BATON ROUGE — Sixth-ranked LSU erupted for 10 runs over the final three innings Friday night as the Tigers defeated Florida, 18-10, in Alex Box Stadium.
LSU (15-6-1, 2-2 SEC) and Florida (11-11, 0-4) will meet in Game 2 of the series at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Second baseman Aaron Hill’s solo homer in the bottom of the sixth inning narrowed a 10-8 Florida lead by one run.
The Tigers exploded for five runs in the seventh inning, as third baseman Wally Pontiff’s two-run homer — his third of the season — highlighted the uprising. LSU added four more runs in the eighth as Pontiff contributed a two-run single.
Pontiff, a sophomore from Metairie, La., finished 3-for-5 on the night with a triple, a homer and five RBI.
Left-hander Brad David (2-1), the last of four LSU pitchers, earned the win, as he worked the final three innings. David limited the Gators to no run on no hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Florida reliever Keith Ramsey (1-2) was charged with the loss, as he pitched 0.1 inning, allowing four runs on two hits with one walk and no strikeouts.