Tigers Take Series Opener in Baton Rouge

Friday, April 13

Baton Rouge, LA

8 P.M. ET

University of Tennessee

21-15, 5-8

#19 LSU

22-13, 7-6

Tennessee

LSU

April 13, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score PDF Box Score

BATON ROUGE, La. – No. 19 LSU jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 9-3 win over Tennessee in the series opener between the two teams on Friday night at Alex Box Stadium.

The Tigers hit four home runs and scored multiple runs in the first, second and third innings for an early 8-0 lead. Freshman Chase Wallace was phenomenal in relief, allowing just three hits and holding LSU scoreless for the next five innings, but the Volunteers were never really able to get the bats going to mount a significant comeback.

UT starter Garrett Crochet had a tough night on the mound, lasting only two innings after giving up eight runs on 10 hits.

Nico Mascia led the Big Orange at the plate, reaching base twice with a hit and a walk while also driving in Tennessee's first run. Jay Charleston, Justin Ammons and Evan Russell were the only other Vols with hits on the night.

Tigers' starting pitcher Zack Hess stifled UT's hitters all night, allowing just one run and three hits while striking out eight in seven innings of work to improve his record 6-3 on the year.

The Vols dug themselves an early hole by giving up three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Tigers' leadoff hitter Beau Jordan hammered the first pitch he saw into the left-field bleachers to make it 1-0. Austin Bain singled to drive in another run before a groundout allowed the final run of the inning to score.

It was more of the same in the second inning as LSU struck for three more runs to take a 6-0 lead. The Tigers led off with a solo homer for the second straight inning as Jake Slaughter hit his third of the year to straightaway center field. Antoine Duplantis and Bain each drove in a run later in the inning as well.

LSU went on to hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning to up its lead to eight and chase Crochet from the game.

UT scratched across a run in the top of the fourth to get on the board. Charleston singled to lead off the inning, stole second and moved to third on a single by Ammons before finally coming in to score on an RBI ground out by Mascia.

The Tigers tacked on their final run of the game in the eighth on Bain's fourth hit of the night. The senior second baseman finished the game with career highs in hits and RBI (three) to pace LSU's attack.

The Vols mounted a small rally in the top of the ninth with a two-run homer by Russell before going on to load the bases with two outs. Tigers' reliever Clay Moffitt was able to strike out Brandon Chinea to prevent any further damage and end the game.

Notable
Wallace Impressive Out of the Pen
One of the bright spots for UT on the night was the performance of freshman pitcher Chase Wallace. The Sevierville, Tenn., native was lights out in relief, tossing five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out two Tigers' batters.

Next Up
The Vols and Tigers square off in game two of their weekend series tomorrow night. Start time for tomorrow's game has been pushed back from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET due to expected inclement weather in the area. The game can be streamed live online on SEC Network+ (WatchESPN).