LSU baseball dominated by No. 2 Vanderbilt in series opener

The LSU Tigers dropped to 17-9 on the season and 1-6 in SEC play after a 13-1 loss to Vanderbilt in Baton Rouge on Thursday.

The LSU Tigers dropped to 17-9 on the season and 1-6 in SEC play after a 13-1 loss to Vanderbilt in Baton Rouge on Thursday.

The No. 2 Commodores jumped on LSU right-hander Landon Marceaux in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to increase their lead to 5-0. Vanderbilt followed that inning with another four-run inning, and the game was suddenly 9-0.

Marceaux would depart in the sixth inning after giving up nine hits and nine runs — eight of which were earned — in 5.1 innings. He was charged with the loss and fell to 2-3 on the season.

LSU used three pitchers in the game, allowing a combined 17 hits, four walks and three wild pitches.

The Tigers scored their only run in the bottom of the sixth inning when freshman right fielder Dylan Crews singled to drive in first baseman Tre Morgan.

After the game, LSU coach Paul Mainieri was dejected.

“It certainly was a disappointing night; Vanderbilt has a great ball club, and they took advantage of every opportunity that we gave them,” said Mainieri.

“We take a lot of pride in wearing the LSU uniform and in representing the great legacy of this program in the best way possible, so we’re going to come out tomorrow and give it everything we have to compete at a high level.”

The Tigers host the Commodores again on Friday in game two of the series. LSU faces Vanderbilt sophomore right-hander Jack Leiter, one of the top pitchers in all of college baseball.