Josh Pearson’s walk-off hit with the bases loaded gives LSU its most important win of the season so far.
After many missed opportunities by LSU to win themselves the game, left fielder Josh Pearson came through for the Tigers as his walk-off RBI single gave LSU a 3-2 victory over Auburn.
“My first thought was absolutely thank God,” head coach Jay Johnson said, describing how he felt after the hit.
It is the first walk-off win of the season for LSU with its last one coming in the College World Series against Wake Forest last season. It was also Pearson’s first walk-off hit since his freshman year when he drove in the winning run with a fielder’s choice grounder in the bottom of the 10th inning of LSU’s NCAA Hattiesburg Regional victory over Southern Miss on June 4, 2022.
After Auburn took an early 1-0 lead at the top of the third inning, LSU responded with back-to-back solo jacks by third baseman Tommy White and first baseman Jared Jones to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
However, Auburn would tie up the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning. after LSU pitcher Luke Holman threw a wild pitch, allowing a runner to score.
The game would be tied up until the ninth inning. One of the reasons why for the deadlock was due to great pitching on both sides.
Holman threw 113 pitches through 6.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.
Auburn’s best pitching performance came from relief pitcher Cam Tilly. Tilly, who came into the game in the sixth inning, pitched three scoreless innings with two walks allowed and seven strikeouts.
LSU’s relief pitcher, Gavin Guidry, entered the game with two outs. Despite falling behind 3-0 against his first batter, he persevered and managed to secure a strikeout. However, a wild pitch allowed the inning to continue as the runner advanced to first base. Undeterred by this setback, Guidry maintained his composure and struck out the following batter to end the inning.
In the seventh inning, Ackenhausen took over for Guidry with a runner on first base. He encountered early challenges by walking his first batter, placing two runners on base with only one out in a critical moment. Nevertheless, he regrouped and retired the next two batters before departing from the game due to a hamstring injury in the ninth inning.
This forced Thatcher Hurd to step in with a 2-0 count already against him. Fortunately for LSU, all it took was one pitch as Hurd forced a fly out to left field to retire the side and provide LSU with an opportunity for a walk-off victory.
“I trust those guys with everything,” Holman said about the bullpen.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, LSU catcher Alex Milazzo lined a single to center field on a 0-2 count. After pinch hitter Mac Bingham put down a sac bunt to advance Milaxzo to second base, right fielder Ashton Larson swung at the first pitch thrown to him and got himself a base hit. After White struck out, Auburn intentionally walked Jones to load the bases with one out.
This gave Pearson a chance to be a hero and he did as he sent a base hit deep into centerfield and over the head of Auburn centerfielder Chris Stanfield to give LSU the much-needed victory.
LSU improves to 28-16 overall and 7-13 in conference play. The Tigers won its second consecutive conference series, the first time it had done so since April 2023.
Auburn falls to 20-22 overall and 2-18 in SEC play.