No stress for LSU in super-regional opener

It was not a cakewalk from the start for LSU in its super-regional series game against West Virginia on Saturday afternoon.

In fact, the Tigers trailed after three innings. However, it was obviously just a matter of time before LSU was going to take control.

That scenario played out in the middle innings.

Ten runs in the fourth and fifth innings sent the Tigers on their way to an easy 16-9 victory over the Mountaineers at The Box. LSU will now go for a two-game sweep of the super-regional series Sunday evening.

Derek Curiel and Steven Milam delivered the two clutch hits – two opposite-field home runs – for the Tigers. Curiel’s three-run homer down the leftfield line put LSU in front 3-1 in the fourth. Milam’s grand slam down the rightfield line began the scoring in a seven-run fifth.

West Virginia starting pitcher Griffin Kirn threw three hitless innings to start his outing. However, Kirn and his defense were rocky during that stretch.

In the second, Kirn hit a batter and shortstop Brodie Kresser misplayed a ground ball. In the third, Kirn walked the leadoff hitter. Second baseman Gavin Kelly made a poor throw to first base on a potential inning-ending double play.

Then, Kirn put himself in a hole by hitting Luis Hernandez and Daniel Dickinson with one out in the fourth. Curiel followed with his home run. Kirn got the next two outs, but he was done for the day after giving up a leadoff single to Josh Pearson in the fifth.

Sensing how the game was going, West Virginia coach Steve Sabins used none of his high-leverage relievers. JJ Glasscock, who had thrown six innings all year, walked two batters. Cole Fehrman, who had thrown seven innings all season, gave up Milam’s grand slam.

Fehrman then hit Hernandez and walked Dickinson. Those two results ended the day for Fehrman. Tyler Hutson, who had thrown 24 innings, gave up a RBI single to Curiel and a two-run single to Chris Stanfield before getting the last two outs of the inning.

Forget about the fact that the Mountaineers got to Kade Anderson for four runs in the top of the sixth. The outcome of this game was decided. LSU proved that fact in the bottom of the sixth when Pearson’s grand slam capped a six-run inning.

Once again, the West Virginia bullpen helped the Tigers’ cause. Hutson walked a batter before being replaced. Luke Lyman, who had thrown six innings, hit Dickinson and issued bases-loaded walks to Curiel and pinch-hitter Ashton Larson. Pearson then homered.

LSU only had seven hits in the three innings in which it scored 16 runs. In those three innings, Mountaineers pitchers walked six and hit four batters. All ten of those baserunners crossed the plate.

Anderson did just what he needed to do after being all of the offensive support in the middle innings. Through the first five innings, Anderson gave up one run and three hits. Now, Anderson was roughed up by West Virginia after being given a 10-1 lead.

In the sixth, the Mountaineers scored four runs on four hits off Anderson. The fourth run was unearned due to Milam’s second error of the afternoon. One inning later – Anderson’s last, he allowed a two-run homer by Kelly.

Three Tigers relievers took care of the last six outs – DJ Primeaux, William Schmidt and Mavrick Rizy. Schmidt allowed a two-run homer following a leadoff walk in the ninth.


LSU STARTERS

Josh Pearson: 2-for-5, 4 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 1 HR

Ethan Frey: 0-for-4, 1 run scored

Jared Jones: 1-for-4, 1 run scored

Steven Milam: 1-for-3, 4 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 1 HR

Luis Hernandez: 0-for-2, 3 runs scored

Daniel Dickinson: 0-for-2, 3 runs scored

Derek Curiel: 3-for-3, 5 RBIs, 3 runs scored, 1 HR

Michael Braswell: 0-for-2

Chris Stanfield: 1-for-4, 2 RBIs


LSU BENCH

Ashton Larson: 0-for-0, 1 RBI, 1 run scored


LSU PITCHERS

Kade Anderson: 7 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

DJ Primeaux: .1 IP

William Schmidt: .2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB

Mavrick Rizy: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K

LSU Purple Sublimated Baseball Jersey
from: Alumni Hall