FRISCO, Texas - Louisiana State University rallied for a come-from-behind victory over the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 11-4 in front of a sold-out crowd. Today’s matchup set the Frisco College Baseball Classic attendance record at 11,003.
Junior Anthony Eyanson started for the Tigers, struggling early as he allowed runs in the first three innings. However, LSU head coach Jay Johnson stuck with him, and Eyanson settled in, holding the Cornhuskers scoreless for the rest of his outing. He finished with five runs allowed on seven hits, striking out seven and walking one over six innings.
LSU head coach Jay Johnson was asked about Eyanson's performance and said, “His execution, he made better pitches. It was almost like the intent led to better conviction. He just seemed like he got better as the game went along. Obviously he’s in great shape and great condition, so maybe he’s one of those guys that gets better as the game goes on.”
Sophomore Ty Horn started for Nebraska, holding LSU scoreless through the first three innings while allowing just three hits. However, he ran into trouble in the fourth and was pulled in the fifth. The Cornhuskers used six relievers after Horn, combining for six runs on nine hits and three walks.
Nebraska’s offense came out strongly in the first inning. Senior Joshua Overbeek led off with a double to left, and freshman Devin Nunez followed with a single. Junior Cayden Brumbaugh delivered a two-run single through the left side, scoring Nunez and Overbeek. Senior Cael Frost added an RBI single up the middle, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double, capping a three-run inning.
LSU threatened in the second when senior Josh Pearson, who went 4-5 with three doubles, hit a leadoff double down the right field line, but the Tigers left runners stranded. Nebraska extended its lead in the bottom half. Senior Gabe Swansen walked, advanced on two wild pitches, and scored on senior Riley Silva’s fielder’s choice. The Cornhuskers added another run in the third on a pair of singles and two more wild pitches, making it 4-0.
The Tigers broke through in the fourth, scoring three runs. Pearson and sophomore Steven Milam hit back-to-back doubles, with Pearson scoring on Milam’s. Freshman Cade Arrambide drove in another run on a fielder’s choice, and junior Chris Stanfield singled to left, cutting the deficit to 5-3 and capturing one his two RBI.
LSU continued to chip away in the fifth. Pearson singled, Milam followed with another single, and sophomore Jake Brown drove in Pearson with an RBI single, making it 5-4. The Tigers threatened again in the sixth but left runners stranded.
The seventh inning proved decisive for LSU. Junior Daniel Dickinson was hit by a pitch, and Pearson hit his third double of the game, moving Dickinson to third. Milam, going 3-6 with two RBI, then delivered a clutch single on an 0-2 count, tying the game at 5-5. Brown’s sacrifice fly gave LSU its first lead at 6-5.
When asked if Riders Field was a good ballpark to hit in, considering how well he’s hit this tournament, Milam said “Every park is a good park to hit in for me.”
The Tigers weren’t done, as Stanfield and freshman Derek Curiel added RBI singles, and junior Jared Jones capped the explosive rally with a two-run single up the middle, extending the lead to 10-5.
Junior Zac Cowan relieved Eyanson in the seventh, and Nebraska showed a flicker of life when Brumbaugh singled in a run, but the Tigers’ lead was insurmountable. Freshman William Schmidt closed the game out for the Tigers, relieving Cowan to start the ninth and securing the win for LSU.
Nebraska will look to bounce back tomorrow against Kansas State at 11 a.m., while LSU closes out the Frisco Classic against Sam Houston State at 3 p.m.
I hope LSU never plays in this thing again, lots of loyal were blacked out because they can’t drive that far and have no idea about livestreams