SHREVEPORT, La. — For the first time since 1956, the LSU baseball team was defeated by Centenary, dropping a 6-1 contest to the Gents behind a dominating complete-game outing from senior right-hander J.C. Biagi on a frigid Wednesday night at Fair Grounds Field.
LSU (9-2) had won the last 22 meetings between the two, dating back 48 years. In 1956, Centenary defeated LSU, 2-1, also in Shreveport. The Gents (4-5) won their second straight game and host the Centenary Classic this weekend.
After a four-game road swing, the Tigers (No. 2 ESPN/USA Today, No. 3 Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball) return home and host UAB in a three-game set, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Saturday’s contest is scheduled for noon and Sunday’s series finale is set for 1 p.m.
On Wednesday night, Biagi (1-0) kept the Tigers off balance, going the distance and allowing an unearned run on just two hits — LSU’s lowest output since being two-hit at Arkansas in 1997. He struck out six and walked one.
Senior right-hander Brandon Nall (0-1) suffered the loss in his first career start. Nall was lifted after surrendering four runs (three earned) on two hits in a two-inning stint. He walked three and struck out none.
Two of the six Gent hits on the night came from senior David Kiefer. Kiefer, who entered Wednesday’s game batting a team high .406, delivered a two-run double to highlight a three-run second.
In that frame, Nall’s three walks and a run-scoring wild pitch became his undoing as he was lifted an inning later, giving way to reliever Edgar Ramirez.
Tim Ryan’s sacrifice fly in the first scored the game’s first run.
LSU’s only real threat in the first half of the contest was in the second when Nick Stavinoha and Dustin Weaver reached on errors to start the frame. But LSU was unable to capitalize on the Gent mistakes as Biagi struck out the side in order.
Biagi finally surrendered a base hit to Quinn Stewart in the seventh, after working 6.1 innings of no-hit ball. In that frame, Will Harris reached on an error, while Stewart followed with his single to put runners at the corners with one out. Matt Liuzza’s sacrifice fly got the Tigers on the scoreboard, bringing home Harris with the unearned run.
It was the last scoring threat LSU posted as Biagi hurled a perfect ninth to complete his brilliant outing.
Centenary 6, LSU 1 (Mar 02, 2005 at Shreveport, La.)
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LSU……………….. 000 000 100 – 1 2 3 (9-2)
Centenary……….. 130 020 00X – 6 6 3 (4-5)
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Pitchers: LSU – Nall; Ramirez(3); Faircloth(5). Centenary – Biagi.
Win-Biagi(1-0) Loss-Nall(0-1) T-2:26 A-3805