Gausman Tosses Complete Game Win, 5-2

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sophomore right-hander Kevin Gausman fired his second consecutive complete game Friday to lead fourth-ranked LSU to a 5-2 win over top-ranked South Carolina in the first game of a doubleheader at Carolina Stadium.

LSU improved to 41-13 overall and 18-10 in the SEC. The Tigers are tied with Kentucky for first place in the overall SEC standings. South Carolina dropped to 38-14 overall and 17-10 in league play.

Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader will begin at 6 p.m. CT, and it will be televised by Cox Sports Television. The series concludes at 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT) Saturday, and the game will be televised by ESPNU.

Gausman (9-1) limited the Gamecocks to two runs on five hits in nine innings with two walks and six strikeouts. South Carolina left-hander Michael Roth (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing three runs on 10 hits in eight innings with four walks and four strikeouts.

Catcher Jordy Snikeris paced the Tigers’ 12-hit attack in Game 1 by going 2-for-4 at the plate with a two-run homer and three RBI.

LSU took  a 1-0 lead in the first inning when shortstop Austin Nola led off the game with a singled and later scored on a two-out single by Snikeris.

The Tigers increased the lead to 2-0 in the fourth when second baseman JaCoby Jones singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Casey Yocom and scored on an RBI single by centerfielder Arby Fields.

South Carolina narrowed the gap to 2-1 in the fourth on shortstop Joey Pankake’s RBI single,  but a solo homer by LSU first baseman Mason Katz in the top of the fifth gave the Tigers a 3-1 advantage. The homer was Katz’ 11th of the season and his second in consecutive games.

LSU increased its lead to 5-1 in the top of the ninth on a two-run blast by Snikeris, his second homer of the season.

Pankake’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth reduced the deficit to 5-2, but Gausman retired pinch hitter Kyle Martin with runners at first and second to end the game.