BATON ROUGE — Right fielder Brian Bogusevic’s two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning broke open a close game, while relievers Billy Mohl and Daniel Latham shut down LSU in the final three frames as No. 1 Tulane defeated the fifth-ranked Tigers, 6-2, in front of 6,297 fans at Alex Box Stadium on Tuesday night.
LSU (11-4) dropped its fourth game out of the last eight contests. The Green Wave improved to 14-1, winning its sixth straight contest and second consecutive game at Alex Box Stadium.
For the second straight game, LSU outhit its opponent, collecting 12 hits to Tulane’s 10, but the Green Wave manufactured the timely hits. The Tigers left a season-high 13 runners stranded, including eight of those who were erased in scoring position.
Sophomore Brandon Gomes (2-0) earned the win, allowing two runs and scattering nine hits. The righty walked one and struck out three.
Junior Justin Meier registered the loss (0-1) in his first start since the 2004 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional opening game versus Army. Meier went five innings, surrendering four runs on just three hits. He walked three and struck out five.
Blake Gill drilled his first homer of the year, highlighting a 2-for-5, two RBI night for the senior playing in his ninth LSU-Tulane showdown.
The Tigers tagged Gomes hard in the second but were unable to scratch across any runs. After Nathan Southard’s brilliant grab on Clay Harris’ deep fly ball to centerfield, Nick Stavinoha and Bruce Sprowl collected consecutive singles. Will Harris then ripped Gomes’ 1-2 offering right at Southard to retire the side.
The Green Wave manufactured their first run without collecting a hit. Meier issued a hit batsman and a walk, allowing Matt Barket to pick up an RBI ground out.
Scott Madden, who entered the game with a team-high .467 average at the plate, then launched a two-run homer into the left field bleachers, extending the lead to 3-0.
Another terrific defensive play in the bottom of the third got Tulane out of a bases-loaded jam. Nick Stavinoha looked to have a sure double down the left field corner, but third baseman Brad Emaus made a diving stop on Stavinoha’s hard liner and stepped on third to leave all three runners stranded.
LSU got on the board in the fifth, and for the second consecutive game the rally was sparked by Ryan Patterson. Patterson doubled to leadoff the frame, bringing Gill to the plate. Gill then launched a two-run homer over the scoreboard onto Nicholson Drive to bring the Tigers to within a run at 3-2.
Tulane earned a run back in the top of the sixth when pinch-hitter Will Rice singled sharply to left off of Jason Determann, who had relieved Meier after one batter in the inning.
Determann allowed seven hits and a two-run eighth highlighted by Bogusevic’s two-run single.
“They are a good offensive baseball club,” said LSU head coach Smoke Laval. “You usually don’t see Determann give up seven hits like that, but he still made some key pitches.”
Offensively, the Tigers continued to hit the ball hard, but Tulane