BATON ROUGE — A run-scoring balk in the seventh and a two-run homer by second baseman Clay Harris in the eighth broke a 6-6 tie, giving second-ranked LSU a 9-6 win over UL-Monroe in a wild game Tuesday night at Alex Box Stadium.
The Tigers improved to 4-0 on the season, while the Indians dropped to 2-2. LSU hosts Arkansas-Little Rock in a three-game series this weekend.
Designated hitter Blake Gill led all hitters at the plate and extended his hitting streak to 18 games, posting a 4-for-5 night with two runs and one RBI.
Junior southpaw Jason Determann (1-0) recorded the win in relief of starter Chase Dardar. Determann worked the final 4.1 innings, allowing no runs on three hits and fanning six.
Sophomore righty James Stephens (0-1) was tabbed for the loss, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned), including the critical run-scoring balk and homer.
For the second time this season, the Tigers trailed when UL-Monroe manufactured a 1-0 lead in the second. Centerfielder James Bennett lined a leadoff triple to the right field wall. Bennett came into score on Matt Miller’s sacrifice fly.
LSU countered with two runs in its half of the second. Nick Stavinoha delivered an RBI single and Derek Hebert’s RBI groundout gave the Tigers their first lead of the game at 2-1.
But just as LSU regained the lead, the Indians mounted a comeback of their own, drawing two walks and a single to load the bases on Dardar in the third. Third baseman Ty Rollinson then greeted Dardar by smashing a double to the left-centerfield gap that cleared the bases. UL-Monroe regained the lead with a 4-2 advantage.
The slugfest continued into LSU’s half of the third. Ryan Patterson doubled to leadoff the frame, and Gill’s RBI single extended his hitting streak to 18 games. Clay Harris’ double knotted the score at four. ULM starter Steve Lawler then balked in Harris, and Derek Hebert’s RBI single made it a 6-4 contest.
Dardar could not hold the lead for the second time, surrendering two more runs to the Indians in the fifth on Miller’s RBI double and Josh Morrison’s RBI single. With the score tied at six and UL-Monroe still threatening, Laval elected to go to Determann for the first time this season.
Dardar, making his first career appearance, left after allowing six runs (all earned) on seven hits. The junior transfer from Delgado Community College (New Orleans) also recorded six strikeouts and walked two.
It didn’t take Determann long to minimize the damage and do what he does best, forcing a foul-out on his first pitch to end the side.
In the seventh, Will Harris’ infield single gave the Tigers a promising start. Rhett Buteau came on to pinch-run for Harris, stealing second and reaching third on an errant throw by Morrison behind the plate. Three batters later, Sprowl drew a two-out walk, giving Patterson a chance to drive in his first RBI of the season. Facing an 0-2 count, ULM reliever James Stephens was immediately called for a balk, scoring the go-ahead run from third.
Clay Harris connected on his first homer of the season in the eighth, sending a two-run shot over the right field wall to give the Tigers a 9-6 lead they would not relinquish.
“They came out to play tonight,” said Harris, who finished the night 3-for-4. “I think we did a good job of answering them. It was a good win.”
Determann set down the final four batters of the game to notch the win.
LSU 9, Louisiana-Monroe 6 (Feb 15, 2005 at Baton Rouge, La.)
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Louisiana-Monroe…. 013 020 000 – 6 10 3 (2-2)
LSU………………….. 024 000 12X – 9 14 2 (4-0)
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Pitchers: Louisiana-Monroe – Lawler S; Jennings J(3); Fortenberry(4); Stephens J(6). LSU – Dardar; Determann(5).
Win-Determann(1-0) Loss-Stephens J(0-1) T-3:03 A-7418
HR LSU – Harris, C. (1).
Actual attendance: 3,207