FRISCO, Texas - The Frisco College Baseball Classic kicked off with an electrifying extra-inning showdown as No. 3 Louisiana State University defeated Kansas State University in 8-5 in a 10-inning thriller.
Kansas State senior left-hander Jacob Frost started strong, holding LSU hitless through the first two innings. However, the Tigers broke through in the third. Junior Chris Stanfield drew a walk, stole second, and scored on freshman Derek Curiel’s deep triple to center field, aided by the sun. After an intentional walk to junior Jared Jones, junior Daniel Dickinson executed a near-perfect sacrifice bunt, driving in Curiel to give LSU a 2-0 lead. Frost exited after 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two. Junior Tazwell Butler relieved him following an error that extended the inning.
The Wildcats threatened in the bottom of the second when sophomore Nick English was hit by a pitch and junior Bear Madliak singled, putting runners on second and third with one out. LSU sophomore starter Kade Anderson, however, struck out the next two batters to escape the jam. Anderson was dominant, going 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out 10.
Kansas State tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth on back-to-back home runs by sophomore Dee Kennedy and graduate student Seth Dardar. LSU responded immediately in the top of the seventh. Stanfield singled and advanced to third on an error, while Jones drew his second intentional walk. Dickinson then delivered the big blow, launching a three-run homer that just cleared the fence, putting the Tigers ahead 5-2.
The Wildcats refused to go quietly. In the bottom of the seventh, back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Graduate student Keegan O’Connor and Kennedy were both hit by pitches, driving in two runs, and English followed with a single to right-center, tying the game at 5-5.
Kansas State head coach Pete Hughes praised his team’s resilience after the loss to LSU and knows they have a competitive team. Hughes, confident in his team, said they’ve been that competitive team all year and will continue to be.
“They’re hungry to win. They know really good baseball teams answer. We’ve done that for the most part of the year. I know a competitive group when I see one, and we’ve got one.”
LSU’s bullpen held firm. Freshman Mavrick Rizy, sophomore DJ Primeaux, and junior Connor Benge combined for 2.2 scoreless innings, while freshman Casan Evans shut out the Wildcats in the ninth and 10th to seal the win.
In extras, LSU’s offense came alive. Sophomore Steven Milam singled, and sophomore Jake Brown reached on an error, putting two runners on with no outs. Senior Josh Pearson delivered a key single to center, and Dickinson followed with a two-run single through the right side, extending the lead to 8-5.
When asked about his approach on his last at bat, Dickinson knew that Kansas State’s sophomore pitcher James Guyette was a heavy slider guy, and he himself hits sliders well. Dickinson was confident that he wouldn’t get out off the slider, so he was sitting fastball.
“Yeah, he [Guyette] is a heavy sinker guy. He has a three-quarter, even half, arm slot into me, so I backed off the plate a little bit and made a box adjustment. He threw me a first-pitch slider, and I hit sliders well, so I knew he wouldn’t get me out with it. I knew he would come with a heater at some point, and inside, so I just tried to stay inside the ball and hit it up the middle.”
With the win, LSU improved to 9-1 on the season and remains perfect at the Frisco Classic. The Tigers will face the University of Nebraska-Lincoln tomorrow at 4 p.m. in a sold-out Riders Field, while Kansas State takes on Sam Houston State University at noon.
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