LSU Baseball
By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY
A pitcher’s duel gave way to some late offense on Saturday. Grant Fontenot slammed the door with the tying run at first base to give the Tigers a 5-3 win.
LSU’s offense mustered just two runs on four hits through seven innings, and the Tiger pitching staff made it stand up until some eighth inning offense provided some cushion.
Cooper Moore’s LSU debut was fantastic. He struck out 11 and didn’t walk anyone over six dominant frames. A solo shot in the fourth from Bradyn Horne was the only Panther damage. Moore’s changeup continued to dart under Milwaukee swings all afternoon.
The junior right hander gave way to Mavrick Rizy who worked 1.2 innings without allowing a hit. With two outs in the eighth he hit Grant Ross with a pitch. Ethan Plog was summoned to retire slugger Charlie Marion who slapped a single through a shifted infield. A wild pitch moved runners to second and third in a 2-1 game, but Dax Dathe fanned Max Glusick to squelch the threat.
LSU added insurance in the eighth.
Steven Milam delivered a two-run double to the alley in left-center to score Derek Curiel and Jake Brown. Curiel appeared to have been erased pitches early when he stole third. The out call was overturned by replay.
Two hitters later, Cade Arrambide continued his torrid start with a booming double to center field to plate Milam.
The Tigers were just happy to see anyone but Panther starter Aric Ehmke. The senior right hander faced the minimum in five of his seven innings of work. He just peppered the strike zone with an 88 mph fastball that LSU never solved.
That eighth inning insurance came in handy as Dathe walked the leadoff man in the ninth, and Brown lost a line drive in the right field sunlight to put runners at second a third with one out.
After Zac Cowan recorded a pair of strikeouts, an infield single plated a run to make it 5-2. Dominic Kibler’s two-strike flare single to center made it 5-3.
Fontenot fired a pair of 99 mph fastballs. The second was popped lightly to center to end the game.
THE SCORECARD
Cooper Moore: 6 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 11 K, 0 BB
Arik Emkhe: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Trent Caraway: 2-for-3, 2B, R
Chris Stanfield: 2-for-3, 2B, R
Steven Milam: 1-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
LSU struck out 17 Panthers for the second consecutive game.
Milwaukee outhit LSU 9-8.
LSU played errorless.
Milwaukee was 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. LSU was 4-for-8.
WHAT’S NEXT
LSU and Milwaukee conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon at 1:00. Sophomore right-hander William Schimdt will start the game for the Tigers.
More Top Stories
