BATON ROUGE — Clay Harris’ two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth pulled LSU into a 2-2 tie with Winthrop, and Matt Liuzza completed the comeback when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded as the Fighting Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Eagles with a 3-2 victory on Sunday at Alex Box Stadium.
LSU (11-6), which won its season high fifth consecutive game, will renew its rivalry with Tulane on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Zephyr Field in Metairie before opening Southeastern Conference play next weekend at home against Florida.
The comeback was all the more remarkable given the dominance of Winthrop senior left-hander Jeremy Plexico over the first 8 2/3 innings. Plexico, who played his first two years at South Carolina, allowed the Tigers only three hits and one runner to second base prior to the rally.
Plexico had a 2-2 count on Aaron Hill with two out in the ninth, but the Tiger shortstop coaxed a walk to bring up Harris, who was 0-for-3 with two fly outs and a pop-up. The sophomore third baseman fouled off Plexico’s first pitch, then launched a high fastball over the right-center field fence to knot the score at 2-2.
Ivan Naccarata follwed Harris with a double to right-center field just past the outstretched glove of Winthrop right fielder Daniel Carte, forcing Winthrop coach Joe Hudak to pull Plexico from the game and replace him with Kevin Slowey.
Slowey intentionally walked pinch hitter Blake Gill and then walked pinch hitter J.C. Holt on a full count to load the bases. Slowey did not throw a strike to Liuzza, as his 3-0 pitch hit the LSU catcher on the elbow to bring in Naccarata with the winning run.
The comeback made a winner out of LSU reliever Jason Determann, who did not allow a hit in two innings to win his first decision of 2003.
Winthrop scored the game’s first run in the fourth when Grant Neidenfeuhr scored on a double play ground ball by David Scoggin. The Eagles loaded the bases on walks to Neidenfeuhr and Jacob Dempsey, sandwiching an infield single by Carte.
Matt Repec’s one out single and steal of second in the fifth set up the Eagles’ other run, which came on Matt Matkovich’s RBI single.
LSU pitcher Jake Tompkins kept the Tigers close with one of his best outings of the season, striking out seven over seven innings.
LSU got two runners on in the eighth with one out on walks to Naccarata and Will Harris, but Liuzza struck out and Bruce Sprowl popped up to second base to end the threat.
Winthrop 000 110 000– 2 5 0
LSU 000 000 003– 3 5 0
Jeremy Plexico, Kevin Slowey (9) and Chris Leroux; Jake Tompkins, Jason Determann (8) and Matt Liuzza.
WP — Determann, 1-0
LP–Plexico, 2-3.
2B–Winthrop: Kyle Duff (2); LSU: Ivan Naccarata (2).
HR–LSU: Clay Harris (1).
T–
A–7,040 (paid); 2,705 (actual).