TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Right-hander T.J. Large fired a four-hit shutout Friday as Alabama defeated fourth-ranked LSU, 4-0, at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Alabama (21-8 overall, 5-2 SEC) remained in at least a first-place tie in the conference standings. LSU fell to 20-7 and 4-3 with its second straight league loss.
The teams resume the weekend series at 6 p.m. CST Saturday. The game can be heard on the LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge) and on the Internet at www.LSUsports.net.
Saturday’s game will be televised by the Jumbo Sports Network (Cable Ch. 13 in Baton Rouge).
Large (5-2) became the first Alabama pitcher to throw a complete game this season, limiting LSU to four hits with four walks and five strikeouts. The shutout was the first suffered by LSU since May 27, 2004, when Georgia defeated the Tigers, 1-0, in the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.
Alabama grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as the Tide scored an unearned run off of starter Lane Mestepey (5-3). Cale Iorg reached on a throwing error by second baseman Clay Harris, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Allen Rice and scored on a sacrifice fly by Evan Bush.
The Tide added a run in the fifth when catcher Kody Valverde led off the inning with his second homer of the season.
Alabama extended the lead to 4-0 in the sixth when left fielder Gabe Scott launched a two-run homer, his first blast of the year. Scott also extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a third-inning single.
Large, who threw 130 pitches, limited LSU to three singles and a double. The Tigers left seven runners on base, including four in scoring position.
LSU sluggers Ryan Patterson and Clay Harris saw their hitting streaks end at 15 games. Patterson was 0-for-2 (one BB, one HBP) and Harris was 0-for-3 with a walk.
Mestepey was charged with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits in seven innings with one walk and two strikeouts.
Alabama 4, LSU 0 (Apr 01, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
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LSU……………….. 000 000 000 – 0 4 2 (20-7, 4-3 SEC)
Alabama…………. 100 012 00X – 4 5 0 (21-8, 5-2 SEC)
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Pitchers: LSU – Mestepey; Ramirez(8). Alabama – Large.
Win-Large(5-2) Loss-Mestepey(53-0) T-2:06 A-4226
HR UA – Scott (1); Valverde (2).