When LSU needed a clutch hit the most, [autotag]Gavin Dugas[/autotag] came through with a grand slam to boost the Tigers to an 8-7 win over South Carolina.
The Gamecocks have been unstoppable at home this season, entering Friday’s game with a 19-0 record in Columbia. [autotag]Ty Floyd[/autotag] was tasked with trying to break that streak in Game 1 of the scheduled doubleheader.
After a quiet first inning, the Gamecocks scored four runs in the bottom of the second when Floyd hit back-to-back batters with the bases loaded and then gave up a two-RBI double.
In the top of the fourth inning, LSU hit a pair of homers to trim the lead to 4-3. [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] hit a solo shot and [autotag]Jordan Thompson[/autotag] hit a two-run shot to left field. For once, LSU had hope.
Tommy Tanks doing Tommy Tanks things 🚂@tommywhite44 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/qgAaEGFMse
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) April 7, 2023
The San Diego Slammer is active in South Carolina@J_thompson_13 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/R4o0NBqtHQ
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) April 7, 2023
In the bottom of the fifth inning, [autotag]Garrett Edwards[/autotag] exited the game after an injury, and the Gamecocks were able to get all three of the runs back. [autotag]Griffin Herring[/autotag] stopped the bleeding, but the Tigers found themselves down, 7-3, after five innings.
In the top of the eighth inning, LSU loaded the bases after [autotag]Cade Beloso[/autotag] and Thompson walked. [autotag]Brayden Jobert[/autotag] then singled to load the bases. Down 7-3 and running out of time to make a comeback, LSU had a chance to tie the game with one swing.
Insert [autotag]Gavin Dugas[/autotag], a man who always seems to find himself in these situations and usually produces.
He did just that. Dugas hit a grand slam to tie the game at 7 heading to the bottom of the eighth.
No quit in us.@gavin_dugas04 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/KHnQwdujn2
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) April 7, 2023
In the top of the ninth inning, [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] led off with a walk. White then grounded out to the pitcher but that got Crews to second. After a wild pitch got him to third, Crews scored on a Beloso RBI single to give LSU its first lead of the weekend heading to the bottom of the ninth.
[autotag]Gavin Guidry[/autotag] remained in the game to pitch the ninth inning for LSU. The Gamecocks put runners on first and second, but Guidry struck out the other three batters he faced to secure the 8-7 victory.
TIGERS TAKE THE LEAD 🤟@cade_beloso | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/7525CnUId7
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) April 7, 2023
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