If tonight felt eerily familiar, you’re not alone: game two of LSU and Tennessee’s series followed practically the same exact script only this time around, LSU wouldn’t homer their way to another improbable victory.
The Vols (20-11, 4-7) held on to its 4-1 lead this time and evened the series against LSU (21-11, 5-6). The LSU offense was suffocated by Tennessee reliever Cam Appenzeller, who retired the final 15 batters that he faced. Appenzeller pitched the final five innings and only allowed one
hit against six strikeouts.
William Schmidt made his second consecutive Saturday start in place of the injured Cooper Moore and pitched pretty well. He allowed two runs over 5.2 innings and had seven strikeouts and three walks.
Schmidt was done no favors in the first inning by Zach Yorke, who Bill Buckner-ed a grounder that allowed Tennessee to score two runs.
LSU responded immediately after Yorke’s error, pushing across it’s one and only run of the night off a Chris Stanfield infield hit up the middle. The Tigers had their chance to do even more damage, but Yorke hit into an infield fly and Steven Milam, batting with the bases loaded and two outs, flew out to right field.
LSU’s last, best chance came in the fifth inning. Cade Arrambide led off the inning with a walk that ended up knocking Vol starter Teagan Kuhns out of the game, and Milam singled off of Appenzeller, but that ended up being the last base runner the Tigers would get for the night. After that, Jake Brown grounded out to second off the first pitch he saw, Omar Serna fouled out on the second pitch he saw, and Derek Curiel struck out looking. From that point on you and I may as well have taken some at bats for LSU, it’s not like we would’ve done any worse.
LSU went on the road, only allowed three hits and lost the game. As we’ve seen so more often than not this year, this LSU team doesn’t compliment itself very well: if they pitch well they can’t hit; if they hit, the pitching melts down; and of course the infield is shoddy defensively outside of Milam.
Tomorrow’s rubber match feels really important. There’s still a ways to go this season, but you’ll feel a lot better about these final six weekends at 6-6 in SEC games than 5-7. To do so, LSU is expected to turn to Gavin Guidry tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for noon. Sunday’s game may be streamed via SEC Network+.
