BATON ROUGE — LSU first baseman Alex Edward recorded three hits and drove in a career-high three runs, and senior right-hander Ben Alsup fired six stellar innings to lead the 13th-ranked Tigers to a weekend sweep of Holy Cross with a 15-4 victory Sunday in Alex Box Stadium.
The Tigers (7-0) have scored double-digit runs in four straight games for the first time since 2009. Holy Cross dropped to 0-3 with the loss.
Edward finished 3-for-4 on the afternoon with a double and also scored three runs. Junior center fielder Mikie Mahtook blasted his team-leading fifth home run of the season and drove in three, while left fielder Trey Watkins contributed three RBI.
Alsup (2-0) posted his second victory of the season after allowing only one earned run and five hits.
“I was so happy to see Alex Edward have a big game today, because he’s a very good hitter,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “He got off to a bit of a slow start this season, but today was vintage Alex Edward. His two-run double in the second inning really set the tone for the game.
“As a team, I thought we came out with a lot of focus today and we had some great at-bats early in the game that allowed us to take a lead.”
LSU struck first in the bottom of the second with three runs to gain an early 3-0 advantage. Following a single by shortstop Austin Nola and a double by right fielder Mason Katz, Edward drove in a pair of runs on a two-bagger to left. Second baseman JaCoby Jones brought home the Tigers’ third run of the inning on an RBI single.
Mahtook put the Tigers up, 5-0, in the third after launching a two-run shot over the left field wall.
The Crusaders manufactured a run in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 5-1. Catcher Stephen Wadsworth scored on an RBI grounder by right fielder Patrick Fuentes. However, the Tigers took advantage of three Holy Cross throwing errors in the bottom of the frame to plate two more runs and take a 7-1 lead.
LSU broke the game open with a three-run fifth highlighted by an RBI double from Katz to seize a commanding 10-1 advantage.
Holy Cross scored a run in both the sixth and seventh innings, but LSU responded with a five-run seventh to extend its lead to 15-3. Watkins and pinch-hitter Joe Broussard each drove in two, while Mahtook notched another RBI on a single to center.
Junior right-hander Kirk Cunningham pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the game.
Holy Cross southpaw Nate Koneski (0-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering seven earned runs on eight hits in four innings.
LSU returns to action Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. CST when the team welcomes in-state foe Southeastern Louisiana to Alex Box Stadium. Junior right-hander Tyler Jones (1-0) will start the game on the mound for the Tigers.
Live video, audio and stats may be accessed in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net, while the game can also be heard on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network.
“Tuesday night will be a very big game for us,” Mainieri said. “Southeastern will be the best team we’ve played so far; they have a tremendous club that is off to a very hot start. I’m expecting a great crowd and a lot of excitement on Tuesday night.”
LSU 15, Holy Cross 4 (Feb 27, 2011 at Baton Rouge, La.)
Holy Cross………. 000 101 110 – 4 9 3 (0-3)
LSU……………….. 032 230 50X – 15 17 1 (7-0)
Pitchers: Holy Cross – Nate Koneski; John Colella(5); Vaughn Hayward(7) and Stephen Wadsworth.
LSU – Ben Alsup; Jimmy Dykstra(7); Kirk Cunningham(9) and Jordy Snikeris.
Win-Ben Alsup(2-0) Loss-Nate Koneski(0-1) T-2:52 A-10404
HR HC – Stephen Wadsworth (1).
HR LSU – Mikie Mahtook (5).
Weather: 82 degrees, sunny
Actual Attendance: 6,117
Koneski faced 2 batters in the 5th.