LEXINGTON, Ky. – LSU junior right hand Landon Marceaux worked a season-high 7.1 overs on Friday night, and the Tigers blew three homers in a 15-2 win over Kentucky at Kentucky Proud Park.
LSU improved to 19-11 overall, 2-8 in the SEC, while Kentucky played to 19-8 overall and 5-5 in conference play.
The teams meet in Game 2 of the series at 17:30 CT on Saturday – the game will be broadcast on SEC Network +, and it can be heard at affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network.
Saturday’s game was originally scheduled to begin at 13:00 CT; however, the threat of thunderstorms in the Lexington area pushed the start time into the evening.
Marceaux (3-3) hit 7.1 overs, limiting Kentucky to one merit on seven hits without runs and eight strokes. He fired 99 spots in the outing, 71 for strikes.
LSU collected 17 hits, including home runs by the referee Dylan Crews, left fielder Gavin Dugas and first baseman Tre ‘Morgan. Vanger Hayden Travinski and designated hit Cade Beloso each contributed four RBI and center fielder Giovanni DiGiacomo had three strokes and scored three runs.
“Landon showed tonight how he performed all season; he was great,” LSU coach said Paul Mainieri. “We gave him a lot of offensive support – we had 17 shots and a lot of hard-hitting balls that were put out. It feels great to get the win, but I always tell the players after a win or a loss, it’s just “Kentucky has a very good ball club, and when the game starts tomorrow, the score is back to 0-0. We will enjoy this victory for a short while and then we will focus on Game 2.”
Kentucky starter Cole Stupp (3-2) is charged with the loss because he conceded eight runs on 12 shots in five overs without walking and passing four times.
Crews blow a solo homer – his ninth dancer of the season – in first place from the first innings to lead LSU 1-0.
The Tigers extended to 3-0 in the fourth margin when Travinski led a two-run single to reach third base Cade Doughty and DiGiacomo, who placed rugby players to start the innings.
LSU exploded for five runs in the fifth Dugas dropped a homer by two runs, Beloso delivered a two-run and Travinski lifted a sacrificial fly.
Morgan’s solo homer – his third blast of the year – to hold the sixth lead increased the LSU’s lead to 9-0.
Kentucky narrowed the gap to 9-2 with a few runs in the sixth and seventh, but LSU burst loose for six runs in the top of the ninth. The outburst is highlighted by a two-way double play by Morgan, a two-speed single by Beloso and Travinski’s RBI single.