Errors Doom Eagles in 8th in Loss Versus LSU
4/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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METAIRIE, La. - LSU took advantage of two Southern Miss errors in the eighth which led to three runs as the Tigers rallied for an 8-6 victory over the No. 22 Golden Eagles at Zephyr Field here Wednesday night.
Ashley Graeter led the Golden Eagles (27-9) with four hits including a single to start a three-run eighth which gave Southern Miss its first lead since the opening inning. After a single by Kameron Brunty, who ended the night with two hits, Tyler Koelling was able to load the bases when LSU catcher Ty Ross' errant throw on his bunt was wild.
Marc Bourgeois tied the game for the Golden Eagles with a single through the right side, scoring both Graeter and Brunty. Koelling then scored one batter later on a RBI single from Jared Bales.
The Tigers, though, retook the advantage in the bottom of the frame as Collin Cargill entered the contest. After a walk and an infield single which Isaac Rodriguez threw past first to put runners on the corners, Ross hit one in front of home plate that the catcher, Bales, threw down the rightfield line which allowed two runs to score. Trey Watkins then finished the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
Cargill (4-3) suffered the loss by allowing three unearned runs on a hit and a walk, while LSU pitcher Matty Ott (1-2) threw the final two innings for the Tigers to get the victory.
Grant Dozar paced the Tigers with three hits and drove in three runs as LSU collected 12 hits. Rodriguez added three hits for Southern Miss, who tallied 15 in the contest.
A record crowd of 9,700 for the Wally Pontiff Jr. Baseball Classic saw the Golden Eagles take an early advantage when B.A. Vollmuth singled home Brunty, who led off the game with a double off the rightfield wall. Vollmuth, playing in his first game since straining a hip flexor last Tuesday night versus Ole Miss, finished the contest 1-for-5.
The Tigers (24-14) jumped on Golden Eagle starter Boomer Scarborough for two runs in the first as LSU tied the score with a bases-loaded walk and then went ahead for good on a Dozar RBI single.
Ross increased the lead to 3-1 in the second on a line drive for a homer to leftfield for his first of the season. Dozar then drove home a run in the third with single and then collected his second homer of the season in the sixth - a solo shot.
The Golden Eagles got RBI singles from Graeter in the fourth and Koelling in the sixth to complete the game's scoring.
The Golden Eagles return to action when they face Marshall in a three-game Conference USA set beginning Friday with a 6 p.m., contest at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field and conclude the set with a 2 p.m., and 6 p.m., doubleheader on Saturday.