No. 1 LSU baseball falls short in finale

BY COLE HERNANDEZ @Ct_hernandez

Baseball fans in Baton Rouge enjoyed a beautiful Saturday afternoon for game three of the series between top ranked LSU and No. 9 Tennessee.

The Tigers were attempting to sweep Tennessee for the first time since 2018 in Baton Rouge, but that plan did not come to fruition.

LSU baseball did, however, win its first three SEC series for the first time since 2013.

Tennessee jumped on the board early with six runs on four hits in the top of the first inning. Sophomore right hander and LSU’s starter Thatcher Hurd struggled right away, and LSU’s defense didn’t help much with an error.

Hurd only threw 22 pitches and didn’t last through the first inning. He allowed six runs on four hits and didn’t throw a single strikeout. His record for the season now stands at 2-1 as he was charged with the loss.

Junior left-hander Riley Cooper relieved Hurd. Cooper didn’t fare much better against the loud Tennessee bats. Cooper fired 88 total pitches in 5.2 innings but gave up six runs on eight hits with five strikeouts.

Tennessee needed this win to make up for their lackluster performance in the first two games and it delivered on that idea.