The LSU Tigers fell to the Ole Miss Rebels 2-0 on Saturday in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. LSU fell short of winning its 13th SEC Tournament championship.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Ole Miss got on the scoreboard first as Will Furniss hit a two-out solo home run off of LSU’s Jaden Noot in the top of the first inning.
Noot settled down after that, striking out two hitters to start the second before walking and then hitting a batter to put two on the basepaths. He got out of that jam as he was able to get Luke Cheng to ground out.
In the top of the third, Noot got the leadoff hitter to strike out, but then walked the next batter. He got out of that by getting Furniss to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Noot wasn’t as fortunate in the fourth.
Isaac Humphrey hit a one-out single through the right side and then advanced to second on a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt. Campbell Smithwick would then hit a single into right field that allowed Humphrey to cross home plate.
LSU’s bats were silent early and often in Saturday’s semifinal.
The Tigers didn’t record their first hit until the bottom of the third when Cade Arrambide hit a single into left field, and then Chris Stanfield followed with a single through the left side. LSU was unable to capitalize on the base runners as Derek Curiel struck out and Jared Jones flied out to end the inning.
Ole Miss threatened again at the top of the sixth.
Chase Shores walked leadoff hitter Furniss, but then struck out the next two Rebels he faced. Furniss did advance to second on a wild pitch, and then Smithwick was intentionally walked. Shores got Austin Fawley to ground out to end the threat.
LSU tried to mount a rally in the bottom of the ninth as Ethan Frey drew a two-out walk and then advanced to second base and third base. Josh Pearson, who pinch hit for Steven Milam, flied out to end the inning and the game.
BIG NUMBER: 15
LSU was held scoreless in Saturday’s semifinal loss to Ole Miss, but the Tigers’ scoreless streak in Hoover was much longer. LSU didn’t plate a run in the final six innings of Friday’s quarterfinal win over Texas A&M. That means that Jay Johnson’s team went 15 straight innings without scoring a run at the SEC Tournament.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: CHASE SHORES
Shores pitched very well in relief duty on Saturday. He went two and two-thirds innings, gave up zero runs on zero hits while walking three and striking out three.
UP NEXT: LSU (43-14) will find out if it will receive a Top 8 national seed for the NCAA Tournament. The Top 16 national seeds will be announced on Sunday night. The full 64-team field, first-round regional pairings, and site assignments will be unveiled at 11 a.m. on Monday.
