LSU Pitchers Combine for One-Hitter in 6-0 Win Over Tulane

Nine LSU pitchers combined to throw a one-hitter on Tuesday as the top-ranked Tigers shutout the Green Wave 6-0 in Baton Rouge. The win secures the two game season series sweep of Tulane for the Tigers.

LSU Baseball Report/William P. Franques

LSU BLANKS TULANE, 6-0

BATON ROUGE, La.—The No. 1 ranked LSU baseball team (35-6) used a masterful performance from the pitching staff, allowing only one hit as the Tigers blanked Tulane (24-16) by a score of 6-0 on Tuesday night in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.

LSU returns to action against No. 2 Texas A&M Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. Thursday’s game will be televised by ESPNU, and it can be heard on LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates. Live stats and audio are also available at www.LSUsports.net.

Starting pitcher Austin Bain (1-1) earned his first win as a Tiger Tuesday night, going two innings and giving up one hit with no runs. Tulane’s Patrick Duester (4-4) was charged with the loss. Duester went five innings, allowing four hits and two runs with three strikeouts. LSU used nine pitchers, who combined to limit Tulane to one hit with eight strikeouts.

Tulane’s only hit of the game came on a two-out single in the second inning by centerfielder John Gandolfo.

“Obviously, the story of the game was the outstanding effort of our pitching staff,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “All nine guys who got into the game pitched very effectively, and that was great to see leading into this week’s series against Texas A&M. Tulane’ starting pitcher tonight was very effective with his change-up, and he had our hitters off balance. We were able to scratch across a couple of runs against him, and then we finally broke the game open later against their bullpen.”

In the bottom of the first inning, third baseman Conner Hale hit a two-out RBI double to left to score shortstop Alex Bregman, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

A failed pickoff attempt at first from Duester put second baseman Jared Foster in scoring position at third. On the next play, an RBI grounder by designated hitter Chris Sciambra brought in Foster for LSU’s second run of the game.

The pitching duel continued into the seventh where the Tigers found their bats, scoring four runs to pad their lead. First baseman Chris Chinea hit a solo shot to left-center, his sixth homer of the year, to give LSU a 3-0 lead.

Two batters later, Sciambra blasted an RBI single to right to bring in Foster, tallying the fourth run of the night. Hale delivered a two-out, two-run single to drive in Sciambra and Bregman, increasing the advantage to 6-0.