TEMPE, Ariz. — Tiger first baseman Bryan Moore went 5-for-5 with two homers and three doubles to lead the Tigers to a record-setting, 15-7, victory over the third-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday afternoon in Tempe, Ariz.
LSU won its 10th straight game and improved to 12-2 in the 2001 campaign, while Arizona State fell to 13-4 after losing the first two games of the weekend series with the No. 2-ranked Tigers. The two teams will meet at 2 p.m. CST on Sunday in the final game of the series.
Moore tied LSU records for hits in a game — five, for the 25th time in school history — and double in a game — three, for the15th time in school history. Moore doubled in the second, hit two-run homers in the fourth and fifth, doubled in the sixth, walked in the eighth and hit a bases-loaded, three-RBI double in the ninth.
LSU tied a school record (for the 12th time) with four double plays in the game and had a chance to break the record in the ninth. However, a Trae Duncan throw sailed into over second base and into right field, spoiling the opportunity.
The Tigers scored double-figure runs for the sixth-straight game and pounded out 17 hits. Zeph Zinsman was 2-for-5 with his seventh home run of the season, and Wally Pontiff was 3-for-3 from the plate. Todd Linden‘s lone hit was the Tigers’ second grand slam of the series and his third of the season. David Raymer and Matt Heath each added two hits.
Despite a rough outing which included eight walks, Tiger starter Shane Youman earned the victory and improved to 3-0 on the season. The lefthander threw 6 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits, while striking out two. Billy Brian pitched an inning and allowed three runs on four hits, before Jason Scobie finished the game by allowing one unearned run in 1 1/3 innings pitched.
Eight Arizona State pitchers combined to give up 17 hits, eight walks and 15 runs (13 earned), as starter Andy Torres received the loss after throwing 3 1/3 innings.
LSU fell behind 2-1 in the bottom of the third, however, the Tigers took over the game with a pair of homers by Zinsman and Moore in the top of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead. The Tigers added two more tuns in the top of the fifth when Moore hit his second home run of the day.
Linden’s grand slam in the sixth scored Zinsman, Johnnie Thibodeaux and Ryan Theriot, and gave LSU a 11-2 lead. A bases-loaded double in the top of the ninth capped the perfect performance for Moore and scored Linden, pinch runner Billy McBride and Aaron Hill.