LSU offense erupts Sunday in 16-4 win over Sam Houston State

ROUND ROCK, Texas – Top-ranked LSU scored 16 runs on 23 hits Sunday afternoon to win the sixth and final game of the 2023 Round Rock Classic, 16-4, against the Sam Houston Bearkats at Dell Diamond.

With LSU’s lead eclipsing 11 or more, the Tigers were awarded the Round Rock Classic championship belt. Due to three teams finishing 2-1 on the weekend, run differential became the determining factor. Comparatively to Iowa and SHSU, LSU’s run differential against those two teams was greater than either the Hawkeyes or Bearkats versus the other 2-1 squads.

Round Rock Classic Champions pic.twitter.com/dGo9iVzTJn

— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) February 27, 2023

LSU moves to 6-1 on the season and SHSU falls to 5-3 on the year.

A slew of relievers entered the game for LSU including Garrett Edwards, who was awarded his first victory of the season. He finished the night tossing 3.1 innings while giving up one run on four hits. The trio of Bryce Collins, Griffin Herring, and Blake Money threw a combined 3.2 innings and held the SHSU offense to three runs on one hit.

Freshman Chase Shores got his second start of the season, firing a solid two innings and giving up no runs on three hits.

LSU opened the scoring in the first by blitzing the SHSU starter Logan Hewitt (1-1) with a two-run home run from right fielder Brayden Jobert. Centerfielder Dylan Crews gave Jobert the RBI opportunity with a single through the left side. LSU led 2-0 after one

Hewitt threw two innings and gave up eight runs on nine hits.

The Tigers added eight runs over the next two innings, which included a five-run second. LSU first baseman Jared Jones got it started with a double down the left-field line. Shortstop Jordan Thompson drove in Jones with an RBI single. With Thompson and second baseman Gavin Dugas occupying a base, Crews smoked a double down the left-field line scoring both Thompson and Dugas.

LSU’s Jobert punctuated the inning with another two-run dinger to right field, scoring Crews and pushing the margin to 7-0.

Jones began the third inning with the Tiger’s third home run of the game, which gave LSU an 8-0 lead. After two singles and a passed ball, Crews came up to bat and popped one up on the infield. The first baseman misplayed the ball, allowing two runs to score. LSU’s lead increased to 10-0 after three.

In the top of the fourth, left fielder Tre’ Morgan singled and Jones walked with Thompson heading to the plate. He poked a single through the right and SHSU right fielder Clayton Chadwick misplayed it, allowing Morgan and Jones to score easily. Thompson wound up at third, and LSU’s lead sat at 12-0 after four.

The Bearkats would respond in the bottom half of the fourth with four straight free passes and a two-RBI single. SHSU cut the lead to 12-3.

LSU made it a 10-run game again in the top of the fifth after Crews smoked a double into the left-center field gap and Jobert’s third hit of the day drove in Crews from second. The Tigers led 13-3 after five.

The Tigers would add three more down the stretch, while the Bearkats added one to account for the final margin.