LSU rallies for 9-8 win against Auburn in SEC Tournament

Top-ranked LSU erased a five-run deficit with a six-run fifth inning Wednesday night as the Tigers posted a 9-8 win against Auburn in the SEC Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
Trailing 8-3, LSU erupted for six runs on six hits in the fifth inning to take a 9-8 lead. Leftfielder Jake Fraley lined an RBI single before third baseman Conner Hale delivered a two-run single to narrow the deficit to 8-6.
Kade Scivicque’s RBI-double reduced Auburn’s lead to one run before first baseman Chris Chinea’s double tied the game at 8.
The six-run outburst was culminated by an RBI single from designated hitter Chris Sciambra that scored Chinea and gave LSU its first lead of the game.
“That was about the ugliest game of the year that we have played for the first four innings,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said in a news release. “Somehow we found a way to win the game. That to me is a credit to our kids. They really hang in there. We’ve become so used to falling behind in games that our guys don’t flinch. They know we have a good offensive team, and they’re not going to give up when we fall behind like that.”
Freshman right-hander Doug Norman (5-1), the third of seven LSU pitchers, earned the win, allowing one unearned run on one hit in two innings with no walks and one strikeout.
Auburn reliever Trey Wingenter (1-6) was charged with the loss as he surrendered three runs on four hits in three innings with no walks and three strikeouts.
Sophomore right-hander Parker Bugg earned his second save of the season for LSU, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with one walk and two strikeouts.
Auburn grabbed a 5-0 lead against LSU starter Jared Poche’ in the top of the first inning as catcher Blake Logan lined a run-scoring single, third baseman Alex Polston produced a two-RBI single and shortstop Cody Nulph blasted a two-run double.
LSU narrowed the gap to 5-3 in the second inning as Sciambra delivered a two-out RBI single, and second baseman Jared Foster launched a two-run homer, his ninth of the season and his first since April 8 versus Northwestern State.
Auburn extended the lead to 7-3 in the third against reliever Jake Godfrey as designated hitter Jordan Ebert ripped a two-run single.
Auburn added a run in the fourth when second baseman Melvin Gray lifted a sacrifice fly.
LSU (47-9) will play Arkansas, a 7-6 winner against Florida, at approximately 8 o’clock tonight.
Auburn (35-23) faced Florida earlier today.
Two-time defending tournament champion LSU has won eight straight SEC Tournament games, dating back to 2013. The Tigers have won 11 straight games in Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, including three regular-season wins earlier this season against Alabama.
The game will be televised by the SEC Network, and it can be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network. Live audio and stats are available in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.