A five-run inning and a catcher’s interference call lifted Arkansas past LSU in Hoover

A five-run inning and a catcher's interference call lifted Arkansas past LSU in Hoover
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HOOVER, Ala. — It was only the second time this year Paul Skenes had loaded the bases.

In the fourth inning of LSU’s 5-4 loss to Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference tournament Thursday, Skenes hit the leadoff batter with a pitch, then gave up three singles to Brady Slavens, Caleb Cali and Peyton Holt before getting the first out. But Skenes issued a walk to Parker Rowland. Tavian Josenberger’s infield fly made for the second out of the inning.

That’s when LSU’s ace right-hander exited the game in what was his shortest outing this season (minus a rain-delayed game last month at South Carolina).

What followed was a contested catcher’s interference call after left-hander Riley Cooper came on in relief. That turned a tie ballgame into an Arkansas lead, and the Razorbacks never gave it up.

LSU (43-14) will face Texas A&M (34-24) in an elimination game at 3 p.m. Friday. 

The contested call was made when Cooper faced Arkansas’ designated hitter Kendall Diggs, who popped up into center field on a full count for what would’ve been the third out, limiting the damage.

The Razorbacks’ three consecutive singles had scored two runs to tie the game 2-2. The catcher’s interference kept the inning alive, and Arkansas tacked on three more runs.

The weirdness was the timing of it.

Players were filing into their respective dugouts, but the umpires called them back, ruling catcher’s interference on the Tigers’ Alex Milazzo.

LSU coach Jay Johnson emerged from the dugout to challenge the call, but the video review upheld it, showing that Milazzo’s glove hit Diggs’ bat. That not only kept the inning alive, it allowed the runner from third, Cali, to score the go-ahead run, 3-2.

Jace Bohrofen followed that with a two-run single to give the Razorbacks a 5-2 lead.

Skenes (10-2) gave up two earned runs on four hits, striking out three and walking two in 88 pitches. It marked just the fourth game this year Skenes had walked more than one batter, but the second time he had done so against Arkansas.

Cooper kept the Tigers in the game, shutting out the Razorbacks through 4⅓ innings, giving up two hits and striking out seven, matching his career high from Feb. 18 against Western Michigan.

The Tigers added two more runs on an RBI single by Jordan Thompson in the eighth inning and a solo homer by Dylan Crews in the ninth. But Arkansas’ Hunter Hollan (8-2) struck out Paxton Kling and induced a Tommy White groundout to end the game.

Hollan threw the final 5⅓ innings in relief of Hagen Smith. Hollan gave up two runs on six hits, striking out eight and walking one.

Hayden Travinski went 4 for 4 and Tre’ Morgan 3 for 4 for the Tigers,but Arkansas’ pair of left-handers, Smith and Hollan, struck out 17 batters.

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About Mary Weyand 15916 Articles
Mary founded Scoop Tour with an aim to bring relevant and unaltered news to the general public with a specific view point for each story catered by the team. She is a proficient journalist who holds a reputable portfolio with proficiency in content analysis and research. With ample knowledge about the Automobile industry, she also contributes her knowledge for the Automobile section of the website.

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