AUBURN, Ala. — LSU pushed across three runs in the final two innings, while getting a masterful pitching performance from Nate Bumstead to edge Auburn, 3-2, in a thrilling rubber-match Sunday afternoon at Plainsman Park.
LSU (24-5, 6-3 SEC) clinched its series with Auburn, after falling, 7-6, on Friday night. Auburn dropped to 21-9 overall, 4-5 in league play.
LSU (No. 2 Collegiate Baseball, No. 3 Baseball America, No. 3 ESPN/Sports Weekly) returns to action when it renews its rivalry with Tulane in a game tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. The contest will be moved to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7 if the LSU women’s basketball team advances to the national championship game. The Lady Tigers face Tennessee in the national semifinals Sunday night at 6 p.m.
The two teams matched zeros for seven straight innings, and LSU did not record a hit off of Auburn starter Josh Bell until Ivan Naccarata reached on an infield single to start the seventh.
After Matt Liuzza reached on a fielder’s choice and Nick Stavinoha walked — the seventh by Bell on the day — Auburn head coach Steve Renfroe lifted the sophomore righty who gave way to reliever Michael Nix. Bell left after a superb outing, allowing one hit in 6.1 innings, while striking out four.
Nix needed just one pitch to end the frame, inducing a 6-4-3 double play ground ball off of the bat of Derek Hebert to retire the side.
LSU broke the scoreless contest in the eighth, picking up a run on Clay Harris’ two-out RBI single. Ryan Patterson dropped a one-out single into centerfield to end a 0-for-11 streak and then stole second.
Patterson moved over to third on Blake Gill’s groundout, leaving the RBI opportunity up to Harris. The Slidell, La. native capitalized lining a single in between third baseman Ben Maitland and shortstop Chuck Jeroloman to plate Patterson for his seventh RBI of the series.
The Tigers added two insurance runs in the ninth on Maitland’s throwing error that scored Ivan Naccarata and J.C. Holt’s RBI double.
Bumstead came out in the bottom of the inning to try to preserve the 3-0 lead for a complete game effort. The senior righty, with 97 pitches to his credit, had retired 18 straight batters before allowing a leadoff single to Sean Gamble to start the frame.
Auburn did not go quietly, cutting into the lead on a one-out, two-run homer by Clete Thomas – his first of the season. Josh Bell then singled, chasing Bumstead (5-0) who went 8.1 innings, surrendering two runs on five hits and striking out two in perhaps the most impressive outing of his career.
With the tying run on at first, the Tigers turned to Greg Smith who got Tug Hulett to ground out into a game-ending double play.
“I wanted to finish, but it was great to see Greg come on and close,” said Bumstead. “Overall, it was just a great ballgame from start to finish.”
Nix (1-2) recorded the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, while Smith recorded his first save of the season.
LSU — 000 000 012 – 3 4 0
AU — 000 000 002 – 2 5 3
WP – Bumstead (5-0)
LP – Nix (1-2)
SV – Smith, G. (1)
E – Bell (3), Maitland 2 (12); DP – LSU 2, AU 2; LOB – LSU 8, AU 3
2B – Holt (11); Gamble (11); HR – Thomas, C. (1)
SB – Holt (7), Patterson (2), Gill (2); CS – Holt (2) Time – 2:39 Att. – 3,881