BATON ROUGE — A six-run third inning provided enough support for freshman left-hander Wade LeBlanc, who hurled Alabama past sixth-ranked LSU, 8-2, in the first game of a Southeastern Conference series Saturday at Alex Box Stadium.
The Tigers fell to 32-12 overall, 10-9 in the SEC, while the Tide improved to 26-18 and 7-12.
Saturday’s scheduled second game was postponed due to heavy rain and lightning in the Baton Rouge area.
The teams are scheduled to play two seven-inning games on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. in Alex Box Stadium. There will be an approximate 45-minute break between games.
Fans are advised that their Saturday game ticket must be presented for admission to the first game on Sunday.
Sophomore right-hander Justin Meier (5-2, 3.46) is scheduled to take to the mound against freshman southpaw Brandon Belcher in the first game Sunday, while Nate Bumstead (6-2, 4.12) will oppose junior lefty Taylor Tankersley (2-2, 1.42) in the second contest.
LeBlanc (6-4), a native of Lake Charles, La., went the distance for his sixth complete game, allowing two runs (one earned) on just five hits. LeBlanc threw 116 pitches, fanned four and walked two.
LeBlanc fired a perfect game until the fifth inning, retiring 12 straight batters to start the contest. Jon Zeringue drew a leadoff walk to start the fifth, while Clay Harris followed with a run-scoring double that thwarted a shutout bid.
Meanwhile, the Tide tagged LSU starter Clay Dirks (8-1) for seven runs (four earned) on eight hits in 3.1 innings. Dirks suffered his first career loss.
With Alabama holding a 1-0 advantage, leadoff hitter Mark Haske doubled to start the third inning, igniting a six-run outburst for the Tide. Haske would come around to score on a throwing error by Dirks, the first of two errors committed by the Tigers. Zac Welch and Rocky Scelfo added two-run doubles.
Dirks was lifted in the fourth after surrendering consecutive singles to Evan Bush and Gabe Scott. He was relieved by Jordan Faircloth, who worked four straight scoreless innings, followin up an impressive performance in Tuesday’s 9-5 win over Tulane.
LeBlanc was effective throughout the game, allowing just one run over the last four innings to record the win.
Alabama 8, LSU 2 (May 01, 2004 at Baton Rouge, La.)
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Alabama…………. 016 000 001 – 8 12 0 (26-18, 7-12 SEC)
LSU…………….. 000 010 010 – 2 5 2 (32-12, 10-9 SEC)
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Pitchers: Alabama – LeBlanc. LSU – Dirks; Faircloth(4).
Win-LeBlanc(6-4) Loss-Dirks(8-1) T-2:26 A-7492