LSU Baseball Defeats Houston, 5-1, Advances In Regional

The seventh-ranked LSU Tigers remain unbeaten in the Baton Rouge, La. Regional, after defeating the Houston Cougars, 8-4, in winners bracket action on Saturday at Alex Box Stadium.

The win extends LSU's current win-streak to ten games, and moves them to within one win of advancing to an NCAA Super Regional

The Tigers, the top-seed in the regional, and the #8-overall national seed, scored the first run of the game in the top half of the second inning, when designated hitter Sean McMullen led off the frame with a double off of Houston starter Jake Lemoine, and then scored on an RBI single off the bat of first baseman Conner Hale, making it 1-0.

The Cougars tied things in the bottom of the second, when designated hitter Justin Montemayor dropped down a bunt single against LSU starter Aaron Nola, before later scoring on a two-out single off the bat of outfielder Michael Pyeatt, to even the game, 1-1.

The Tigers took the lead in the top of the third inning, plating two runs, when Mark Laird led off the inning with a walk, before later advancing to second on a single by outfielder Jake Fraleye, and then scoring on a single by McMullen, to make it 2-1, before Hale drove home McMullen with a two-out single, to extend the advantage to 3-1.

The score stayed that way until the top half of the seventh inning, when LSU third baseman Christian Ibarra led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a Kramer Robertson walk, and then scored on Laird single, making the score 4-1, before Robertson scored on an RBI single by shortstop Alex Bregman, making the score 5-1.

That was how the scoring wrapped-up, as LSU went on to the four-run win.

Nola (11-1) recorded the win for the Tigers, allowing four hits, one run, and one walk, while striking out seven batters in 7.1 innings.

Lemoine suffered the loss for the Cougars, allowing ten hits, five runs, and four walks over 6.1 innings.

With the victory, LSU improved to 46-14-1, while Houston fell to 45-16.

The Tigers now advance to Championship Sunday as the lone unbeaten team in the regional, and await the winner of an elimination game between Houston and Southeastern Louisiana.

Those two team will play at 2 o'clock on Sunday, with the winner moving on to meet LSU at 7 pm on Sunday night.

If the Tigers win, they move on to Super Regional play. If they lose, there would be an "if necessary" game on Monday night.

View the game box score.

Below is the complete Baton Rouge, La. Regional:

All times Central and subject to change

Friday, May 30
Game 1 – 2 p.m. – #4 seed Southeastern Louisiana 4,  #1 seed LSU 8
Game 2 – 7 p.m.  – #3 seed Bryant 2,  #2 seed Houston 3

Saturday, May 31
Game 3 – 2 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana 2,  Bryant 1  (Bryant eliminated)
Game 4 – 7 p.m. – LSU 5,  Houston 1

Sunday, June 1
Game 5 – 2 p.m. – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser
Game 6 – 7 p.m. – Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner

Monday, June 2
Game 7 – 7 p.m. – Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary)

View the complete NCAA baseball bracket.