TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Shortstop Michael Hollander launched a two-out, three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning Friday night to lift LSU to a 5-4 victory over No. 25 Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
LSU improved to 16-11-1 overall and 2-4-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Alabama fell to 17-11 and 3-4.
The teams meet in Game 2 of the series at 6 p.m. Saturday. Freshman right-hander T.J. Forrest (1-1, 3.21 ERA) is LSU’s scheduled starting pitcher while Alabama will counter with senior right-hander Bernard Robert (3-3, 3.23 ERA).
Saturday’s game can be heard on LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge),and the game will be televised regionally by the Jumbo Sports Network (Cable Ch. 10 in Baton Rouge).
The audio broadcast can be heard in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.
“I thought our team should a lot of character tonight to come away with a great win,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “It was a gutsy effort by the entire team capped off by a tremendous clutch homer by Michael Hollander. Our kids have played hard this entire year, so I’m glad they were rewarded for that effort tonight. Hopefully, this will give our confidence a boost and we can continue to progress.”
LSU trailed 4-2 entering the ninth inning before the Tigers staged a dramatic rally. Alabama reliever Tommy Hunter walked third baseman J.T. Wise and pinch hitter Ryan Schimpf to start the frame.
Centerfielder Jared Mitchell fouled out to third base for the first out before second baseman Chris McGhee grounded out to second base, advancing the runners to second and third.
Hollander then drove Hunter’s 1-2 pitch just beyond the right-centerfield wall to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead.
LSU reliever Jared Bradford retired rightfielder Kent Matthes on a fly ball to left to start the bottom of the ninth, but Bradford then walked Matt Bentley and Brandon Belcher reached on an infield single.
Pinch hitter Del Howell moved the runners to second and third with a groundout to first base, but Bradford fanned pinch hitter Elvin Vargas to end the game and earn his third save of the season.
Hunter (2-3) was charged with the loss, as he allowed three runs on two hits in 1.2 innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
LSU left-hander Clay Dirks (2-1) — the third of four LSU pitchers ? was credited with the win as he gave up one run on one hit in one inning with no walks or strikeouts.
LSU starter Charlie Furbush and Alabama starter Miers Quigley engaged in a pitchers’ duel, as neither team had a hit in the first three innings.
The Crimson Tide got on the board first when centerfielder Emeel Salem led off the fourth with a solo homer, his fifth of the season. Matthes added another solo shot later in the inning to give Alabama a 2-0 lead.
LSU responded in the fifth when leftfielder Jordan Mayer unloaded a solo blast, his third homer of the year.
Alabama took a 3-1 lead in the sixth as the Tide scored an unearned run against Furbush. Hollander misplayed Matthes’ two-out grounder, allowing third baseman Jake Smith to score from third.
LSU narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the eighth on an RBI single by first baseman Sean Ochinko; however, Smith belted a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the frame to give the Tide a 4-2 advantage.
Furbush worked six innings, allowing three runs ? two earned ? on three hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
Quigley was charged with two runs on three hits in 7.1 innings with five walks and eight strikeouts.
LSU 5, Alabama 4 (Mar 30, 2007 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
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LSU……………….. 000 010 013 – 5 5 3 (16-11-1, 2-4-1 SEC)
Alabama…………. 000 201 010 – 4 6 0 (17-11, 3-4 SEC)
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Pitchers: LSU – Charlie Furbush; Nolan Cain(7); Clay Dirks(8); Jared Bradford(9). Alabama – Miers Quigley; Tommy Hunter(8).
Win-Clay Dirks(2-1) Save-Jared Bradford(3) Loss-Tommy Hunter(2-3) T-3:14 A-5462
HR LSU – Michael Hollander (3); Jordan Mayer (3).
HR UA – Emeel Salem (5); Jake Smith (5); Kent Matthes (7).
Furbush faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Cain faced 1 batter in the 8th.