BATON ROUGE — One week after losing its first in the 36-game history of the series between the two schools, the LSU baseball team defeated its crosstown rivals, the Southern Jaguars, 13-6, on Tuesday night in Alex Box Stadium.
The Tigers improved to 14-6-1 on the season. Southern fell to 11-4 in a game which was moved to Alex Box from Southern’s Lee-Hines Field. Tuesday night’s game was considered a Southern home game.
LSU was led offensively by leadoff hitter Ryan Theriot who was 3-for-3 with a walk, a double and a home run to go along with four runs scored and three RBI.
Wally Pontiff was also 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Bryan Moore added a homer and four RBI in a 2-for-6 performance. Johnnie Thibodeaux added a homer in a 1-for-2 outing with two runs scored.
LSU starter Bo Pettit (1-0) earned the victory in his first start of the season after returning from off-season shoulder surgery. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on two hits while striking out three and walking one.
Reliever Billy Brian was roughed up for four runs in 2/3 of an inning. However, Justin Hill put forth a fine performance to finish the final 3 1/3 innings without allowing a hit or a run while striking out five.
LSU took a 7-0 lead through two innings and never looked back. The Tigers would expand the lead to 12-2 before a four-run sixth by the Jaguars.
Southern starter Reginald Harold fell to 2-1 on the season after allowing 12 runs on 12 hits in five innings of work. He also walked five and struckout four. In the final four innings, Southern relief pitching allowed only one run on one hit while striking out three.
LSU returns to action on Friday evening at 7 when the Tigers play host to Florida in their Southeastern Conference home opener. The series continues Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at noon in Alex Box Stadium.