NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Freshman left-hander Mike Minor limited LSU to two runs on five hits in 7.2 innings Friday night, leading top-ranked Vanderbilt to a 6-2 victory at Hawkins Field.
Vanderbilt, which clinched the SEC championship Thursday with a win over LSU, improved to 45-10 overall, 21-8 in league play.
LSU dropped to 29-25-1 overall, 12-16-1 in the SEC. The Tigers still have an opportunity to claim the final berth in next week’s SEC Tournament. LSU must defeat Vanderbilt on Saturday, while Tennessee and Kentucky must both lose their respective games for the Tigers to qualify.
Tennessee plays at Florida on Saturday while Kentucky plays host to Auburn.
LSU and Vanderbilt conclude the series at Noon Saturday in a game televised regionally by the Jumbo Sports Network. Saturday’s series finale can also be heard on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network and in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.
Minor (8-1) fired 114 pitches in his 7.2 innings of work Friday night, allowing a pair of runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
LSU has collected just nine hits and three runs in its two losses to the Commodores.
“We just have not been able to mount a consistent attack against Vanderbilt’s pitching,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “I feel like our players are competing well, but we’re not getting hits at the right time. We still have an opportunity to make it into the SEC Tournament, so we’ll come out tomorrow with everything we have to try to win the game.”
LSU junior right-hander Jared Bradford (10-3, 4.35 ERA) will start Saturday’s game on the mound for the Tigers. Vanderbilt will counter with junior left-hander Cody Crowell (2-1, 4.60 ERA).
Vanderbilt grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning Friday against LSU starter Ryan Byrd when shortstop Ryan Flaherty singled and scored on left fielder Matt Meingasner’s triple.
LSU tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth when first baseman Sean Ochinko walked and scored on third baseman’s J.T. Wise‘s triple.
Minor and Byrd remained locked in a pitchers’ duel until the sixth, when Vanderbilt pushed across three runs.
Right fielder Dominic de la Osa led off the frame with a home run, his 16th of the season. Third baseman Pedro Alvarez singled and Ryan Flaherty walked before Meinsgasner sacrificed both runners into scoring position.
Byrd was lifted from game for reliever Paul Bertuccini, who issued a walk to catcher Shea Robin to load the bases. Bertuccini then hit pinch hitter Ryan Davis with a pitch to give the Commodores a 3-1 advantage.
Vanderbilt increased the lead to 4-1 when Flaherty scored on first baseman Andrew Giobbi’s fielder’s choice groundout.
LSU center fielder Jared Mitchell launched his third homer of the season in the eighth inning, a two-out blast to right field to cut the deficit to 4-2. Minor was replaced on the mound after Mitchell’s homer by right-hander Ty Davis, who fanned Wise to end the inning.
Vanderbilt added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth as Ryan Davis delivered a two-run single against LSU reliever Nolan Cain.
Ty Davis retired the side in order in the ninth to record his first save of the season.
Byrd (6-2) was charged with the loss as he surrendered four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
Vanderbilt 6, LSU 2 (May 18, 2007 at Nashville, Tenn.)
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LSU……………….. 000 100 010 – 2 5 0 (29-25-1, 12-16-1 SEC)
Vanderbilt………. 010 003 02X – 6 10 2 (45-10, 21-8 SEC)
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Pitchers: LSU – Ryan Byrd; Paul Bertuccini(6); Louis Coleman(7); Shane Ardoin(7); Nolan Cain(8)
Vanderbilt – Mike Minor; Ty Davis(8).
Win-Mike Minor(8-1) Save-Ty Davis(1) Loss-Ryan Byrd(6-2) T-3:21 A-2453
HR LSU – Jared Mitchell (3).
HR VU – Dominic de la Osa (16).
Ardoin faced 2 batters in the 8th.