LSU wins a much-needed game against one of the top teams in the country and seemingly punches a ticket into the NCAA tournament.
LSU was on the brink of being the third straight defending national champion to not make the NCAA tournament the following season. However, the last two days have changed everything.
After an impressive first-round victory over Georgia on Tuesday, LSU took second-ranked Kentucky to school in an 11-0 run-rule victory to advance to the next round.
LSU’s 11 runs were its most since April 19 in a 12-1 victory over Missouri as well as the second time that LSU was able to score 10 or more runs against an SEC opponent this season. Eight of the 11 runs LSU scored came off of two grand slam home runs.
Although LSU’s offense looked like it had returned to its Gorilla Ball roots, starting pitcher Luke Holman was dominant on the mound for the Tigers. Holman (9-3) threw six scoreless innings while allowing no hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. He threw 100 pitches in the outing, 63 for strikes.
“Our guys were ready to play,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “Winning starts and ends on the mound. Again, I believe we have one of the best pitchers in the country in Luke, and he continues to prove that over and over again.
Kentucky starting pitcher Travis Smith (3-4) was charged with the loss, as he surrendered two runs on two hits in 1.0 inning with two walks and one strikeout.
First baseman Jared Jones and third baseman Tommy White each hit a grand slam, showcasing the Tigers’ strong offensive performance.
LSU made history as the first team to hit two grand slams in a single SEC Tournament game.
Shortstop Michael Braswell III started the game with a home run, earning two RBIs and scoring three runs. This was Braswell’s second home run of the season and his first since February 22 against Northern Illinois.
The Tigers extended their lead to 2-0 in the second inning when right fielder Ashton Larson doubled, advanced to third on catcher Alex Milazzo’s groundout, and scored on Braswell’s RBI groundout.
With Holman on the mound, LSU maintained its 2-0 lead through the sixth inning before erupting for five runs in the seventh. Jones hit a grand slam, his 23rd home run of the season, followed by designated hitter Hayden Travinski’s solo shot, his 15th homer of the year, extending the lead to 7-0.
Jones’ grand slam was the first by an LSU player in an SEC Tournament game since Blake Dean’s against Alabama in the 2008 tournament.
“Great at-bat by Jared,” Johnson said. “I thought he really did a good job of slowing the game down. I thought he saw the ball well throughout the day. He hit a couple balls hard before that, really good at-bats, and was in control of himself, and stayed with that at-bat with two strikes.”
In the eighth inning, White blasted a grand slam, his 24th homer of the year and his fourth career grand slam while in an LSU uniform, to give LSU an 11-0 cushion. The grand slam was his second in five days, as he also launched one in Saturday’s win over Ole Miss.