ATHENS, Ga. — LSU overcame a two-run deficit in the eighth with three unanswered runs sparked by late inning heroics from freshmen Jordan Mayer and Michael Hollander to lead the fifth-ranked Tigers to an SEC series sweep over No. 17 Georgia, 6-4, at Foley Field on Sunday.
LSU (17-4 overall, 3-0 SEC) overcame a season-high four errors to earn its first SEC series sweep since April 2003 when the Tigers blanked Tennessee at Alex Box Stadium. The Bulldogs (10-9, 0-3) dropped their fifth straight contest.
Ironically, LSU’s last SEC road series sweep came in Athens when the Tigers took three games from Georgia in March 2003.
LSU will play its first of three games at Zephyr Field in Metairie against Southeastern Louisiana at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, before hosting Auburn in the SEC home opener at Alex Box Stadium next weekend.
Mayer, in his first SEC at-bat, delivered a pinch-hit double off of preseason All-American reliever Will Startup to knot the game at four apiece, while Hollander broke the tie with an RBI single. Clay Harris’ solo homer in the ninth provided the Tigers with an insurance run.
Junior Jason Determann worked the final 1.2 innings on Sunday to preserve the victory for Justin Meier (1-1), who earned the win in 1.1 innings of relief. Meier allowed one hit, struck out two and walked one during his stint.
Startup (1-1) suffered the loss, as he was tagged for four runs on six hits in three innings of work.
Greg Smith made the first SEC start of his career, going six strong innings, limiting Georgia to three runs (one earned) on seven hits, fanning two and walking one.
The Bulldogs grabbed an early lead for the third consecutive game, using the hit-and-run to their advantage on Clay Whittemore’s one-out opposite field single to right in the second, which scored Jason Jacobs.
The Tigers were presented with their first scoring threat in the third, but could not capitalize on three walks and an error. Starter Sean Ruthven’s pick off of Hollander proved to be significant.
LSU had played errorless ball all weekend entering the third, but Hollander’s boot on Josh Morris’ groundball led to two unearned runs when Bobby Felmy delivered a two-RBI single.
Ryan Patterson, hitting a stellar .714 on the weekend, got the Tigers on the board on an 0-2 single in the fifth, which scored Hollander.
Despite committing four errors on the day, the LSU defense erased a run when Nick Stavinoha reached over the right field wall to rob a solo homer from Joey Side in the fifth. The play, reminiscent of Ray Wright’s brilliant catch in the 2000 College World Series, kept LSU within striking distance at 3-1.
Ruthven left with a runner on and one out in the sixth, giving way to the talented Startup. Startup surrendered an 0-2 single of his own to Quinn Stewart, who moved to the Tigers to within a run at 3-2.
Then in the eighth, Startup was greeted by a leadoff double from Stavinoha and a walk to Matt Liuzza. Mayer entered the game as a pinch hitter and belted a two-run double down the left field line, plating both Stavinoha and Liuzza.
Three batters later, another freshman delivered for the Tigers as Hollander’s sharp single to left brought home pinch runner Chris Jackson.
Startup was chased in the ninth when Clay Harris, who was 2-for-13 on the weekend, smashed a solo homer over the right field wall, providing LSU with a critical insurance run.
Determann entered the game with one on and one out in the eighth. A 4-3 groundout by Jonathan Wyatt moved the tying run into scoring position with two outs, but the crafty southpaw froze leadoff hitter Josh Smith on an 0-2 curveball to leave the runner stranded.
Determann worked a perfect ninth to register his second save of the weekend and third of the season.
LSU 6, Georgia 4 (Mar 20, 2005 at Athens, Ga.)
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LSU…………….. 000 011 031 – 6 10 4 (17-4, 3-0 SEC)
Georgia…………. 012 000 100 – 4 8 1 (10-9, 0-3 SEC)
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Pitchers: LSU – Smith, G.; Meier(7); Determann(8). Georgia – Ruthven; Startup(6); Fields(9).
Win-Meier(1-1) Save-Determann(3) Loss-Startup(1-1) T-2:59 A-2801
HR LSU – Harris, C. (4).
Game: LSU320