LSU opens SEC play with 4-2 win over Missouri

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Beau Jordan
BATON ROUGE – On the first night of SEC play, the LSU baseball team defeated the Missouri Tigers on Friday night at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field, 4-2.

LSU moves to 13-6 on the season while Missouri falls to 14-4.

The second game of the three-game set against Missouri will take place tomorrow at 6 p.m. CT.

Zach Hess pitched six strong innings for the Tigers, striking out eight batters over six innings of work and giving up two runs, as he earned the win. Nick Bush came in relief and pitched two scoreless innings before handing the ball over to Austin Bain in the ninth, who got the close.

Bryce Montes De Oca pitched six innings for Missouri and he suffered the loss. Montes De Oca pitched 12 consecutive balls to begin the game, loading the bases, as LSU was able to scratch across two in the first. He gave up three runs on seven walks and five strikeouts before being replaced by the third baseman, Brian Sharp, who came in and registered one out before being replaced by TJ Sikemma. Sikemma was replaced by Nile Ball who gave up one run in the bottom of the eighth.

On the first 12 pitches of the game by Montes De Oca, he walked Zach Watson, Brandt Broussard and Antoine Duplantis. On a 3-2 count, Austin Bain grounded into a fielder choice, allowing Watson to cross home plate and giving LSU the early lead. Later in the inning, with the bases juiced, Chris Reid drew a walk, allowing Brandt Broussard to come in and score to give LSU the 2-0 lead.

Missouri threatened in the top of the third when it got the bases loaded with two outs, but Zack Hess struck out cleanup hitter, Brian Sharp, to record his fifth strikeout of the game and maintain the shutout.

With one out in the bottom of the first, Beau Jordan hit a moon shot to left field, extending the LSU lead to 3-0.

Hess walked the first three batters of the seventh in and Nick Bush was brought upon to replace him on the mound. Chris Cornelius hit a sacrifice-fly to right field which plated Zach Hanna, putting Missouri on the board. Trey Harris then hit a high bouncer to LSU shortstop Hal Hughes, and the only play Hughes had was to across to first, allowing Mark Vierling to come home for Missouri.

LSU put runners on the corners after a leadoff triple by Broussard and a walk by Bain in the bottom of the sevent but the Tigers were unable to drive a run across.

In the bottom of the eighth, with two outs and Reid on third, Watson smashed a double down the left field line, the first hit with runners in scoring position for either team on the night, giving LSU a two run lead heading to the ninth. Bain was called upon to close the game out and he recorded two strikeouts, earning the save.

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