Observations from LSU's 6-4 win over No. 1 Texas A&M

Coming off two consecutive SEC series wins, the LSU Tigers hosted the Texas A&M Aggies for a weekend series.

Through two innings, it looked like A&M's bats were going to be too much for the Tigers to handle, but Gage Jump settled in and the offense found their groove in the later innings as they put the pressure on the Aggies.

This game came down to the wire, but the Tigers were able to escape with a 6-4 win over the No. 1 ranked Aggies.

Here were my observations from tonight's game:

Getting off to a fast start was a very important key for LSU in this game, but they weren't able to do that.

Right away, Gage Jump got a strikeout, but just two pitches later, Jace LaViolette hit a solo-homer to right field to get the Aggies out to a 1-0 lead in the first. In the bottom of the inning, LSU went three up, three down in 10 pitches.

In the top of the second, Jump allowed another solo-homer to Ali Camarillo which gave A&M a two-run lead. Once again, in the bottom of the frame the Tigers went three up, three down on just 13 pitches.

Through two innings, Jump had thrown 44 pitches to Ryan Prager's 23. so, not only were they down two runs, they were nowhere near getting Prager - A&M's best pitcher - out of the game.

After that poor start, the Tigers came back out in the third inning and put together a much needed two-run frame.

In the top of the inning, Jump retired the Aggies in order to put a zero on the scoreboard. After that, Steven Milam and Jake Brown drew a walk to put runners on first and second before Ashton Larson singled to load the bags with one out. Tommy White seemingly grounded into a double play, but an errant throw from the third baseman allowed two runs to score.

This game didn't look like it was going too well for LSU early on, but they put together a big third inning to keep themselves in it.

Gage Jump has been by far the best Tigers starter in recent weeks, and on Friday he gave another win-worthy performance.

Against one of the nation's top offenses, Jump threw 5.1 innings where he gave up three runs on six hits while striking out four batters. He gave up three homers, but all of them were with the bases empty.

By the time he exited the game, the Tigers trailed by just one run. After two innings, it looked like this thing might be ugly, but he kept them in it as long as he could.

He wasn't rewarded with the win, but it was a win-worthy performance in my book.

The Aggies took a one-run lead into the bottom of the sixth inning. With their starter still on the mound, it looked like it might be another rough inning for the Tigers, but the bats got hot.

Larson got the inning started with a single before he advanced to second and White reached on a fielders choice. A&M then made their first pitching change of the night, and four pitches later, Jared Jones singled to load the bases.

After another pitching change, Josh Pearson battled his way into a full count before taking a slider down the LF line which scored two runs, giving LSU a 4-3 lead. Right after that, Travinski hit a sac fly to center field which increased the lead to 5-3.

Braswell followed the sac fly by wearing a pitch, putting runners on the corners with one out, setting up a one-run single by Steven Milam, who was thrown out at second.

LSU turned a 2-3 deficit to a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to some much needed clutch at bats.

Once Jump exited the game, Fidel Ulloa entered and gave the Tigers 1.1 scoreless innings where he gave up just one hit before he handed the ball over to Griffin Herring.

Herring, who has been one of the top relievers in the country this season, had the game in his hands. LSU built a three-run lead and all he needed to do was get seven outs.

He entered and immediately got the first out to end the sixth inning. He came back out in the top of the seventh, and things didn't start too well. He gave up a single, but the runner advanced to second on a throwing error. After that he got a K, but the next batter singled to CF, which scored the runner from second to make it 6-4 with one out. He forced the next batter to ground one right at White, who then turned the 5-4-3 double play.

After a crazy turn of events where Travinski's solo homer was overturned for fan interference, the Tigers still led 6-4 heading to the ninth, meaning Herring had to hold the Aggies to one or no runs in the top of the ninth inning to secure a win over the No. 1 team in the country.

After working his way from a 3-0 count to a 3-2 count, Herring gave up a lead off single, and a wild pitch a few pitches later moved him to second. Luckily, Herring bounced back with a big strikeout and a fly out to put two outs on the board with a runner on second and the tying run at the plate.

Jace LaViolette came to the plate. He was 2-for-4 on the night with a homer and a double, but Herring forced him to ground out to second base to end the game...But wait, after review he is called safe, bringing Braden Montgomery to the plate with two outs.

Finally, Herring battles back to strike Montgomery out looking to secure the win.