How it happened: LSU’s pitchers walked nine Arkansas hitters, and at the plate the Tigers were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position in a 7-4 loss to the Razorbacks on Mother’s Day.
Turning Point: This game turned in the third inning.
But let’s first go back to the second inning. It looked like the Tigers were on their way to a series sweep as Luis Hernandez and Steven Milam each hit solo home runs to give LSU a 2-0 lead.
However, Arkansas responded with a three-run fourth inning off losing pitcher Casan Evans.
The rally started with a lead-off double by the number nine hitter Justin Thomas Jr. He would score on a sacrifice fly to cut LSU’s lead to one.
With two outs and nobody on, Evans walked Carson Boles, and then the Razorback hitters started to hit some rockets off Evans, scoring three runs after two outs.
LSU had a chance to respond in the bottom of the third inning as they loaded the bases, but Milam grounded into a double play.
Casan Evans: Statistically, it was Evans worst performance of the season as the freshman allowed four runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings. He also walked three. In his last two starts, Evans has walked six in seven innings. I wonder if Evans is starting to wear down during his freshman campaign, but LSU Coach Jay Johnson points to the caliber of competition.
Chase Shores: Shores started the first nine games he appeared in this season, and he’s now come out of the bullpen in his last five appearances. It’s taken him awhile to get used to the bullpen. Sunday was his best performance out of the pen as the tall right-hander allowed just one run in 3.1 innings. He walked just one and struck out 4. Shores can throw 100 mph, so it would be nice to see him replicate that kind of performance in Omaha.
Back of the bullpen: For the second day in a row, LSU’s back of the bullpen struggled. On Saturday night, Mavrick Rizy struggled and gave up three runs. On Sunday, Conner Ware and William Schmidt failed to do their job and keep it a one-run game going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Schmidt continues to struggle against SEC hitters.
Johnson ejected in the 8th inning. Coach Jay Johnson was ejected in the 8th inning for arguing balls and strikes. It looked like home plate umpire Brandon Cooper was going to call strike three on an Arkansas hitter, but when he didn’t, Johnson came out of the dugout.
“I told him he flinched, he missed it and you know you did and he ejected me and then I said you didn’t give me a warning and he said he gave our dugout a warning,” Johnson said.
What’s next: LSU heads into the final weekend of the regular season with a 17-10 SEC record. According to WarrenNolan.com, the Tigers have an RPI of seven. The Tigers will be at South Carolina for a series that starts Thursday. If LSU wins the series against a bad Gamecocks team, the Tigers should be a Top 8 national seed.
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