BATON ROUGE, La. – No. 18 LSU plated a pair of runs in the eighth inning to post a 3-1 win over UTSA baseball in the series opener, on Friday night at Alex Box Stadium.
After UTSA (5-4) rallied with a game-tying run in the top of the eighth inning to even the game at 1-1, LSU got a pair on to open the eighth inning and scored the duo after a misfired attempt at an inning-ending double play.
UTSA starter Luke Malone worked 5.2 strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits and four strikeouts. After a pair of outs in the sixth, UTSA turned to lefty Grant Miller, who worked out of the frame with a key strikeout.
Hunter Mason (1-2) took over the open the bottom of the seventh inning, working 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and two runs, walking one and striking out one. Lefty Jay Ward came on in relief of Mason in the eighth, escaping the jam with a pickoff move at first base.
The Roadrunners collected six hits in the game, led by a two-hit outing from Ian Bailey. Griffin Paxton, Kyle Bergeron, Austin Ochoa and Joshua Lamb each collected knocks
LSU (12-3) starter Jaden Hill worked 6.2 innings, allowing four hits and two walks, striking out six. Aaron George took over in the seventh with two outs, escaping a jam before turning the ball over to Devin Fontenot to open the eighth. Fontenot got two outs, allowing the game-tying unearned run on his tally, before giving way to Ma'Khail Hilliard in the eighth.
The series will resume on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium, with the game televised live on SEC Network with Dave Neal and Kyle Peterson calling the action. UTSA will turn to senior righty Shane Daughety (2-0, 0.75 ERA) for the start.
Cade Doughty opened the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo shot out to rightfield.
The Roadrunners struck for the game-tying tally in the eighth inning, getting a leadoff single from Paxton and a six-pitch walk from Nick Thornquist to open the frame. After Shane Sirdashney pinch ran for Paxton, Ian Bailey hit a liner up the middle that was misplayed by the first baseman, allowing Sirdashney to motor home from second base.
LSU took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, starting with a Dylan Crew single. Tre' Morgan was hit by a pitch and then Doughty hit into a fielder's choice, with the throw from the infield sailing into the dirt, allowing the runners to advance. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Gavin Dugas hit a hard grounder at Jonathan Tapia at second base, forcing Tapia to spin to field the ball. Tapia got the runner out at second but the attempt at the inning-ending double play at first base was late, with Morgan and Doughty scoring on the play.
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