Alabama
LSU
Baseball Team Drops Opener at No. 6 LSU, 12-5
4/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 16, 2010
BATON ROUGE, La. - No. 6 LSU scored nine runs in the first three innings, including a five-run second inning burst, en route to a 12-5 win over Alabama in the Southeastern Conference series opener at Alex Box Stadium on Friday night.
After spotting Alabama a 4-1 lead in the top of the second inning, LSU answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 6-4 lead. Blake Dean, who hit two home runs in the game, smacked a three-run home run to right field off UA starter Adam Morgan with two outs to put the Tigers ahead for good.
LSU (28-6, 9-4 SEC) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Austin Nola's first home run of the season.
Alabama (22-13, 5-8 SEC) responded with four runs in the top of the second inning to take a 4-1 lead, highlighted by sophomore center fielder Taylor Dugas' bases-loaded double.
Junior second baseman Ross Wilson started the rally with a one-out base hit to left and junior DH David Kindred and senior third baseman Jake Smith followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases. LSU starter Anthony Ranaudo struck out UA freshman right fielder Andrew Miller for second out before junior catcher Brock Bennett legged out an infield hit to score Wilson from third base to tie the game at 1-1. Dugas followed with a bases-clearing double down the left field line to score two runs and Bennett scored on an error by LSU left fielder Johnny Dishon to give the Tide a 4-1 lead.
The lead was short-lived as the Tigers answered with a big inning of their own to take a 6-4 lead. Tyler Hanover drove in the first run with a ground out and Mikie Mahtook's RBI triple made it a 4-3. Dean capped the inning with a three-run home run to right to put the Tigers up 6-4.
LSU (28-6, 9-4 SEC) added three more runs in the third inning to chase UA starter junior left-hander Adam Morgan. Matt Gaudet and Leon Landry opened the inning with back-to-back singles to end the night for Morgan, who had his shortest outing of the season.
Junior right-hander Brett Whitaker replaced Morgan and allowed two straight RBI singles to Tyler Hanover and Grant Dozar as LSU extended its lead to 8-4. Dishon's sacrifice fly scored Hanover to put the Tigers up 9-4.
Morgan (4-2) allowed a career-high eight runs and seven hits in two-plus innings for his second consecutive loss.
"Obviously the game centered on the starting pitching," Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard said. "Tonight, we were able to get a lead early and got the big hit by Dugas and they answered right back with a five-spot and we never got into a pitching rhythm in the first part of the game and they were able to kind of put the game away. Offensively, we had some opportunities to start chipping away at it, but could not deliver the big hit."
Ranaudo (2-0), who labored through the first three innings, went six innings for his second win of the season. He allowed four runs and five hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.
"He is outstanding and one of the best guys in the country and he wasn't real sharp in the first two or three innings and we had some opportunities there and did not take advantage and once he settled he was able to take them through the middle part of the game."
Dean added his second home of the game to lead off the fourth inning and extend the LSU lead to 10-4.
LSU padded its lead with two more runs in the sixth inning. Micah Gibbs drove in one run with an RBI single and Dean scored to make it 12-4 when Gaudet hit into a double play.
Alabama scored its final run in the ninth when Dugas and Rutledge collected back-to-back singles off LSU reliever Jordan Rittiner. A pair of ground outs moved both runners around the bases, with Clay Jones driving home pinch-runner Matt Taylor from third to make the final 12-5.
Rittiner picked up his second save of the season as he worked the final three innings for the Tigers. He allowed one run and five hits.
Townsend worked the final 4 2/3 innings for Alabama and added six strikeouts, both season highs to save the UA bullpen for the final two games of the series.
"The encouraging thing for Jason (Townsend) is that it allowed us to not to have to use any other guys in the bullpen, which may help us later in this series," Gaspard added. "Now we can use those guys the next two days and not have to come out and log innings tonight."
Alabama and LSU will play game two of this three-game SEC series on Saturday, April 17, at 7:07 p.m. (CDT). Junior right-hander Tyler White (15 G, 3-2, 2.82 ERA) will make his first career start on the mound, while LSU will counter with right-hander Joey Bourgeois (9 GS, 3-1, 6.16 ERA), who will be making his SEC-leading 10th start.
GAME NOTES
*Alabama and LSU combined for nine runs in the second inning, all with two outs. The Crimson Tide scored four runs in the top of the second, highlighted by sophomore center fielder Taylor Dugas' bases-loaded double. LSU answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame, capped by Blake Dean's three-run home run.
*Alabama has scored 15 of its last 17 runs with two outs, including all five runs in Friday's loss at LSU. The streak dates back to the sixth inning against Samford on April 13. The Crimson Tide scored eight of its 10 runs with two outs in the win at No. 23 SE Louisiana on Wednesday.
*Alabama held a 4-1 lead in the second inning on Friday night and has led in all seven SEC road games this season.
*Sophomore center fielder Taylor Dugas went 3-for-5 with two RBI against LSU on Friday. It was his team-leading ninth three-hit game of the season.
*Junior right-hander Jason Townsend gave the Tide a solid effort out of the bullpen, working a season-high 4 2/3 innings with a season-high six strikeouts.
*Junior shortstop Josh Rutledge had a seventh inning single and has hit safely in all 16 games Alabama has played away from Tuscaloosa this season.
*Freshman Brett Booth collected a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning and is 2-for-2 this season as a pinch hitter.
