LSU Wins Double-Header to Take Series from Alabama
5/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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» Game 1 Box Score
» Game 2 Box Score
BATON ROUGE, La. - LSU designated hitter Nick Stavinoha singled down the first base line with two outs, just under the glove of outstretched Zac Welch, driving in the game-winning run and dashing the Tide's best hope for its first Southeastern Conference series win of the year in the first game of Sunday's double-header.
LSU broke through on the Crimson Tide pitching staff in the series' rubber match, scoring nine runs on 11 hits, while Alabama's bats never revived after Saturday's timely outburst. Although the Tide managed ten hits in game three, four of them came in the final inning, with Alabama trailing by eight runs. LSU also benefited from three double-plays in the 9-2 game three win.
Brandon Belcher (3-5) started the second game of the day, working three and one third innings in the losing effort. He gave up seven hits and five runs (four earned) while issuing two walks and striking out three LSU hitters. Alabama used five pitchers in the seven inning game, four who saw action in the sixth inning. Nate Bumstead picked up the win for LSU in a complete game effort, improving his record to 7-2 on the year.
The game one walk-off single came in the bottom of the eighth inning, which was scheduled for seven innings according to SEC rain-out rules. Seth Johnson, who came on in relief after Taylor Tankersley walked the first batter of the inning, recorded two outs before allowing the game-winning hit.
Unlike Saturday's game, the Crimson Tide bats couldn't provide any run support to back up the solid Sunday morning pitching effort. LSU starter Justin Meier scattered eight hits in seven and two third innings, and the Tide stranded seven men on base. Jason Determann (3-3), who faced two batters in relief work, picked up the win for the Tigers.
Tankersley, who started the game, worked seven innings, giving up two runs off three hits while walking six batters in the losing effort. Tankersley's record dropped to 2-3 on the year.
Alabama's only run in the game came in the first inning. The Tide loaded the bases with one out, but after a Michael McCalister strikeout, Bama only managed one run on Matt Grooms' RBI single to right field. Evan Bush was cut down trying to score from second by a perfect relay to end Alabama's threat.
LSU evened things in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit, as two walks issued by Tankersley and an error by third baseman Evan Bush loaded the bases. Clay Harris grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Patterson for the Tiger run.
Tankersley's control problems kept him working from the stretch most of the day, but the Junior from Vicksburg, Miss. was able to work his way out of trouble in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings before exiting the game in the eighth with a 122 pitch-count.
Tankersley's pitched his way out of bases loaded jam in the fourth inning. After giving up a double to Jon Zeringue and walking Clay Harris, Tankersley got two flyouts, then issued another base on balls. Tankersley got out of the inning on a 2-2 groundout by LSU's No. 9 hitter Blake Gill.
In the sixth, he worked out of another jam after getting two outs in the inning. Tankersley walked Ivan Nacarrata then gave up a double to Stavinoha, which nearly cleared the right field wall. Will Harris' groundout to Evan Bush ended the inning without any damage, however.
After a leadoff double by Blake Gill in the seventh, J.C. Holt popped up a bunt, Ryan Patterson struck out and Mark Haske made a clutch pickup behind second base from the shortstop position to keep the ball in the infield, then fire to first, barely beating LSU's Matt Liuzza.
Alabama hosts a three game set with the Florida Gators at the Joe next weekend. First pitch for the series is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday night
Game Notes:
** Alabama has now lost 10 straight Southeastern Conference series', dating back to a three-game sweep of Arkansas on April 25-27 last season.
** The Crimson Tide has dropped 11 straight SEC series' on the road, dating back to 2003, and hasn't won a series at Alex Box Stadium since 1996.
** Evan Bush, Gabe Scott and Matt Grooms hit safely in both games of today's double-header, extending their respective current hit-streaks to seven games.
