TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama used a three-run home run in the first inning by Beau Hearod and a complete game from Taylor Tankersley on Friday night to down LSU, 4-2, in a Southeastern Conference game played in front of a Sewell-Thomas Stadium of 6,590.
The Tigers (16-9-1, 5-1-1) suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since the first two games of its series at Long Beach St., and also fell out of first place in the SEC. The Crimson Tide (20-5, 5-2) broke an eight-game losing streak to LSU that dated back to the 2000 SEC Tournament.
The series continues on Saturday at 4 p.m. as part of Alabama’s A-Day festivities, which are highlighted by the Crimson Tide’s spring football game at 1 p.m. in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Tankersley, a sophomore left-hander, improved to 5-0 on the year and struck out eight in throwing his first career complete game, becoming the first opposing pitcher to throw a complete game against LSU this year.
LSU starting pitcher Brian Wilson gave up a leadoff walk to Travis Garner, and after a sacrifice bunt by Allen Rice moved Garner to second, Adam Pavkovich reached on an infield single in front of second base that LSU second baseman Blake Gill could not make an accurate throw on.
Hearod, a Louisiana native and former Tulane player, then put Alabama ahead 3-0 with a towering blast well beyond the left-center field fence, his team leading 10th home run of the year.
LSU left a runner at second following Clay Harris’ in the second inning before the Tigers finally got on the board in the third on Jon Zeringue’s leadoff home run, his third since being re-inserted into the starting lineup last Saturday.
Two batters later, Bruce Sprowl launched a shot over Hearod’s head to the right-center field wall, and as Sprowl was headed for what looked like an easy triple, the LSU center fielder tripped halfway between second and third and had to hold with a double.
The slip proved to be very costly, as the next batter, Ryan Patterson, grounded a single into right field, and Sprowl was thrown out at the plate by Hearod to keep the Crimson Tide lead at 3-1.
Harris’ second double of the game in the fourth moved Blake Gill to third following his leadoff walk, and Gill would score on a sacrifice fly by Quinn Stewart, although Gill had to slide and get his hand on the plate to beat the tag of Tide catcher Charlie Lyons to score.
LSU had its best chance to tie the game in the eighth, as a one-out single by Patterson and a walk to Aaron Hill put runners on first and second. But Ivan Naccarata grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out before Gill lined out to Pavkovich at shortstop to end the threat.
Alabama then proceeded to put the game away with a two-out RBI single by pinch hitter Ryan Beagle off of Tiger reliever Jake Tompkins.
Wilson fell to 5-3 and suffered his first loss since March 1 at Long Beach St, yielding four runs on seven hits in 7 2/3 innings.
Prior to the contest, Alabama observed two moments of silence–one for the United States and allied troops fighting in the war in Iraq, and the other for former LSU third baseman Wally Pontiff, who died last July 24 from a heart abnormality.
LSU 001 100 000– 2 8 0
Alabama 300 000 01x– 4 8 0
Brian Wilson, Jake Tompkins (8) and Matt Liuzza; Taylor Tankersley and Charlie Lyons.
WP–Tankersley, 5-0.
LP–Wilson, 5-3.
2B–LSU: Clay Harris 2 (8), Bruce Sprowl (4); Alabama: Zac Welch (9), Allen Rice (4).
HR–LSU: Jon Zeringue (4); Alabama: Beau Hearod (10).
T–2:37.
A–6,590.