Photo Credit: @LSUbaseball on X)
By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY
A dreadful offensive weekend came to a fitting ending Sunday as LSU was held to just two runs in a 3-2 loss to Auburn.
The hosts from the Plains silenced the LSU bats all weekend for a three-game sweep.
On Sunday, LSU mustered just four hits, and only one of those came with a runner in scoring position. Jake Brown’s RBI single in the eighth made it 3-2. The Tigers were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the game.
Tiger pitching gave LSU a chance to win the game.
Zac Cowan took over for Chase Shores in the third. He fired 4.2 scoreless frames before giving way to Casan Evans who shut out Auburn for the final inning and a third. LSU had the ability to deploy but Cowan and Evans on Sunday because neither had pitched in games one and two, Auburn wins.
That dynamic duo couldn’t have done more, but LSU’s offense produced too little too late.
LSU stranded two runners in the fourth, but it was the fifth that probably hurt the worst.
Michael Braswell walked, and Chris Stanfield followed with a double. With runners at second and third and no one out, the Tiger lineup turned over to the top. Derek Curiel popped out. Jared Jones fanned on a high fastball. Josh Pearson walked to load the bases, and Daniel Dickinson strike out swinging to leave them loaded.
Curiel, Jones and Dickinson are the bats LSU wants in the box. They didn’t produce.
LSU was only retired in order twice in the game, but the big hit never really came.
Shores was hit hard early.
Ike Irish smoked an RBI double in the first inning, and Cooper McMurray followed with one of his own to make it 2-0. A leadoff walk in the second came around to score on a single and a double play ball.
The plan was always going to be to have a quick hook for Shores because LSU’s bullpen weapons were ready. By the time they entered the game in the third, the damage was done.
LSU hits the halfway point of SEC play in a quality position of 10-5. Sweeps happen on the road in league play when you don’t have your best stuff. LSU was a long way from good on offense over the weekend, and they paid for it.
THE SCORECARD
Chase Shores line: 2IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 2K, 40 pitches, 20 strikes
Zac Cowan line: 4.2IP, 4H, 0R, 1BB, 2K, 50 pitches, 38 strikes
Casan Evans line: 1.1IP, 2H, 0R, 22 pitches, 13 strikes.
LSU was 4-for-28 (.143) in the game
LSU was 4-for-16 (.250) with runners on.
LSU was 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
No LSU hitter produced multiple hits.
WHAT’S NEXT
LSU returns home Tuesday to play McNeese. Alabama will come to Alex Box Stadium for a three-game series starting Thursday night.
