LSU’s 23-game winning streak came to an end Saturday, as UC Irvine smacked the homestanding Tigers 11-5 in the first game of the final series ever at LSU’s Alex Box Stadium.
A Tony Asaro single plated two runs to give the Anteaters a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Going into the sixth, UC Irvine held a 3-1 edge and gets two aboard via the walk from a pair of Tiger pitchers. Sean Madigan then erases the Anteaters’ “small ball” image by depositing the ball over the right center fence to put Irvine up 6-1.
Three walks loaded the bases for the Tigers in the bottom of the sixth, and remained loaded when Leon Landry singled to bring home a run for LSU. With momentum fully on the side of the home team, the Anteaters regained control by ending the inning with the hidden ball trick at second for the third out.
Irvine pushed a pair across the plate in the second amidst a stadium full of boos left over from the previous inning’s hidden ball trick. Three more in the eighth, highlighted by a Brock Bardeen two-run shot gave the ‘Eaters an 11-2 lead and sent the Tiger faithful streaming into the parking lot. LSU scored three in the bottom of the eighth to end the scoring.
UC Irvine leads the best-of-three series 1-0. Game two is set for 3 p.m. CDT Sunday.
