
starter Nathan Jones over the left-field wall for his seventh homer of
the year.
The Tigers added a run in the third when
Bain tripled and scored on a Coomes singled, but the Demons tied the
game at 2-2 in the fourth on a two-run homer by third baseman Sam
Taylor off of LSU starter Cam Sanders.
The Demons
scored two runs in the sixth to break the tie as leftfielder Lenni
Kunert unloaded a solo homer and centerfielder Kwan Adkins provided an
RBI single.
LSU responded to knot the game at 4-4 with two runs in the seventh as Cabrera lined a two-run single.
Sanders pitched the first five innings for LSU, allowing three runs on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
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