LSU’s season ends with loss to Auburn

LSU Baseball

By Hunt Palmer

THE STORY

That was an unlikely exit.

LSU got two strikeouts overturned by ABS in the ninth and had the tying run on first base but couldn’t scratch a run. The Tigers lost 3-1 to Auburn to finish their season.

LSU pitched it great for the second straight day. That’s the unlikely part. The offense wilted against Auburn’s best arms, and shoddy defense cost LSU a run. The Plainsmen are moving on, and LSU’s season is over.

Casan Evans allowed an opposite field shot to Chase Fralick in the fourth. Eric Guavera crushed a hanging changeup from Zac Cowan for another in the sixth. Auburn took a lead in the fifth on a misplay by the LSU defense. With runners at first and second and two out, Chris Rembert chopped over the mound. Jack Ruckert gloved it and immediately and correctly looked at third where Brandon McCraine had overrun the bag.

Ruckert sped up and fired wide of the bag where there should have been an easy out. The ball got loose, and McCraine scored.

LSU’s offense never found traction.

Ace southpaw Jake Marciano blew by his suggested pitch count and threw 86 pitches in six one-run innings. LSU’s lone tally came in the fourth when Derek Curiel doubled to lead off the inning, and Steven Milam walked. Brayden Simpson bunted them over in front of John Pearson’s sac fly.

LSU only sent three hitters to the plate in the first, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. The best staff ERA in the league used its best two bullets, Marciano and Jackson Sanders, against LSU. It worked.

Conversely, Evans was fantastic. He commanded his changeup exceptionally well and struck out eight. He got ahead and threw hard. For some reason, that didn’t up often enough this year. He’s going to be a key cog next year, and outings like this will need to be more of the norm.

The Tigers finish 30-28.