By Tiger Rag News Service
OXFORD, Miss. – Sophomore right-hander Alex Lange fired his second straight complete game Friday night to lead eighth-ranked LSU to a 6-3 win over No. 9 Ole Miss at Swazye Field.
LSU improved to 28-15 overall and 11-9 in the SEC, while Ole Miss dropped to 32-12 overall and 11-9 in conference play.
The teams will conclude the series at 11 a.m. CT Saturday in a game that will be televised by ESPN2. Saturday’s game can be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, and live audio and stats are available at www.LSUsports.net.
Lange (5-3) limited Ole Miss to three runs – two earned – on seven hits in nine innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. Lange, who also turned in a complete game last week versus Mississippi State, became the first LSU pitcher to record back-to-back complete games since Aaron Nola posted four in a row in 2013.
Catcher Jordan Romero led LSU’s 11-hit attack by going 2-for-2 at the plate with a two-run homer and three RBI.
“Alex Lange would not be denied tonight,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “He upped it another notch and showed what he is capable of being. We needed him desperately because of how we went into our bullpen yesterday. I’ve never seen a more determined athlete in my life. He put his team on his back.
“Offensively, I’m so proud of our approach at the plate. We have battled and done a great job. At the end of the day, we got it done and Alex was phenomenal.”
Ole Miss starter David Parkinson (2-2) was charged with the loss, as he surrendered four runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings with two walks and one strikeout.
LSU scored a run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Romero, but Ole Miss responded with a two-run homer by centerfielder J.B. Woodman, his sixth dinger of the season.
The Tigers tied the game in the second when designated hitter Bryce Jordan doubled and scored on a groundout to shortstop by third baseman Chris Reid.
Romero blasted a two-run homer – his seventh dinger of the season – in the third inning to give LSU a 4-2 advantage.
The Rebels narrowed the gap to 4-3 in the fourth on an RBI single by first baseman Will Golsan.
LSU scored two runs in the top of the sixth with the aid of an Ole Miss miscue. First baseman Greg Deichmann doubled and Reid walked before relief pitcher Connor Green made an errant throw on second baseman Cole Freeman’s sacrifice bunt, allowing Deichmann to score.
Reid later crossed the plate on a groundout by rightfielder Antoine Duplantis, giving LSU a 6-3 lead.
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