Walks, hit batsmen cost Tigers in first loss

By Hunt Palmer

THE STORY

LSU earned its first loss on Tuesday night.

Every phase contributed heavily to a 7-6 defeat at the hands of visiting McNeese. The Tigers put two on with one out in the ninth in a one-run game. Omar Serna struck out, and Seth Dardar’s fly ball to left was gloved at the track to end it.

In a game that featured the combined execution level of a local Little League contest, LSU’s follies proved more significant than McNeese’s.

Tiger pitching gave out free bases in the early innings like the elderly couple in the big house down the street hands out candy on Halloween. In the first four innings, LSU issued eight free passes including five hit batsmen. Four of those put aboard came in to score. One of those came thanks to a Jake Brown throw from right field that missed his cutoff man by 20 feet and third base by 10. It went out of play.

That helped the Cowboys build a 7-2 lead they never relinquished.

It wasn’t for lack of effort, though. McNeese was just about as charitable as LSU. Cowboy pitching also issued eight walks in the game, hit a batter and played a routine pop up from Serna into a hit when it fell between three defenders in left field, all of whom could have caught it.

LSU just never made it hurt.

After that misplay that was ruled a single, Dardar grounded into a double play, and John Pearson struck out.

In the sixth, LSU trailed by three. McNeese issued back-to-back walks after a Pearson single to load the bases with one out for Derek Curiel and Brown. LSU’s best two hitters mustered a pair of weak fly balls. Curiel’s plated a run, but a crooked number was there to be had.

The lone positive for LSU was Deven Sheerin who has emerged as LSU best reliever early in the season. He mowed down a McNeese order that really didn’t do a whole lot all night. Sheerin retired all five men he faced.

Zach Yorke’s first inning home and Pearson’s solo shot in the eighth were the loudest swings of the night. They just weren’t quite enough.

The loss snaps a 16-game win streak for LSU dating back to last year’s NCAA Regional.

THE SCORECARD

LSU used 10 pitchers. Seven either walked or hit a batter.

McNeese was 4/17 (.235) with runners on.

McNeese was 2/12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.

McNeese was 1/4 (25%) in getting runners home from third with less than two outs.

McNeese struck out 14 times and had two extra base hits.

LSU was 3/17 (.176) with runners on.

LSU was 2/10 (.200) with runners in scoring position.

LSU got the leadoff runner on four times. He scored once. Curiel in the first.

WHAT’S NEXT

LSU returns to action Friday night as a four-team weekend at The Box begins. The Tigers will play Dartmouth on Friday and Sunday. Northeastern will be LSU’s opponents on Saturday and Monday.

Grambling will play both teams over the weekend but will not play LSU.