Tigers sweep Gamecocks with solid Sunday

May 3, 2026: LSU dh Omar Serna Jr. (25) crosses home plate after hitting a home run in game #3 during NCAA Baseball action between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the LSU Tigers at the Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. Michael Bacigalupi

By Hunt Palmer

THE STORY

LSU’s season is on life support, but there’s a pulse.

The Tigers polished off a sweep of South Carolina with a Sunday submission of the Gamecocks, 7-0. Zac Cowan, Santiago Garcia and Gavin Guidry blanked the visitors from Columbia who, frankly, just aren’t very good offensively. Or otherwise.

LSU’s offense did show up.

The Tigers posted deuces in the third, fifth and sixth. Omar Serna bashed a two-run shot in the fourth. In the sixth, South Carolina shortstop KJ Scobey misplayed a tailor-made double play ball. Derek Curiel’s five-pitch walk loaded the bases for Cade Arrambide who mauled a ball to left-center that was caught banging up against the wall by Tyler Bak. It scored a run. Tanner Reaves’s opposite field single added to the LSU lead, but Curiel was ruled out at home after swatting the ball from the catcher’s mitt. It was the right call and was upheld on replay.

LSU’s rookies shined in the sixth. William Patrick scorched a ball to third that wasn’t handled and was ruled a single. Jack Ruckert hammered a single to right that was misplayed to allow Patrick to score. Mason Braun walked, and Serna plated the run with a fielder’s choice. In a season hanging on the brink, the young players are stepping up.

Ruckert’s RBI single in the seventh scored Reaves who walked to lead off the inning.

Gavin Guidry escaped a bases loaded jam in the eighth with a routine ground ball to erase any Gamecock hope.

LSU played good baseball over the weekend. They hit the ball hard and threw strikes. That can’t be ignored. Neither can South Carolina’s ineptitude. LSU had to have a sweep to keep things interesting, and they got it. Now Georgia and Florida remain, and those teams are in a different class than South Carolina.

THE SCORECARD

Zac Cowan: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 82 pitches, 60 strikes

Cade Arrambide: 3-for-4, RBI

Jack Ruckert: 2-for-4, RBI, R

LSU left 10 on base

LSU pitching walked just three and did not make an error

LSU outhit South Carolina 10-to-5

LSU got 6-of-8 leadoff hitters on. Three scored.

WHAT’S NEXT

One more midweek game remains. LSU hosts Tulane on Tuesday at 6:30. The Green Wave was swept at Charlotte over the weekend and is 23-26 on the season.