LSU designated hitter Cade Beloso and first baseman Hayden Travinski both blasted solo home runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel the fourth-ranked Tigers to a 7-4 victory over McNeese State inside Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
The Tigers (40-12) have posted back-to-back seasons with at least 40 wins for the first time since the 2016 and 2017 seasons. LSU finished last season with a 40-22 mark.
“Winning 40 games is a real credit to our players,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “We’ve got a lot more baseball ahead of us, but I want to pause for a second and appreciate our players for getting to that 40-win mark. It’s a big deal.”
LSU return to action Thursday for the final SEC series of the season at Georgia. The Thursday-Saturday series begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, and it can be streamed on SEC Network+. The matchup can also be heard on the LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates.
LSU left-hander Griffin Herring (3-1) was credited with the victory after relieving starter Blake Money in the top of the fourth. Herring tossed 3.0 innings, allowing only one run on one hit with two punchouts.
Tiger reliever Thatcher Hurd entered the game to record the final out and earned his third save of the season. He induced the final out of the game with a slow chopper to first base.
LSU scored in the bottom of the first with an RBI-double from third baseman Tommy White. The frame began with two straight outs before center fielder Dylan Crews reached on an error and White delivered the run-scoring for a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers added to their lead in the second inning without recording a hit.
First baseman Hayden Travinski stole home on a suicide squeeze attempt when the pitch got away from the McNeese catcher Andruw Gonzales. With a runner on third, catcher Alex Milazzo drove in a third run on an RBI groundout.
The Cowboys (32-19) tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning during a stretch with five straight singles. McNeese took its first lead of the night in the sixth following two scoreless innings. The visitors scratched the go-ahead run across on an RBI fielder’s choice from designated hitter Tre’ Obregon III.
LSU regained a 5-4 lead in the sixth with back-to-back dingers from designated Beloso and Travinski. Beloso launched his 10th of the season, and Travinski his sixth.
The Tigers extended their lead in the bottom of the eighth on a throwing error by the McNeese third baseman and a sacrifice fly provided by White. Milazzo reached on an infield single and Tre’ Morgan walked before Crews picked up his first hit, which led to the throwing error for a 7-4 lead after eight innings.
The Cowboys threatened in the ninth by loading the bases but Hurd was able to stave off the rally to close out the ballgame.
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