Dulplantis Sets Hits Mark; LSU Advances to Super Regional

Antoine Duplantis will certainly remember his first inning single that set a new LSU record for hits with 353.

But it was hit number 354 that sparked the Tigers to a come from behind 6-4 win over Southern Miss, sending the Tigers to the NCAA Super Regionals.

Duplantis' leadoff hit in the seventh inning sparked a three run rally and sent LSU to another Super Regional, as the Tigers defeated Southern Miss 6-4 to win the Baton Rouge Regional.

Duplantis' first inning hit broke the all-time LSU record set by Eddy Furniss, who was quick to congratulate the new hits king.

With the Tigers trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, Duplantis singled through the left side off USM starter Josh Lewis (1-1) and Daniel Cabrera followed with a single to right, sending Duplantis to third with Cabrera taking second on the throw.  Zach Watson then singled both runners home and Saul Garza delivered an insurance run with a double to center.

Josh Smith homered in the first inning to get LSU on the board and then added two more runs on a triple in the second inning.  But Southern Miss, who scored nine runs in the final two innings earlier in the day to eliminate Arizona State, started their comeback in the fourth on a homer by Gabe Montenegro and took the lead with three runs in the fifth, the third scoring on a Matthew Guidry single to give the Golden Eagles the lead.

Trent Vietmeier (3-1) got the win in relief for the Tigers with two scoreless innings of relief, while Devin Fontenot picked up his seventh save.

LSU will host Florida State, the winner of the Athens Regional in the Supers next weekend.