LSU sweeps Georgia in doubleheader

ATHENS, Ga. – Sophomore left-hander Jared Poche’ scattered four hits over seven innings Saturday, and top-ranked LSU pounded out 14 hits as the Tigers defeated Georgia, 9-1, to complete a sweep of an SEC doubleheader at Foley Field.

LSU pitchers Alex Lange and Hunter Newman limited Georgia to five hits in Game 1 as the Tigers posted a 4-1 victory.

LSU improved to 34-6 overall and 12-5 in the SEC, while Georgia dropped to 20-20 overall and 6-11 in conference play.

The teams are scheduled to conclude the three-game series at 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CT) Sunday.

“Our pitching was outstanding in both games,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “Poche’ was really sharp throughout his outing, and after the first couple of innings, Lange worked into a groove and was dominating. Our bullpen was excellent — Hunter Newman has been remarkable all season, and Parker Bugg gave us a tremendous outing in Game 2.

“I wasn’t real pleased with the way we swung the bats in the first game, because we didn’t take advantage of some scoring opportunities. But, we were more productive in the second game with 14 hits and generated the run support we needed for our pitchers.”

LSU senior catcher Kade Scivicque was a combined 5-for-7 in the doubleheader with one double, one homer, three RBIs and two runs to lead the Tigers’ offensive attack.

Poche’ (7-1) limited Georgia to just one run on four hits in seven inning with one walk and five strikeouts. Bugg pitched a perfect final two innings with two strikeouts to close out the game.

Georgia starter Sean McLaughlin (3-3) was charged with the loss as he surrendered four runs on 10 hits in six innings with no walks and three strikeouts.

LSU took a 2-0 lead in the second inning of Game 2 as Scivicque launched a solo homer — his fifth of the season — and designated hitter Chris Sciambra’s sacrifice bunt scored centerfielder Andrew Stevenson from third base.

Georgia responded with a run in the bottom of the second as first baseman Zack Bowers unloaded a solo home run, his seventh homer of the year.

The Tigers increased the lead to 3-1 in the fourth on first baseman Chris Chinea’s sacrifice fly, and LSU added a run in the sixth when Scivicque scored from third base on a passed ball by catcher Brandon Stephens.

In the seventh, third baseman Conner Hale lifted a sacrifice fly and first baseman Bryce Jordan — who entered the game in the sixth when Chinea was hit in the face by a pitch — drew a bases-loaded walk to give LSU a 6-1 advantage.

The Tigers scored three runs in the ninth as Jordan belted an RBI double, pinch hitter Grayson Byrd delivered an RBI groundout and second baseman Jared Foster produced a run-scoring single.

Lange (7-0) worked six innings in Game 1, limiting Georgia to one run on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Newman earned his second save of the season, firing three shutout innings and allowing no hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when right fielder Mark Laird singled, stole second base and scored on Hale’s single.

Georgia tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first when shortstop Nick King led off the inning with a home run, his first of the season.

LSU broke the tie in the fifth when Foster walked, moved to second on left fielder Jake Fraley’s sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a wild pitch from Georgia starter Ryan Lawlor and scored on another Lawlor wild pitch.

The Tigers extended the lead to 4-1 in the seventh when Scivicque delivered a two-run double against reliever David Sosebee.

Lawlor (4-5) was charged with the Game 1 loss, as he allowed three runs on six hits in 6 1-3 innings with three walks and seven strikeouts.