LSU coasts past Southern 17-4
Antoine Duplantis had four hits and drove home five runs as LSU defeated Southern 17-4 in a non-conference game at The Box on Wednesday night.
HOW THEY SCORED
LSU first inning – Josh Smith reached on an error by third baseman Tyler LaPorte. Zach Watson walked. Smith and Watson executed a double steal. After Duplantis lined out to the second baseman, Daniel Cabrera reached on a dropped throw by first baseman Hunter David. Smith scored on the error and Watson advanced to third. Watson scored on a single by Saul Garza. Cade Beloso hit a three-run homer over the rightfield fence. After Hal Hughes lined out to the shortstop, Brock Mathis was hit by a pitch. Brandt Broussard walked. Mathis and Broussard scored on a double by Smith. After Watson singled, Smith scored on a single by Duplantis. LSU 8, SOUTHERN 0
LSU second inning – With one out, Beloso reached on a two-base throwing error by shortstop Willie Ward. Beloso scored on a single by Hughes. LSU 9, SOUTHERN 0
LSU third inning – Chris Reid walked and Watson doubled. Reid and Watson scored on a single by Duplantis. Giovanni DiGiacomo and pinch-hitter CJ Willis singled to load the bases. Duplantis scored on a sacrifice fly to the leftfielder by Beloso. LSU 12, SOUTHERN 0
LSU fifth inning – Beloso singled and was forced at second on a ground ball to the third baseman by Hughes. Braden Doughty and Drew Bianco walked to load the bases. Hughes, Doughty and Bianco scored on a double by Reid. After Watson grounded out to the third baseman, Reid scored on a single by Duplantis. LSU 16, SOUTHERN 0
LSU seventh inning – With two out, Watson doubled. Watson moved to third on a wild pitch by Larry Barbino and scored on a single by Duplantis. LSU 17, SOUTHERN 0
Southern eighth inning – Zavier Moore walked and Jayvean Williams singled. Moore scored on a single by LaPorte. Courtland Simoneaux walked to load the bases. After Eian Mitchell struck out, Williams scored when Hudson Hampton hit into a force play at second base. LSU 17, SOUTHERN 2
Southern ninth inning – With one out, pinch-hitter Blake Martin walked. Martin scored on a double by Moore, who went to third on the throw to the plate. After Williams flied out to the leftfielder, Moore scored on a passed ball by Doughty. LSU 17, SOUTHERN 4
LSU PLAYER OF THE GAME
Duplantis continued his hot hitting by collecting four singles and five RBIs. The four hits were a season-high for Duplantis. He has driven in at least five runs in three of LSU’s first eight games. Duplantis had a RBI single in the Tigers’ eight-run first inning. He had a two-run single in the third. Duplantis knocked in a run in both the fifth and seventh with two-out hits. Duplantis also drew a walk, His one out was a line drive to the second baseman. Duplantis now has a .457 batting average with 23 RBIs.
KEY TEAM STATISTICS
Hits: LSU 18, Southern 6
Errors: LSU 0, Southern 4
Left on base: LSU 14, Southern 6
Runners in scoring position: LSU 12-for-24, Southern 1-for-7
Double plays: Southern 1, LSU 0
Stolen bases: LSU 2, Southern 0
Walks issued: LSU 4, Southern 9
Strikeouts recorded: LSU 11, Southern 5
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
LSU
Antoine Duplantis: 4-for-5, 1 run scored, 5 RBIs
Zach Watson: 3-for-4, 3 runs scored, 2 2Bs
Cade Beloso: 3-for-5, 2 runs scored, 4 RBIs, 1 HR
Giovanni DiGiacomo: 2-for-4, 1 2B
Hal Hughes: 2-for-6, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
Josh Smith: 1-for-2, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, 1 2B
Chris Reid: 1-for-4, 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs, 1 2B
Eric Walker: 2 IP, 3 K
Cole Henry: 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K
SOUTHERN
Jayvean Williams: 2-for-4, 1 run scored
Zavier Moore: 1-for-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 2B
NOTES
LSU’s starting batting order was Smith, SS; Watson, CF, DH; Duplantis, RF; Cabrera, LF; Garza, DH; Beloso, 1B; Hughes, 3B; Mathis, C; Brandt Broussard, 2B. . .Infielder Gavin Dugas suffered a thumb injury Sunday. He will be out for an extended period of time. . .Coach Paul Mainieri began removing starters after the Tigers scored eight runs in the first inning. Four players were in for the entire game – Watson, Duplantis, Beloso and Hughes. . .CJ Willis’ single in the third was his first career hit. . .Smith extended his hitting streak to eight games with a double in the first. . .Cabrera’s hitting streak ended at seven games after he went 0-for-2. . .All eight LSU runs in the first inning were unearned due to two Southern errors. . .Beloso’s home run was his second of the year. . .Batting second in the lineup, Watson is now 7-for-10 with four walks. . .Eric Walker retired all six batters he faced – three on strikeouts. Walker was credited with the victory. He did not have to pitch five innings since it was predetermined that the Tigers were going to use more than two pitchers. . .Cole Henry threw to scoreless innings. He allowed two two-out singles in the fourth before striking out Ward. . .The next three Tigers relievers each threw an inning. Chase Costello and Clay Moffitt retired all three batters they faced. Making his first appearance of the season, Ma’Khail Hilliard gave up one hit, walked one and struck out one in his inning. . .Rye Gunter gave up Southern’s two runs in the eighth and Riggs Threadgill allowed the Jaguars’ two ninth-inning runs. . .LSU is 8-0, while Southern is 4-3. The Tigers have now won 14 consecutive games against the Jaguars. . .The game began 15 minutes late due to rain. . .The paid attendance was 9,624.
UP NEXT
LSU will play Texas at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central. The Longhorns (7-3) lost to Texas-San Antonio 10-7 in Austin on Wednesday night. Zach Hess will be the starting pitcher for the Tigers. The LSU-Texas game will be available on the Longhorn Network.