Errors doom Tigers once again in Sunday loss to Baylor at Shriners College Classic

LSU’s defense committed five errors in a 9-6 loss to the Bears.

Tigers fans, we have had this conversation last night and at many different times early in this season.

Errors are an issue that can cause you to lose a lot of ballgames, no matter how talented you are. While this LSU team has the talent to go all the way to Omaha, its biggest challenge is the man in the mirror.

The Tigers defense committed nine errors over the three games in Houston, Texas this weekend leading to a 1-2 finish after Sunday’s 9-6 loss to Baylor. But, I digress. Onto the recap.

Things started off well for LSU tonight as it scored two runs in the top of the first inning due to a Jacob Berry RBI double and a Cade Doughty sacrifice fly.

Grant Taylor got the start on the mound for the Tigers tonight, and Baylor didn’t waste any time jumping on his pitches as it scored in the bottom of the first to cut the lead in half.

Things got quiet in the second inning as no one scored, but in the bottom of the third inning, Riley Cooper came in for Taylor and the Bears proceeded to greet him with a two-run outburst to take the lead 3-2.

Both of the runs were unearned thanks to an LSU error. In the top of the fourth though, the Tigers took the lead back thanks to a Gavin Dugas two-run double and a Tre Morgan RBI single to make it 5-3 LSU.

In the bottom of the fourth, Baylor continued to attack Cooper as it scored another run off of an RBI triple. The ball was hit to right field and Berry made a diving attempt for it but came up short and the ball rolled all the way to the wall. So, in came Paul Gervase, who worked out of a bases-loaded jam to get the Tigers out of the inning with the lead.

Then, the LSU bats went silent and Baylor took full advantage in the bottom of the sixth when it scored three runs against Gervase to take a 7-5 lead. The Bears then added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to 9-5.

The Tigers pulled out a heroic effort to beat Oklahoma on Friday night. Did they have that in them on Sunday? Dylan Crews started off the inning with a pop-out, but Berry followed that with a solo home run to right field to cut the lead to 9-6.

Doughty and Brayden Jobert both got on base, meaning the tying run came to the plate with only one out. In stepped Jordan Thompson, the man who hit the walk-off against the Sooners. There was no repeat performance tonight, though, as he struck out looking.

With two down,  Josh Stevenson stepped up to the plate with a chance to either cut the lead down or tie it up. Sadly, he struck out looking as well.

Ballgame.

Gervase (1-1) was credited with the loss as the Tigers dropped to 9-3 on the season. Berry and Morgan led the Tigers at the plate as they both finished 2 for 4 on the night.

LSU returns to Alex Box Stadium on Tuesday night to play against the 8-4 McNeese State Cowboys. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST.

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