BATON ROUGE, La. – The Alabama baseball team suffered a late 7-5 loss to LSU on Friday night at Alex Box Stadium. Following the series opener, the Crimson Tide is 25-26 overall and 6-19 in Southeastern Conference play.
Alabama scored two apiece in the second and third innings and one in the top of the eighth to lead 5-1 entering the bottom of the eighth. In the home half, the Tigers used an error, three walks and four hits, including the game-winning grand slam, to take their first lead of evening at 7-5, the eventual final.
The Crimson Tide received an impressive outing from starter Sam Finnerty. The junior worked 6 2/3 innings and gave up one unearned on the night.
Finnerty allowed six hits and walked three while striking out one Tiger hitter in his 90 pitches of work before handing it over to his bullpen. Sophomore reliever Deacon Medders (0-4) suffered the loss with five runs (four earned) allowed in 2/3 of an inning.
Alabama’s offense received multi-hit outings from sophomore John Trousdale and junior Jett Manning. Trousdale finished 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles for a second consecutive game and contributed a team-high two runs scored. Manning paced the Tide with three RBI as part of his 2-for-3 night that included a walk.
The two teams return to the diamond Saturday evening for game two of the series set for a 7 p.m. CT first pitch.
Alabama will send senior right-hander Jake Walters to the hill while LSU looks to freshman righty Ma’Khail Hilliard in the start. The game will air nationally on SEC Network.
