LSU Defeats Tulane 7-5 in Last Game Before SEC Play Begins

Photo By: Phillip Cancilleri

Da Boot Sports
3/15/2022
By: David Penn


   BATON ROUGE, LA - One final matchup for the LSU Tigers (14-3) before they open SEC play against the Texas A&M Aggies on Friday night came against the Tulane Green Wave (10-7).

   Will Hellmers got the start for the Tigers but it was Sophomore RHP Eric Reyzelman that picked up the win for
the Tigers. Hellmers pitched the first 1.2 innings for LSU and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out two batters. Paul Gervase would come in and pitch the next two innings and would give up no hits or runs, walk a pair of batters, and earn four Ks.
    
   Reyzelman would enter the game and walk the first batter he faced but then fanned six of the next seven batters.

   “I’m so proud of Eric; he’s had to face a lot of adversity coming off Tommy John surgery (at San Francisco),” Coach Jay Johnson said. “He’s gotten himself prepared and healthy, and he’s a very big asset for our team when he’s on the mound.”

   Devin Fontenot would come in and earn the save for LSU after pitching the final 1.2 innings, allowing no runs on one hit, one walk, and one strike out.

   Tulane took an early lead on the Tigers when they plated two runs in the second inning but LSU would answer in the third inning.
    
   Gavin Dugas was the first Tiger to score, doing so in the third inning for the Tigers on a mishap by the Tulane first baseman that allowed Tre’ Morgan to reach safely. Dylan Crews would then come up and hit a sacrifice fly that scored Hayden Travinski to tie the game at 2-2.

   The Tigers took the lead in the home half of the fourth inning when Giovanni DiGiacomo hit a single that scored Cade Doughty. Morgan would follow up with two RBI single that scored Jordan Thompson and DiGiacomo giving the Tigers a 5-2 lead after four innings of play.

   Morgan again score Thompson in the sixth inning on a sac fly to add insurance to the LSU lead, making it 6-2 after six innings.
    
   Two Tulane players would score in the top of the seventh inning on an error by the LSU defense. Tulane would add another run in the top of the eighth when they scored on a wild pitch and had the tying run barreling toward home plate when DiGiacomo would snag a flyball and make the relay to gun down the runner at home plate in time for the defensive highlight of the night. 
    
   Carter Robinson Started for Tulane and went 3.2 innings, giving up five runs on four hits,  walking three and striking out three. Gavin Shulz and Jared Hart would each get two hits, an RBI, and score a run for the Wave.

   “The fans got their money’s worth tonight,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “That was not a surprise, Tulane is a very well-coached team that presents some different problems for the teams they face. Tulane has always been a real challenge on LSU’s schedule over the years, so I’m very glad we were able to come out on top.”
    
   LSU opens SEC play on Friday night March 18 at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field when they host the Texas A&M Aggies at 6:30pm CT, Saturday March 19 at 6:00pm, and Sunday March 20 at 2:00PM.  

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Photo By: Phillip Cancilleri

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