How it Happened: LSU hit three home runs and Tigers starting pitcher Anthony Eyanson allowed two runs over seven innings for his ninth win of the season in a 7-3 victory over South Carolina to take the series over the Gamecocks.
Magic Moment: LSU took control of this game in the 5th inning. The Tigers entered the 5th inning leading 2-1 and they loaded the bases with no outs. But Jared Jones grounded into a double play. It scored a run, but LSU fans were concerned they might miss out on a big inning.
LSU second baseman Daniel Dickinson than worked the count on South Carolina starting pitcher Dylan Eskew. During the at-bat, it looked like Dickinson was going to be called out for strike three, but the home plate umpire ruled the pitch a ball. Dickinson fouled off a couple of pitches after that before launching his 10th home run of the season and his second of the weekend. It was a two-run shot to cap a three-run inning, and it gave the Tigers a four-run lead.
Anthony Eyanson battles through 7 innings: Eyanson, who is one of the top strikeout pitchers in the country, only struck out five, which is an indication he didn’t have his best stuff. He also walked three, but got better as the game went on, which has been trait of his. Eyanson’s ERA on the season is 2.88.
Three relief pitchers were used. Mavrick Rizy got a ground out, Cooper Williams gave up a home run and Chase Shores got the last two outs.
Top Tiger hitters: Jake Brown continues to produce against right-handed pitchers. The left-handed hitter had three more hits on Saturday to up his batting average to .331. Brown also homered and doubled.
Jared Jones went 1-for-5 but hit his third home run of the series.
Derek Curiel went into Saturday hitless for the series, but had three hits and drove in a run on Saturday.
Shortstop Stevan Milam had a couple hits on Saturday and also walked. Milam was also hitless for the series, until Saturday. If Monster can get going in the postseason like he did last year, then this offense can really take off.
Postseason is here: Now the real fun begins. LSU went 19-11 in the SEC and they earned the 3-seed in the single elimination tournament. They will play on Friday night in Hoover, Alabama, against either Auburn, Mississippi State or Texas A&M. Auburn is the six-seed, so there’s a good chance they’ll play Auburn, who swept the Tigers earlier this season.
National Seed: Usually, 19 SEC wins are good enough to earn a Top 8 national seed. But LSU’s non-conference strength of schedule 221st in the country, leaves it a question mark on whether LSU has secured a Top 8 national seed.
If the NCAA Tournament selection committee decides six SEC teams are worthy of a Top 8 national seed, then LSU is definitely in.
There are five SEC teams that have a higher RPI than LSU and they all have something on their resume that LSU doesn’t.
Georgia is ranked number one in RPI, so they are likely a Top 8 national seed.
Auburn is the number two in RPI and swept LSU in the regular season.
Vanderbilt is number three in RPI and has two more Quad 1 wins than LSU.
Texas is the number four in RPI and won the SEC regular season title.
Arkansas is number five in RPI and has 20 conference wins, one more than LSU.
It would help if LSU can win a game or two in the SEC Tournament.
Comments