In the first game of what is likely the hottest college baseball matchup this weekend, Arkansas won a pitcher’s duel against [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] after opening things up in the 10th inning of a 9-3 game.
Skenes had another great day on the mound as he held the Razorbacks to only one run on two hits, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in seven innings.
That run was scored against him in the top of the fourth inning when Tavian Josenberger hit a double, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly.
LSU came in with one of the best lineups in college baseball but Arkansas stifled them for seven innings. The Tigers were only able to muster four hits during that stretch.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, [autotag]Brady Neal[/autotag] hit a solo shot to left field to tie the game 1-1 and breathe life into a dormant offense. [autotag]Josh Pearson[/autotag] followed that with a single and that brought [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] to the plate. Crews reached on an infield single to shortstop. [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] fouled out for out number two. [autotag]Gavin Dugas[/autotag] walked to load the bases for [autotag]Tre Morgan[/autotag].
Morgan fouled out and the game remained tied 1-1.
LONG BALL BRADY@bradyneal16 | SECN pic.twitter.com/zEfFeqYcXc
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) March 24, 2023
[autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag] came in to pitch the eighth and ninth inning for LSU and he gave up one hit with three strikeouts. He allowed the leadoff hitter in the top of the ninth to get a single but he shut the next three batters down to give LSU a chance to walk it off.
All three Tiger batters struck out in the bottom of the ninth and we went to extra innings. After Shores gave up a leadoff walk in the top of the tenth, [autotag]Christian Little[/autotag] came in to pitch.
In the top of the tenth, Robinett hit a three-run homer to give the Razorbacks a 4-1 lead. Arkansas scored another run on a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1. Diggs followed that with a grand slam to make it 9-1.
Crews hit a two-run ‘Crews Missile’ in the bottom of the 10th to cut the lead to 9-3, but that is all LSU could manage as Arkansas took Game 1 of the series. Game 2 will be Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=611345007]
Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.
[mm-video type=video id=01gvkvgrr5rtvbwzhmed playlist_id=01eqbz5s7cf4w69e0n player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gvkvgrr5rtvbwzhmed/01gvkvgrr5rtvbwzhmed-97f2f37e54e6970ec6173ac60eec7812.jpg]