Rewind: LSU 5, Auburn 3
Both Michael Papierski and Zach Watson hit two-run homers as LSU defeated Auburn 5-3 in a Southeastern Conference game at The Box on Friday night.
HOW THEY SCORED
LSU third inning – With one out, Papierski walked and advanced to third base on a single by Watson. Papierski scored on a ground out to the second baseman by Kramer Robertson. LSU 1, AUBURN 0
LSU fifth inning – With one out, Beau Jordan singled and moved to second on a wild pitch by Keegan Thompson. After Papierski struck out, Watson hit a two-run homer over the leftfield fence. LSU 3, AUBURN 0
Auburn sixth inning – Jonah Todd and Daniel Robert singled. Robert was forced at second base on a ground ball to the third baseman by Conor Davis. Todd scored on a sacrifice fly to the rightfielder by Dylan Ingram. LSU 3, AUBURN 1
Auburn seventh inning – With two out, Jay Estes singled. Estes scored on a three-base throwing error by third baseman Josh Smith on Will Holland’s ground ball. Holland scored on a single by Todd. AUBURN 3, LSU 3
LSU seventh inning – Smith walked. After Jordan struck out, Papierski hit a two-run homer over the rightfield fence. LSU 5, AUBURN 3
KEY STRETCH OF GAME
LSU lost its three-run lead when Auburn scored a run in the sixth and two unearned runs in the seventh. However, LSU came right back to take the lead in its half of the seventh. Smith drew a leadoff walk from Thompson. After striking out Jordan, Thompson gave up a two-run homer by Papierski which put LSU back in front.
KEY TEAM STATISTICS
Auburn outhit LSU 9-7. All nine Auburn hits were singles. Two of LSU’s seven hits were home runs. . .LSU made the only error of the game, but it also turned double plays in each of the first two innings. . .Auburn stranded eight runners – four in scoring position. Auburn was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS
LSU
Zach Watson: 3-for-3, 2 RBIs, 1 run scored, 1 home run
Michael Papierski: 1-for-2, 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 1 home run
Jared Poche: 6.2 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 1 strikeouts
AUBURN
Jonah Todd: 4-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Jay Estes: 2-for-4, 1 run scored
Keegan Thompson: 7 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs, 5 earned runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts
LSU’S PLAYER OF THE GAME
Papierski was involved in two of the three innings in which LSU scored runs. He drew a one-out walk in the third and alertly moved to third base on a hit-and-run single off the third baseman’s glove by Watson. Papierski scored when Robertson grounded out to the second baseman. Then, Papierski broke a 3-3 tie with his two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh.
Papierski’s comments: “It was huge to come back and score right after Auburn tied the game. Once they score runs, you have to work your butt off to come right back at them. Josh Smith made an error (in the top of the seventh), but he didn’t hang his head. He worked that at-bat and got a walk against one of the best pitchers in the SEC. Then, I got a fast ball and I put a pretty good swing on it.”
NOTES
Jordan was the designated hitter. . .Papierski’s home run was his fifth of the year. He had hit a total of four home runs in the previous two seasons. . .Papierski and Watson, the bottom two hitters in the lineup, were a combined 4-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. The other seven LSU hitters had a total of three hits – singles by Robertson, Antoine Duplantis and Jordan. . .Duplantis’ single in the eighth inning gave him a five-game hitting streak. . .Thompson had given up four home runs in 69 innings this year prior the Friday’s game. He allowed two homers against LSU. . .Poche was in line to pick up his 36th career victory, but Zack Hess was unable to protect a 3-1 lead in the seventh. A two-out throwing error by Smith led to two unearned runs. Hess gave up a single to Todd which tied the score. Hess, who picked up his sixth victory of the season, gave up one hit and struck out two in the eighth. . .Hunter Newman, who recorded his eighth save, allowed a two-out single by Todd in the ninth. Newman struck out Robert to end the game. . .LSU is 34-17 overall, 17-9 in the SEC. LSU is in second place in the Western Division – one-half game behind Mississippi State. . .Auburn is 32-20 overall, 14-12 in the Western Division – 3½ games behind the Bulldogs. . .The paid attendance was 10,431. The actual crowd was about 5,800. . .Eric Walker will be the starting pitcher against Auburn on Saturday.
FROM THE LOCKERROOM
Coach Paul Mainieri’s comments: “We did a tremendous job against Keegan Thompson. He is always totally in control on the mound. Our players did a great job although we did not have a lot to show for it. We had a lot of good at-bats where we barreled up some balls. We hit a lot of balls right at people. Zach Watson came through with two big base hits. Obviously, his home run was enormous. He hit it off a curve ball where he usually struggles. After Auburn tied the game, Papierski came back with his big hit. He has really improved over the last half of the season. He got hot at the end of the season last year too. It was really a shame that Poche didn’t get credit for the victory. He met the challenge like he usually does.”
UP NEXT
LSU will play host to Auburn at The Box on Saturday in the finale of their Southeastern Conference series. First pitch is scheduled for noon Central. The LSU-Auburn game will be available on the SEC Network.