Tigers could not close out Aggies series

Three times last weekend, LSU and Texas A&M played games which came down to the late innings.

On only one occasion did the Tigers do what was necessary to win a tight game. In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, pitcher Anthony Eyanson took it upon himself to successfully protect a one-run lead for a LSU victory.

However, the Tigers bullpen failed to do the job in the other two games. In the series opener, ace reliever Zac Cowan gave up two seventh-inning runs which resulted in a 3-1 Aggies victory.

In the rubber game of the series Sunday, the LSU bullpen was asked to hold a two-run lead in the final innings. Chase Shores, Conner Ware and Cowan were all part of an eighth inning in which Texas A&M scored four runs for a 6-4 victory.

Shores gave up a double which turned into a run when Ware allowed a run-scoring infield hit. Cowan was asked to get a four-out save. The Tigers were behind before Cowan retired a batter. Cowan gave up a single before yielding a game-winning three-run homer.

For the first half of the season, Casan Evans and Cowan formed a reliable one-two punch out of the bullpen. However, Evans moved to the starting rotation in place of a struggling Shores two series ago and Cowan’s effectiveness dipped over the last three weeks.

LSU’s seemingly vaunted late-inning pitching situation has changed. The Tigers needed to get six innings out of their bullpen Sunday since Evans was only able to get 10 outs. LSU relievers did a good job until the eighth-inning meltdown.

There must be concern about Cowan. Southeastern Conference hitters may have gotten “a book” on Cowan. In his six appearances during the last three SEC series, Cowan has given up 12 hits and six runs in 6.2 innings. Nearly half of the batters have reached base off him.

Making two appearances in a weekend may be getting to Cowan. Without a doubt, the Tigers need a productive Cowan in order to close the regular season with series victories against Arkansas and South Carolina.

Now, there is another part to winning tight games. A team must deliver timely hits. The series against the Aggies was another one in which numerous LSU hitters struggled. Of the full-time starters, only Steven Milam had a hit in each game.

Look at these numbers against Texas A&M pitchers. Derek Curiel was 1-for-12, Michael Braswell was 1-for-11, Daniel Dickinson was 1-for-9, Chris Stanfield was 2-for-10 and Jared Jones was 3-for-13. Lack of offense simply puts more pressure on the pitching staff.

Despite the series loss to Texas A&M, the Tigers are still in position to be a top-eight national seed for the NCAA tournament. Arkansas’ sweep of Texas puts the Razorbacks ahead of LSU in the SEC pecking order of postseason teams.

The Tigers are probably viewed in the same manner as Georgia with two conference series remaining. Both LSU and Georgia are 15-9 in the SEC. The Bulldogs’ overall record is 39-11 – one-half game better than the Tigers’ 38-11.

Now, there are a half-dozen SEC teams ready to pass LSU and Georgia if either team slips up to end the regular season. In the conference standings, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are one game behind the Tigers and Bulldogs. The Vols and Commodores meet this weekend.

Four teams – Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and Oklahoma – are two games behind LSU and Georgia. The Tigers certainly can solidify their body of work to earn a top-eight national seed when they play host to Arkansas this weekend. It will be another big series at The Box.

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