Tigers surge past Tulane

LSU erased a 4-3 Tulane lead Tuesday night with five runs over the final two innings as the Tigers posted an 8-4 win over the Green Wave at Turchin Stadium.

The Tigers’ 14-hit attack was paced by shortstop DJ LeMahieu, who drove in three runs with a single and a double, while designated hitter Blake Dean was 4-for-4 at the plate with a solo homer.
 
“I’m so happy for our players tonight,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “They competed hard, as they have all season, and tonight they were rewarded with a victory. We came through tonight with big hits with runners on base, and we made clutch pitches throughout the game. We have a lot of baseball left in this season, and I feel like this team will continue to improve and grow more confident.”
 
Third baseman Rob Segedin’s solo homer in the bottom of the second inning gave the Green Wave a 1-0 lead, but LSU (24-16-1) tied the contest in the top of the third on third baseman Michael Hollander’s RBI single.
 
Tulane (27-13-1) surged to a 3-1 lead in the fifth with a pair of runs as Segedin delivered a two-out, two-RBI single off of LSU starter Ryan Verdugo.
 
LSU rebounded to the tie the game at 3-3 in the sixth when Dean launched a solo homer and LeMahieu ripped an RBI double off of Tulane starter Robby Broach.
 
The Green Wave reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth as rightfielder Drew Allain doubled and scored on first baseman Sam Honeck’s double.
 
The Tigers responded with two runs in the eighth to grab a 5-4 lead against Segedin, who had moved from third base to the mound in the sixth inning. Dean doubled and rightfielder Derek Helenihi singled to give LSU runners at the corners with nobody out.  Catcher Micah Gibbs grounded out and first baseman Matt Clark struck out, but LeMahieu lined a single into right field to score Dean and Helenihi.
 
LSU expanded the lead to 8-4 in the ninth as Helenihi slapped an RBI single and Gibbs capped the inning with a two-run double.
 
LSU reliever Louis Coleman (3-0) earned the win as he entered the game in the sixth and worked 2.1 shutout innings. Coleman limited the Wave to four hits while recording one walk and two strikeouts.
 
LSU starter Ryan Verdugo turned in a solid outing, allowing four runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings with one walk and six strikeouts.
 
Segedin (0-1) was charged with the loss as he allowed five runs on six hits in three innings with one walk and three strikeouts.

LSU returns home tonight to take on McNeese State at 6:30 with South Carolina coming to town this weekend.