BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The LSU baseball team won its second straight Southeastern Conference Tournament game, 18-12, over Alabama Thursday night to advance to Saturday’s 10 a.m. game.
Billy Brian earned the win the game and improved to 5-3 on the season, but it was senior Trey Hodges who vaulted LSU to the victory. Hodges pitched 5 2/3 innings of relief without allowing a run while striking out five.
Hodges earned his first save of the season.
The two teams combined for 30 runs on 33 hits, one short of a SEC Tournament record. LSU had three costly errors in the contest.
LSU opened the game by scoring four runs on home runs by Ryan Theriot (solo) and Brad Hawpe (three run) in the top of the first.
After extending that lead to 6-0 in the top of the second, LSU gave up nine runs on seven hits and two Tigers errors in the third to fall behind, 9-6.
The Tigers bounced back in the top of the fourth with seven runs of their own. The inning was highlighted by an RBI double from Brad Cresse and two-RBI doubles by Pontiff and Harris to lead 13-9. Both teams would go scoreless until the eighth when LSU scored a pair of runs before picking up three in the ninth to seal the win.