LSU was hitless through six innings on Sunday in Oxford, but three consecutive solo home runs started a seven-run rally to tie the game. But the Rebels pushed across the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh on their way to an 8-7 win over the Tigers.
It’s the fourth straight loss for LSU, which falls to 6-9 in the SEC. Ole Miss improved to 8-7.
Another Sunday comeback: LSU had scored 49 runs in three SEC games played on Sunday, so it was a bit shocking to see the Tigers fail to get a hit in the first six innings in the series finale against the Rebels.
Ole Miss starting pitcher Taylor Rabe was terrific, retiring all but two hitters through the first six innings.
LSU finally broke through in the 7th inning, as Derek Curiel led off the inning with a home run. Cade Arrambide followed Curiel and also hit one out of the park. Ole Miss changed pitchers, and Jake Brown homered off reliever Wil Libbert.
After the home run barrage, the rally kept going. Brayden Simpson, playing for the injured Seth Dardar, had a huge two-run single. Curiel had another RBI, and Eddie Yamin tied the game on a wild pitch.
But Ole Miss re-took the lead in the seventh inning. West Monroe native Hayden Federico singled through the right side off of Marcos Paz. A play that first baseman Mason Braun and Simpson could not make.
Paz who went to cover first base, got in the way of Federico as he made the turn at first base, and Federico was awarded second base because of interference.
Devin Sheerin entered the game and two batters later gave up the winning hit.
LSU pitching: Grant Fontenot started, and it didn’t go well. Fontenot recorded one out and allowed two runs. Gavin Guidry followed Fontenot and allowed five runs in three innings to boost his ERA to 6.59.
In Ole Miss’s first 12 SEC games, the Rebels scored 48 runs, averaging four runs per game.
In the LSU series, they scored 26 runs, averaging nearly 9 runs a game.
LSU’s team ERA is 4.95. Third worst in the SEC.
Injuries: Coach Jay Johnson said Trent Caraway was not available this weekend because of a cut on his finger, which prevented him from throwing.
Left fielder Chris Stanfield suffered what is suspected to be bruised ribs when he crashed into the wall.
Seth Dardar did not play in the series opener because Johnson said his injured ankle worsened over the weekend.
Good news…. there’s a chance LSU gets starting pitcher Cooper Moore for the Texas A&M series.
Halfway point: LSU is 6-9 in SEC play and in 12th place in the conference. Hard to believe, considering the expectations.
The schedule in the second half is tougher than in the first half.
Texas A&M is coming into the Box this weekend. They are coming off a series victory over rival Texas. LSU will visit Mississippi State the following week. The Bulldogs have an outstanding weekend rotation like the Rebels.
LSU will host South Carolina during the first weekend of May. The Gamecocks are playing better since they fired Paul Mainieri, and USC is coming off a sweep of Missouri.
LSU finishes the regular season against two of the best teams in the league, Georgia and Florida.
Thirteen is the magic number. Thirteen SEC wins are usually good enough to get you in the NCAA Tournament.
But if LSU loses this upcoming series to the Aggies, it will become a real concern that LSU will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011.
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