NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dominic de la Osa and Ryan Flaherty each drove in two runs Saturday to lead No. 1 Vanderbilt to a 6-2 victory over LSU at Hawkins Field.
The win completed a sweep of the three-game series for the Commodores (46-10 overall, 22-8 SEC), who claimed the 2007 SEC championship on Thursday with a 4-1 victory over the Tigers.
Vanderbilt will be the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament, which begins next Wednesday in Hoover, Ala.
LSU was eliminated from SEC Tournament contention earlier in the day when Tennessee defeated Florida, 11-7, and captured the eighth and final spot in the tournament.
LSU completed its season with a 29-26-21 overall mark, 12-17-1 in the SEC.
“We had hoped to extend our season into the SEC Tournament, but we fell short of that goal this weekend,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “I think the fact that we were still alive for a bid to the tournament on the final day of the season says a lot about the way our kids competed this year. I feel like in a lot of ways we overachieved this season and I’m very proud of our players for the effort they gave throughout the year.”
LSU took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Saturday as Chris Jackson singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Vanderbilt starter Cody Crowell. Jackson was sacrificed to third base by Michael Hollander, and he scored on Blake Dean‘s groundout to second.
Vanderbilt tied the game in the bottom of the first against LSU starter Jared Bradford as Alex Feinberg delivered a one-out single and later scored on a single by Ryan Flaherty.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the fifth inning when de la Osa launched a two-run homer to left field ? his 17th of the season ? giving the Commodores a 3-1 advantage.
LSU narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the eighth when pinch hitter Chris McGhee doubled, stole third base and scored on Hollander’s groundout to third.
The Commodores, however, struck for three runs on five hits in the bottom of the eighth. Feinnberg led off the inning with a double against Bradford, who was lifted for reliever T.J. Forrest.
Forrest gave up a bunt single to de la Osa before Pedro Alvarez drove in Feinberg with a bloop single into left field. Flaherty’s single through the right side scored de la Osa, and Ryan Davis gave the Commodores a 6-2 lead with another run-scoring single.
Vanderbilt closer Casey Weathers, who entered the game in the eighth inning, retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his seventh save.
Crowell (3-1) earned the victory as he allowed just one run on seven hits in seven innings with two walks and five strikeouts.
Bradford (10-4) was charged with the loss, surrendering four runs on six hits in seven innings with one walk and six strikeouts. Bradford, a junior right-hander from Hueytown, Ala., finished the season as LSU’s lead in wins (10) and saves (5). He recorded a win or a save in 10 of LSU’s 12 SEC victories this year.
“We’re going right to work to prepare for next season,” Mainieri said. “I’m excited about our incoming recruiting class and the players we have returning for next year. We’re looking forward to making LSU one of the nation’s prominent programs very soon.”
Vanderbilt 6, LSU 2 (May 19, 2007 at Nashville, Tenn.)
———————————————————————-
LSU……………….. 100 000 010 – 2 9 0 (29-26-1, 12-17-1 SEC)
Vanderbilt………. 100 020 03X – 6 10 1 (46-10, 22-8 SEC)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: LSU – Jared Bradford; T.J. Forrest(8).
Vanderbilt – Cody Crowell; Brett Jacobson(8); Casey Weathers(8).
Win-Cody Crowell(3-1) Save-Casey Weathers(7) Loss-Jared Bradford(10-4) T-2:51 A-2422
HR VU – Dominic de la Osa (17).
Bradford faced 1 batter in the 8th.