LSU Advances, Downs Southern Miss In Baton Rouge Regional
The LSU Tigers have earned a spot in the Championship Round of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional.
The top-seeded Tigers downed the third-seeded Southern Miss Golden Eagles, 8-4, on Saturday evening at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
LSU scored three runs in the top half of the 8th inning, breaking open a tie game, to advance in the regional, leaving them one win shy of advancing to the Super Regionals.
LSU got on the scoreboard first, plating a run in the top half of the second inning, when Cade Beloso belted a solo home run, his 10th of the season, to give them a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers added three more runs in the top half 6th inning, when Beloso drove home a run with a sacrifice-fly, before Zach Watson clubbed a two-run homer, his 7th of the year, to widen their advantage to 4-0.
Southern Miss tied the contest, scoring four times in the bottom half of the 7th inning, courtesy of a grand slam home run off the bat of Matthew Guidry, to make it 4-4.
The Tigers took the lead for good in the top half of the 8th inning, scoring 3 runs on 3 hits, including a two-run single by Saul Garza, to give them a 7-4 advantage.
LSU added an insurance run in the top half of the 9th inning, when Josh Smith began the frame with a double, before later scoring on a wild pitch, to make it 8-4.
That would be all LSU would need, as they went on to the 8-4 win, and remain unbeaten in the Baton Rouge Regional.
LSU, who outhit Southern Miss, 13-5, was led at the plate by Beloso, who went 2-for-2 with a homer, two runs scored, and two runs batted in, along with Watson, who also homered.
Zack Hess (4-5) recorded the win on the mound for the Tigers, allowing only one run in 3.0 innings of relief .
Cole Henry was solid as the starter for the Tigers, throwing 5 shutout inns, while striking out 6 batters.
Cody Carroll (3-3) suffered the loss in relief for the Golden Eagles, allowing two runs over 1.1 innings pitched.
With the victory, LSU improved to 39-24 on the season, while Southern Miss fell to 39-20.
Arizona St. will play Southern Miss in an elimination game on Sunday at 2 pm, with the winner advancing to take on LSU at 8 pm.
If LSU wins, they will advance to Super Regional play.
If LSU loses, the Championship Game would be played on Monday at 3 pm.