The LSU team is deeply flawed, but it fights. For a third straight Sunday, LSU erased a massive deficit. This time the Tigers couldn’t quite get over the hump. Ole Miss nudged a run across in the seventh to win 8-7 and sweep the series in Oxford.
After being no-hit for six innings by Rebel starter Taylor Rabe, the Tigers struck for seven in the seventh to knot the score. Derek Curiel, Cade Arrambide and Jake Brown hit back-to-back-to-back homers to get things rolling, and the rest of the lineup kept it moving. Curiel chopped a single over the first baseman’s head to plate a run later in the inning, and Brayden Simpson’s two out, two strike line drive single to left drew LSU within one. A wild pitch sent the tying run home.
All in all, LSU’s seven spot came via eight hits. They were the only hits LSU notched in the ballgame. Unfortunately for LSU, the lead didn’t last long. Mason Braun and Simpson couldn’t corral a ground ball to the right side that resulted the leadoff hitter moving to second on interference by pitcher Marcos Paz. A bunt and a pretty two-strike single by Brayden Randle to left off Deven Sheerin gave the Rebels the 8-7 lead.
Grant Fontenot started the game for LSU and lasted five hitters. Four of them reached including a pair of RBI singles. LSU desperately misses Cooper Moore in the rotation. His replacements have lasted a total of 4.1 innings in three weeks.
Ole Miss’s four-spot in the fourth looked like the knockout punch. Owen Paino rode the wind out for a solo homer, and Bissetta unloaded on a two-run homer that sailed over the wall in right center with room to spare. Furniss spanked an RBI single through the right side to make it 7-0, and the deficit was too much to overcome.
The Tigers needed a game in Oxford, and they couldn’t get one. LSU makes the turn in league play at 6-9 with a very poor RPI. It’s a massively uphill battle back into the mix, but plenty of opportunities for good wins are there.
