Tigers roar back to take rubber game behind three long balls

By Hunt Palmer

THE STORY

As Seth Dardar’s go-ahead three-run shot sailed over the right field bleachers, his bat flip apexed at 35 feet tumbling end over end.

LSU had climbed all the way back. The frustrations of four weeks and three Sunday hours had been offloaded. Kentucky didn’t like it. Tensions and run totals ran high.

The Tigers came back from 7-0 down to win, 17-10, and take the rubber game against the visiting Wildcats.

This result feels impactful. LSU didn’t play especially well on Sunday, but they dug deep and won. The offense showed up for a second straight day. John Pearson’s grand slam highlighted a six-run third. Derek Curiel’s opposite-field solo shot trimmed a 10-7 lead to two. Walks to Zach Yorke and Steven Milam set the stage for Dardar who got a hanging breaking ball and hit it 435 feet at 109 mph.

Walks set the stage. That’s fitting.

LSU walks early in the game were crippling as the Wildcats made them hurt time and time again.

Starter Gavin Guidry walked four and hit another in an inning and a third. Santiago Garcia walked two and recorded three outs. Mavrick Rizy walked two and got one out. In total, LSU walked 10 Wildcats and hit two more. Four of those would come in to score. Two more walked in runs, and a wild pitch brought home another.

Kentucky feasts on free passes. They don’t slug or string hits together. They need help, and LSU offered it up early. The Wildcats offered their fair share of charity, as well. LSU scored three runs on two wild pitches in the eighth. Kentucky pitching fired four of those on the day and walked 10 Tigers.

LSU deserves a ton of credit for slugging its way to a series-clinching win. Perhaps the jawing between dugouts, second base celebrations and general “us vs. them” theatrics that have gone on between these two teams for two days are good for this group.

On the negative side, Chris Stanfield misplayed a ground ball in left. Dardar spiked a double play turn that Yorke couldn’t pick at first. Mason Braun ran into a bad out at third base. These types of mistakes have been far too common.

That’s not the story on this Sunday. LSU’s seven-run comeback is its largest since May of 2024 against South Carolina. The Tigers are 4-5 in league play. That not ideal, but it’s far from disaster.

THE SCORECARD

Chris Stanfield: 4-for-5, 2B, BB, 2 R

Derek Curiel: 3-for-5, HR, BB, 3 RBI, 3 R

Seth Dardar: 3-for-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R

John Pearson: Grand Slam

Grant Fontenot: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 22 pitches, 15 strikes

LSU was 16-for-38 (.421)

LSU with runners on: 10-for-26 (.385)

LSU with RISP: 8-for-20 (.400)

LSU was not retired in order in the game.

Kentucky was 4-for-21 (.190) with runners on base.

LSU outhit Kentucky 16-to-8.

Kentucky stole six bases.

WHAT’S NEXT

LSU returns to action Tuesday when Southern visits Alex Box Stadium. Three of LSU’s next four series are on the road.