LSU collapses in 9th inning again, drops revenge game vs. Louisiana Tech

I wrote an article earlier this week discussing how the LSU starting pitchers had an awful 10.88 ERA last weekend against Texas A&M. Coach Jay Johnson said he was going to reevaluate the whole pitching staff to try and solve the issue.

As far as Thursday night’s rematch against Louisiana Tech, who won in Ruston earlier in the season, goes, the problem was still a huge issue in a 7-6 extra-innings loss in Baton Rouge.

Will Helmers got the start on the mound for LSU and he only pitched one inning while giving up five hits, four runs, two walks and two strikeouts. That equals an ERA of 36.00 for tonight.

Trent Vietmeier came in to replace him, but at that point, the Tigers were down 3-0 with the bases loaded. The Bulldogs scored another run on a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0 after one inning. After that, everyone settled down until the bottom of the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Tre Morgan hit a two-RBI double that scored Tyler McManus and Gavin Dugas to cut the lead in half.

That was followed up by Dylan Crews hitting an RBI triple to score Morgan and cut the lead to 4-3.

Jacob Berry then reached on a throwing error and got an RBI as Crews scored to tie the game at 4-4.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Morgan came up clutch again as he hit an RBI single to score Dugas and give LSU their first lead of the ballgame. In the bottom of the eighth, Dugas hit an RBI single to score Jordan Thompson and make it 6-4 LSU as we headed to the treacherous final inning.

Paul Gervase stayed on the mound for the ninth inning and the first batter he faced reached base on a throwing error. Eric Reyzelman was called out of the bullpen to pitch after that sequence. He proceeded to walk the first batter he faced.

So, Louisiana Tech had runners on first and second with no one out in the top of the ninth. A wild pitch moved both runners to second and third base with no outs still. Reyzelman walked the current batter and bases were loaded for the bulldogs.

He walked the next batter to score a run and make it 6-5 Tigers. He was then replaced by Devin Fontenot who got a double play against the first batter, but a run scored in the process to tie the game at 6-6. He then struck out the next batter.

LSU was retired 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth and it was time for free baseball in Baton Rouge. In the top of the 12th inning, Ty Floyd walked home a run with the bases loaded to give Tech a 7-6 lead. In the bottom of the twelfth, LSU had runners on second and third with two outs and Jobert struck out to end the game.

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