Tigers finally find late-game magic on Crews’ single to salvage game from Aggies

FILE PHOTO BY: LSU athletics.

LSU overcame a four-run deficit entering the bottom of the fifth inning and took a 7-6 win Sunday over Texas A&M to salvage a game in the three-game SEC series at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.

Centerfielder Dylan Crews provided the game-winning hit with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning that gave LSU its first lead.

LSU (15-5, 1-2 in SEC) return to action at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday against Louisiana Tech at home that will be aired on 98.1-FM and streamed on SEC Network +.

LSU reliever Riley Cooper (1-1) earned his first career win, working the final 1.2 innings and limiting the Aggies to no runs on one hit with one strikeout.

Texas A&M reliever Jacob Palisch (2-2) was charged with the loss, as he allowed three runs on four hits in 2.1 innings with no walks and one strikeout.

“We had some great at-bats to get Dylan up in the go-ahead situation in the eighth, and a great job by Riley on the mound to finish the game,” LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson said. “This was a grind, and I’m very aware how good our league is. This was a very good team that we played this weekend. They had some great arms coming out of the bullpen and starting pitchers that really presented challenges for us.

“I’m really proud of our pitching for keeping us in the game and giving us a chance to come back. It was a great job by a number of guys.”

Texas A&M (12-7, 2-1 in SEC) held a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning, when LSU scored two runs on an RBI single by right fielder Jacob Berry and and a sacrifice fly by shortstop Jordan Thompson.

Texas A&M, however responded with three runs in the top of the fifth, as rightfielder Brett Minnich an leftfielder Dylan Rock launched solo homers, and shortstop Kole Kaler slapped an RBI single.

The Aggies didn’t score again, and LSU scored two runs in each of its next two at-bats. In the fifth, second baseman Cade Doughty lined an RBI single, and Crews provided an run-scoring groundout.

LSU tied the game in the sixth when designated hitter Brayden Jobert ripped a run-scoring single, and first baseman Tre’ Morgan bounced an RBI single into left field.

Left fielder Giovanni DiGiacomo led off the eighth with a single against Palisch, who was then replaced on the mound by reliever Chris Cortez. The next two were retired, but Morgan singled, Doughty drew a walk and Crews singled to give LSU a 7-6 lead.

Cooper, Eric Reyzelman and Samuel Dutton combined to limit the Aggies to one run over the final five innings of the game, recording four strikeouts.

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