Rewind: LSU 10, Missouri 3
Cole Freeman had four hits, including a three-run homer, as LSU defeated Missouri 10-3 in a first-round game of the Southeastern Conference tournament at Hoover (Ala.) Metropolitan Stadium on Wednesday night.
HOW THEY SCORED
Missouri second inning – With one out, Kameron Misner hit a home run over the rightfield fence. MISSOURI 1, LSU 0
LSU third inning – Michael Papierski walked and scored on Zach Watson’s double. Watson advanced to third on a single by Kramer Robertson and scored on a sacrifice fly to the righfielder by Freeman. Robertson, who moved to second base on Freeman’s sacrifice fly, scored on a single by Antoine Duplantis. After Greg Deichmann popped out to the third baseman, Duplantis scored on a single by Nick Coomes. LSU 4, MISSOURI 1
LSU fifth inning – Robertson walked. Freeman reached on a bunt single. Roberson went to third and Freeman advanced to second on a throwing error by TJ Sikkema on the play. Robertson scored on a single by Duplantis. After Deichmann popped out to the second baseman, Duplantis stole second. Freeman scored on a ground out to the shortstop by Coomes. LSU 6, MISSOURI 1
Missouri eighth inning – Cam Brumfield reached on an error by the second baseman Freeman. Brumfield went to second base on a ground out to the first baseman by Trey Harris. After Robbie Glenndinning struck out, Brumfield scored on a single by Brett Bond. LSU 6, MISSOURI 2
LSU eighth inning – With one out, Papierski and Watson walked. Papierski scored on a double by Robertson. Freeman hit a three-run homer over the leftfield fence. LSU 10, MISSOURI 2
Missouri ninth inning – With two out, pinch-hitter Nelson Mompierre hit a home run over the rightfield fence. LSU 10, MISSOURI 3
KEY STRETCH OF GAME
After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning on Misner’s home run, LSU did not waste time in taking control of the game. LSU scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning with the key hit being a double by Watson which tied the score. Watson later scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Freeman. Duplantis and Coomes added RBI singles in the inning.
KEY TEAM STATISTICS
LSU outhit Missouri 11-8. LSU had three extra-base hits – two doubles and a home run. . .LSU stranded six runners – just two in scoring position. LSU was 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position. . .There were three errors in the game – two by Missouri. There were three double plays in the game – two by Missouri.
INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS
LSU
Cole Freeman: 4-for-4, 4 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 1 home run
Kramer Robertson: 2-for-4, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 double
Antoine Duplantis: 2-for-5, 2 RBIs, 1 run scored
Zach Watson: 1-for-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 double
Nick Coomes: 1-for-4, 2 RBIs
Michael Papierski: 0-for-2, 2 runs scored
Caleb Gilbert: 5 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
MISSOURI
Chris Cornelius: 2-for-4
Kirby Mcguire: 2-for-4
TJ Sikkema: 4.1 innings, 8 hits, 6 runs, 5 earned runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
LSU’S PLAYER OF THE GAME
Freeman had his second straight perfect day at the plate. After going 3-3 last Saturday at Mississippi State, Freeman was 4-for-4 against Missouri. He drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in his fifth plate appearance. Freeman had a bunt single which ignited LSU’s two-run fifth and hit a three-run homer in the eighth. The home run was Freeman’s second of the year. Freeman also had singles in the first and seventh innings.
Freeman’s comments: “Sticking to our approach at the plate was a big factor tonight. Sikkema was very deceptive. He had pretty good numbers and we took that on as a challenge. If we stick by that and execute, we have a good chance to win. Kentucky is a really good offensive team. We can’t have as many mistakes as we had tonight. If we throw the ball in the middle of the plate, they won’t miss. When we have guys on, we have to get them in.”
NOTES
LSU used its regular lineup. . .The top three hitters in the LSU batting order were a combined 8-for-13 – Robertson (2-for-4), Freeman (4-for-4) and Duplantis (2-for-5). Those three players scored a total of six runs. . .Every LSU player reached base at least one time. Beau Jordan, Josh Smith and Papierski were the only starters without a hit. . .Gilbert got the start after Todd Peterson was suspended one game for a violation of team rules. Gilbert, a native of Hoover (Ala.), won his fourth game of the year. . .Nick Bush threw two scoreless innings. He allowed three hits. . .Zach Hess and Matthew Beck each gave up a run in his one inning. The run off Hess was unearned. The run off Beck came on a home run by Mompierre. . .LSU’s defense flashed its leather in the third inning following a leadoff walk. The first baseman Coomes made a diving stop on a ground ball for the first out. Watson made a long run in centerfield to chase down a long fly ball for the second out. The third baseman Smith charged a slow-hit grounder and made an off-balanced throw to first base to end the inning. . .The victory was the 500th for coach Paul Mainieri at LSU. . .LSU is now 12-0 all-time against Missouri. . .LSU won its first game in the SEC tournament for a fifth consecutive year. . .LSU is 40-17 overall. LSU has won at least 40 games in each of the last six seasons. . .Missouri is 36-22. . .There was a rain delay of about one hour and 20 minutes in the bottom of the fifth inning. . .Alex Lange will be the starting pitcher against Kentucky on Thursday.
FROM THE LOCKERROOM
Coach Paul Mainieri’s comments: “It was good to get the 40th win of the year, I knew the key to the game would be the job Caleb Gilbert did for us. He pitched his heart out and I knew he would. He made great pitches and gave us a chance. These last three weeks, the story has been the bottom third of our order and what they’ve done. It has made us a really good balanced offensive team.”
UP NEXT
LSU will play Kentucky in a winners’ bracket game of the SEC tournament on Thursday at Hoover (Ala.) Metropolitan Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. Central. Kentucky beat South Carolina 7-2 in a first-round game Wednesday afternoon. The LSU-Kentucky game will be available on the SEC Network.