Through the first 6⅔ innings of Thatcher Hurd’s season, the LSU right-hander struck out seven batters.
He nearly doubled that total after two innings of work Monday.
Hurd fanned the first six Butler hitters in order to start off LSU’s 11-0 victory in seven innings over the Bulldogs at Alex Box Stadium. The sophomore transfer from UCLA couldn’t have asked for a better start to his third appearance as a Tiger, when he dropped Bulldogs with a combination of fast sliders and a filthy curveball. He needed only 26 pitches to strike out the first six batters.
Hurd eventually pitched six shutout innings while striking out 11 and allowing only three hits.
“That was impressive,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “(Hurd’s) still learning and getting experience. And I think the talent, you can see the aptitude is really impressive. From week to week, it continues to get better, and I think it’s only going to continue to go on an upward trend.”
On Friday, Butler southpaw Cole Graverson confused the LSU hitters, who scored only one run through four innings. Three days later, the Tigers had no trouble with Bulldogs right-handed starter Aaron Barokas. Dylan Crews opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run to deep center field.
In the second, LSU (11-1) batted around before Butler (2-10) even recorded its second out as LSU scored six times to take a 7-0 lead. After LSU scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, reliever Blake Money retired Butler in the seventh to enact the 10-run mercy rule.
“We went back to the drawing board after Friday night,” Johnson said of the team’s offensive approach, “and their response to it, couldn’t ask for more. I mean, that might’ve been our best game of the year tonight.”
In addition to his homer, Crews hit a double and collected three RBIs, thanks to two hard-hit grounders in the infield. The double was the junior’s sixth of the season and the home run was his third. Through 12 games, he’s batting .475 with 18 RBIs.
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