LSU Bullpen Blows 8-Run Lead In 8th Inning

Everything was going well for LSU.

The Tigers had a 9-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth and seemingly well on their way to picking up an impossibly huge series sweep over arch rivals Ole Miss.

And then the LSU bullpen suffered a meltdown of catastrophic proportions, allowing the Rebels to score eight runs in the bottom half of the inning and then a solo home run in the first pitch of the ninth to hand the 10-9 win to Ole Miss.

The Rebels (28-12) scored their eight runs in the eighth on five hits and three walks and hit by pitches and then got their walkoff on the first pitch from pinch hitter Kemp Alderman.

Javan Coleman in particular had a sour outing, allowing six runs (all earned) on six hits and three walks, most of which came during the eighth inning implosion which included a three-run home run. Once Coleman was pulled following another single and a hit by pitch, Garrett Edwards issued a walk to load the bases for TJ McCants. McCants then flipped the game on its head with a game-tying grand slam.

The unbelievable implosion by the bullpen overshadows several positives for LSU (24-15), most of which occurred during the early stages of the game. Jordan Thompson and Gavin Dugas hit home runs, each of them solo shots. Thompson, DiGiacomo, Dylan Crews, and Tre Morgan all had a multi-hit days.

Will Hellmers got his first SEC start and looked the part in admittedly limited action, throwing three innings where he allowed just one run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.

And above all, the Tigers still took the series, which was much-needed. But the loss does put a sour spin on things considering what the weekend almost was.

LSU returns to action Tuesday night for a home midweek game against Grambling at 4:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast online on the SECN+.