Labas shines, bats fire up late as LSU clinches series at Ole Miss
That’s a complete game from @AjLabas
10 H
2 R
1 BB
6 K
126 pitches
📺: SECN+ pic.twitter.com/V6aQ5Mkn9J— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) April 24, 2021
OXFORD, Miss. – LSU junior right-hander AJ Labas fired a complete game Friday night, and leftfielder Gavin Dugas smashed a grand slam to highlight a five-run ninth inning, as the Tigers defeated ninth-ranked Ole Miss, 7-2, at Swayze Field.
LSU improved to 24-14 overall, 6-11 in the SEC, while Ole Miss dropped to 27-12 and 9-8.
Labas (3-0) limited Ole Miss to two runs on 10 hits in nine innings with one walk and six strikeouts. His outing marked the first nine-inning complete game by an LSU pitcher since April 24, 2018, when Labas threw a complete-game shutout against Lamar.
Ole Miss starting pitcher Doug Nikhazy (4-2) was charged with the loss, as he worked six innings and allowed two runs – one earned – on seven hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts.
Labas and Nikhazy were locked in a scoreless duel until the top of the sixth inning, when the Tigers plated two runs. Dugas led off the inning with a double, and he advanced to third base on a single by third baseman Cade Doughty.
Dugas scored on a sacrifice bunt by centerfielder Giovanni DiGiacomo, and Doughty later scored on first baseman Tre’ Morgan’s RBI single.
Ole Miss narrowed the gap to 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth when leftfielder Kevin Graham unloaded a solo homer, his eighth dinger of the year.
Still holding a 2-1 lead entering the ninth inning, LSU erupted for five runs. Morgan led off with a single, rightfielder Dylan Crews was intentionally walked and third baseman Jordan Thompson bunted and reached safely on a throwing error by third baseman Justin Bench.
With the bases loaded, Dugas launched a pitch from Ole Miss reliever Jackson Kimbrell over the left field wall for his 11th homer and second grand slam of the season.
GAVIN! DUGAS! GRAND! SLAM‼️
LSU – 6
OM – 1
📺: SECN+ pic.twitter.com/xe7uqwkR9w— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) April 24, 2021
LSU second baseman Drew Bianco added an RBI single as the Tigers sent 10 men to the plate and seized a 7-1 lead.
The teams conclude the series at 12 p.m. CT Saturday in a game that will be streamed on SEC Network + and broadcast on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network.
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