LSU gets back on track, takes series vs Alabama

Derek Curiel | Photo by: Bransen Phillips

By Andrew Riedell

Believe it or not, LSU just took a series from a Top 25 opponent. If you asked some Tiger fans, they would tell you they just lost a series to RPI 307 Delaware State. Tiger fans that did not overreact to the team's struggles, though, enjoyed a very good weekend for the LSU. They took two out of three from the Alabama Crimson Tide, a team that has been struggling recently, dropping back to back series. The Tigers needed this series to go their way, and here is how it happened.

Thursday: LSU 11 Alabama 6

Now looking at this score, I am so confused, how did LSU win this game, and secondly, score eleven runs to secure the win?

Kade Anderson got the start Thursday, and he was ok. Kade Snell homered off him twice, Brady Neal and Richie Bonomolo Jr. both homered as well to knock him out of the game in the sixth inning. All four home runs off Anderson came from missed spots, as Snell's home came off a fastball that was supposed to be in the other batters box, but Anderson left it middle middle.

The other three came from curveballs that were left up, and you just can't do that in the SEC without expecting teams to punish you.

Casan Evans got the win and was phenomenal in relief again. The hitting, though, was dead through five frames. Alabama trotted out Tyler Fay for the start, and he was great. Matt Heiberger followed, and he was solid as well. After that, it was all downhill for Bama.

Ashton Larson came in when Austin Morris took the mound, and Larson sent a three-run home run down the right field line to get LSU back in the game. From there, it was all LSU, as Steven Milam would eventually give the Tigers the lead in the sixth with a three-run home run of his own. Ethan Frey nailed the coffin shut with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth.

Friday: LSU 4 Alabama 3

Anthony Eyanson was spectuaclar again for the Tigers, as he went six innings, holding the Crimson Tide to one run and striking out twelve. Zac Cowan followed that up by earning his sixth save of the season.

LSU got the pleasure of facing Riley Quick, who has a fastball that sits in the upper 90s. He has had some really solid outings this year, but this one was not his best. Quick took the loss, the deciding factor that he only lasted 3.1 innings, with the Tiger bats getting to him in the 3rd and 4th. Daniel Dickinson started it with an RBI single and then Jared Jones followed that with an RBI double. In the 4th, it was freshman Derek Curiel who drove in the other two runs with a single. Chris Stanfield also had a great day at the plate going 4-4 with a double and a trio of singles.

Saturday: Alabama 7 LSU 4

The Crimson Tide took the final game of the series, thanks to their ace Zane Adams holding the Tigers to one run in five innings of work. LSU made a last minute decision and switched from Chase Shores to Connor Ware for the start as an opener and Shore worked 2.2 innings out of the bullpen. This was a must-win game for Alabama in my opinion, and they had their arms saved in the bullpen, such as Carson Ozmer who picked up his 13th save of the year to give them length after Adams left the game. Richie Bonomolo Jr. hit his second home run of the weekend, hitting a three-run jack in the third inning to give the Tide a 3-0 lead. Jake Brown and Jared Jones homered for LSU in the loss.

My thoughts:

I think this weekend reminded the Tigers what they can do against some of the best teams in the SEC and that last weekend's sweep was a fluke. This series was a must-win, especially with Tennessee coming to Baton Rouge this week.

I am not worried about Kade Anderson and neither is Jay Johnson, if that tells you anything. He will be fine come Friday, when he duels with Liam Doyle for probably what some are going to call the best pitching matchup of the year.

The at bats were much better especially Friday against Quick, who has really good stuff. Ashton Larson, someone who has had tough battles this year after being a key piece last year, finally got a big moment to shine in Thursday's game with his three run bomb. He will continue to be a key bat Jay Johnson trusts to plug in the lineup and give key pinch hit opportunities.

*****