2022 LSU Gumbo - Book - Page 30
Photo by Peter Nguyen
Photo by Courtney Garrigan
LSU’s lone starting senior Tyler McManus showed off
his college baseball experience and went 3-3 at the plate,
had two RBIs, and scored three runs for the Purple and
Gold.
Right-handed pitcher Samuel Dutton started on the
mound for LSU, but Missouri took a 2-0 lead in the top of
the first inning when left fielder Trevor Austin smacked a
two-run home run. Dutton only lasted 1.2 innings and gave
up three hits on 39 pitches. Right-hander Bryce Collins, the
second of six LSU pitchers, earned the win as he worked 2.2
innings and limited Missouri to one run on three hits with
no walks and four strikeouts.
LSU tied the game in the third inning when designated
hitter Brayden Jobert unloaded a solo homer, his 12th of the
season, and third baseman Jacob Berry delivered an RBI
single that scored Tyler McManus.
LSU took the lead in the fourth inning and scored three
runs when McManus lined a two-run double that drove
Thompson and Jobert across home plate. Josh Pearson
provided a run-scoring single that scored McManus a
second time.
Collins gave up a run in the top of the fifth inning and
Eric Reyzelman came in to strand Missouri baserunners on
first and second base. Berry smacked a solo home run 404
feet, his 13th of the season, to increase the advantage in the
bottom of the fifth inning to 6-3.
LSU added another run in the seventh inning on an RBI
double by first baseman Tre’ Morgan that scored Berry,
but Missouri staged a rally in the top of the eighth inning.
Reyzelman hit the first batter with a pitch and walked the
second batter. Paul Gervase was called in to get the Purple
and Gold out of the pickle.
Runners advanced on a wild pitch from Gervase and
the next batter flew out, but Montgomery tagged up and
scored. Gervase hit the following batter with a pitch and
Missouri then began its rally with an RBI single from
30
Photo by Dylan Borel
Coletta on an error by shortstop Jordan Thompson.
Continuing the rally, Wilmsmeyer singled to load the
bases and Devin Fontenot was called in to relieve Gervase.
With the bases loaded, Fontenot walked Austin and De
Sadas scored.
Riley Cooper came in to shut the door on the comeback
and forced the third out of the inning with the bases
loaded. However, the damage was done after a three-run
inning from Missouri and LSU’s lead dwindled to one run.
The score read 7-6 for LSU.
In the bottom half of the eighth, McManus delivered his
third hit of the game on as many at-bats with a stand-up
triple to the centerfield wall that Missouri’s centerfielder
lost in the sun. Pearson then lined a single through the
center and McManus scored his third run of the game.
“Hitting well is fun, but just being at the ballpark with
the boys every day is even more fun,” McManus said. “It is
the reason why I came here, especially being my last year.
You take advantage of it every day.”
Cooper did not allow a hit in the top of the ninth inning,
was credited with the save and finished off Missouri to give
LSU the win 8-6.
“Riley is such an asset to our team; he has a chance to
impact 2-3 wins per week,” LSU Head Coach Jay Johnson
said. “He’s a star, and I don’t think you could ask anybody
to do any more than he’s doing for us.”
LSU improved to 27-12 overall and 10-8 in the SEC.
Missouri dropped to 22-15 overall and 5-13 in conference
play.
“I’m very proud of the team, I think we grew this week,”
said Johnson, whose club also defeated UL-Lafayette, 8-4,
earlier in the week. “We beat a top 50 RPI team and earned
three wins over a top 25 RPI team this weekend, that’s
awesome. These are the weeks you love, and I’d like to give
a special thanks to our fans for coming out and supporting
us all week.”