LSU baseball loses two 1-run games, drops series at Alabama
LSU baseball was just a couple of plays away from sweeping Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium this weekend.
But the Tigers (33-20, 10-17 SEC) stumbled in those all-important moments, or "tipping-point moments" as LSU coach Jay Johnson calls them, in Game 1 and 3 as the Crimson Tide won two, 1-run games as Jay Johnson's team dropped a crucial SEC series on the road.
Alabama (32-19, 12-15 SEC) rallied in the bottom of the ninth Friday night to take the series lead after the first game, an 8-7 win off an LSU error. LSU fired back to even the series Saturday night with a 6-3 victory before the Tigers, who fell behind 4-0 early Sunday, couldn't complete the comeback to lose the series finale, 4-3.
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LSU baseball's Game 3 struggles in SEC series continues
It feels like, even if the Tigers make the SEC Tournament field, that the probability of them staying a while in Hoover are slim. LSU has mightily struggled in the third game of SEC series this season, now 1-8 after dropping the game at Alabama Sunday, as it hasn't had a third steady starting pitcher all season.
The Crimson Tide loaded the bases against Samuel Dutton early, pushing three runs across in the second. They added a run the following inning after loading the bases again off Aiden Moffett. The Tigers have struggled to mount comebacks for much of the season and facing a 4-0 deficit on the road, it was too steep.
LSU managed six hits on the afternoon, four of those coming after the sixth frame, while eight different batters struck out at least once for 12 total strikeouts as Bama's Ben Hess dealt on the mound for 6⅔ innings.
Opponents have outscored LSU, 82-37 in Game 3's of SEC series.
Alabama cracks the code versus LSU standout reliever Griffin Herring
In the weeks and outings leading up to the LSU-Alabama series opener Friday, when Johnson called upon reliever Griffin Herring, it was nearly automatic that the sophomore left-hander closed down the game.
Coming in with a chance to give the Tigers a one game-lead in the series in Tuscaloosa, Herring threw a wild pitch which allowed a runner to later score in the eighth, followed by giving up back-to-back free bases, a walk and hit-by-pitch, in the ninth before a throwing error by Alex Milazzo allowed the Tide to plate the walk-off run.
The appearance was outside of how Herring has pitched during SEC play, as he only walked two batters before Friday.
LSU stars Tommy White, Jared Jones in right place as pressure mounts for Tigers
LSU star third baseman Tommy White had a great series at Alabama, driving in five runs while going 5-for-13. Behind him in the lineup, Jared Jones stayed hot, going 4-for-10 on the weekend with two RBIs and three runs.
Both of LSU's sluggers drove in runs in the eighth inning Sunday to propel LSU back into it.
Jones and White of late have been the engine for the Tigers' offense and they're going to need them if they're going to make their way back to the NCAA Tournament, which the Tigers are squarely on the bubble.
Where does LSU baseball stand in the SEC standings after Alabama series?
LSU's final regular season series against Ole Miss at Alex Box Stadium will bear plenty of weight. The Tigers haven't locked up a SEC Tournament spot. They need to win one game or have Missouri lose once against Kentucky next weekend to secure a berth in Hoover in a week-and-a-half.
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But LSU could also move as high as the No. 8 seed, which would take it sweeping Ole Miss and a handful of other teams getting swept in its final regular season series, so the odds are unlikely.
The Tigers will aim to win the series over Ole Miss (27-23, 11-15 SEC).
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU baseball loses two 1-run games, drops series at Alabama
