A day after its 15-run outburst on Friday, LSU baseball’s offense stalled for the bulk of its game on Saturday. When it came to life, it was just too little too late.
Sacramento State took down LSU, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon in a ballgame that was close and low-scoring for the majority, but woke up in the final few innings.
The difference for Sacramento State would come in the eighth inning. Leading 1-0, second baseman Cameron Sewell would belt a Jaden Noot pitch over the wall in right center field for a grand slam that put the game out of reach for LSU.
LSU starter Cooper Moore pitched into the fifth inning of his last non-conference appearance. The usually control-first righty fell victim to a tight strike zone on a day where his command was sub-standard. He walked three Hornets and hit two more with pitches across 4.2 innings.
These struggles didn’t hold him back entirely. He only surrendered one run and was able to strike out four Sacramento State batters. However, Moore failed to get support from his offense when he needed, and exited in line for the loss.
The LSU offense found itself unable to generate hard contact throughout the game. Even when the Tigers found ways on base through walks or hit batters, the inability to generate hits led to eight runners left on base.
The struggles continued what has been a weeks-long saga of a confoundingly poor LSU offense.
The fourth inning encapsulated these struggles. Left fielder Mason Braun walked with one out after a strikeout, then the LSU offense followed the walk with two more strikeouts to strand the tying run at first.
In the fifth inning, LSU was able to chase Sacramento State starter Kurt Marton from the game by getting runners on first and second with one out. The rally would be extinguished by lefty Sean Carey, striking out Jake Brown before inducing weak contact from Steven Milam to force the Tigers to leave the inning scoreless.
An LSU baserunner reached third base for the first time in the seventh. Pinch hitting, Eddie Yamin IV got plunked to reach base with one out. William Patrick would pinch run for Yamin, who would make it 90 feet from scoring after advancing on a wild pitch and a productive groundout.
Still, LSU would end the frame scoreless. Derek Curiel grounded out to end the frame.
Facing a five run deficit in the eighth, LSU began to articulate a response. Brown and Milam walked to start the inning, chasing Hornets pitcher Konner Entz.
Ian Winterhalder came in and couldn’t halt the rally. A Zach Yorke double that was roped into right and kicked out of play got LSU on the board. Milam would take home on a wild pitch with one out in the inning to cut the Hornets’ lead down to three.
With two outs in the inning, LSU would get a gift. Omar Serna Jr. hit a ground ball to third that was airmailed by Sacramento State third baseman Jakob Poturnak into the dugout. The error allowed Yorke to score and get the deficit down to two.
In the ninth, Daniel Harden led off the inning with a pinch-hit home run to the top of the stands in right field. The homer was his first of his LSU career, making it a one-run game with no outs.
The Harden home run would be the last run for LSU, and the rally would end up falling just short. Facing a new pitcher, Jake Brown reached base on a walk with one out. Milam walked to get the tying run aboard, which prompted another Hornets pitching change.
Trevor Wilson would come in for Sacramento State, and he struck out Yorke to push LSU to its last out. He would extinguish the LSU flame for good and secure the win, getting the next batter, Seth Dardar, to fly out to center.
LSU and Sacramento State will square off once more on Sunday, in what will now be the rubber match of the series. First pitch from Baton Rouge on Sunday is set for 1 p.m. CT.