For the third straight game, LSU took a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning, and a weary bullpen could not hold to two separate three-run leads, and LSU lost to Mississippi State on Sunday, 13-8, as the Bulldogs completed the sweep.
Wheels fell off in the 6th inning: LSU had an 8-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a three-run home run by Cade Arrambide, a two-run homer by Steven Milam, and a two-run homer by Omar Serna.
But Mississippi State erased a three-run deficit with a four-run sixth inning.
Tell me if you’ve heard this before when it comes to LSU pitching.
Mississippi State’s rally started with a lead-off walk, and it really got going with a throwing error.
Deven Sheerin, who threw 43 pitches on Friday, did not have it on Sunday. He came in as a reliever after Dax Dathe walked the lead-off man and started the next batter with a 2-0 count.
Sheerin would give up a base hit to put runners at first and second.
The next batter hits a tapper back to Sheerin, who panics after not handling it cleanly and throws it away while trying to get an out at first base. Two runners scored on that play.
Ace Reese had an RBI double to tie the game, and the go-ahead run came across on a fielder’s choice.
You knew after Mississippi State took the lead, LSU was not going to win. State would add two more runs in the 7th and 8th innings to win comfortably.
The series was doomed before it started: When LSU had to scratch Casan Evans because of arm discomfort before his scheduled start on Friday, it put the Tigers at a major disadvantage. They had to start Gavin Guidry, and they used a total of seven pitchers in an 11-inning loss.
Coach Jay Johnson went for the win that night, but they came up short, and then on Saturday and Sunday, they had to use low-leverage guys in high-leverage situations, and it didn’t work.
History you don’t want to make: LSU has lost 9 straight SEC games. That’s never happened in program history.
Freshmen position players were a positive: Because of injuries and ineffectiveness from older guys, the Tigers had to rely on four freshmen and two of them played really well.
Omar Serna had eight hits for the weekend and homered in all three games. 8-for-14 at the plate.
Mason Braun led off for the second straight game and had four hits on Sunday, including an RBI triple. Braun had seven hits for the weekend.
Jack Ruckert played solid defense at second base.
What’s next: LSU is now 6-18 and in 15th place in the SEC standings.
I really can’t believe I wrote that sentence. It’s just amazing how this season has gone unhinged.
Give the Tigers credit for really battling against a good Mississippi State team, but to be swept three consecutive weekends is just demoralizing.
LSU will host Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday and then host South Carolina at the Box this weekend. The Gamecocks are a bad team, too, so a chance to win a game or two for the Tigers.