Live Blog: No. 15 Alabama Baseball at No. 9 LSU, Game One

Coming off a 5-3 win in Sewell-Thomas against the UAB Blazers, Alabama Baseball (30-8, 8-7 SEC) travels on the road for a third time during conference play to take on the LSU Tigers (32-6, 10-5 SEC) in one of the country's most difficult places to play, Alex Box Stadium.

For the first time this season, Zane Adams will not get the start in game one, as right-hander, Tyler Fay (0-0, 4.98 ERA) will be on the team's first pitcher on the mound to face a Tigers lineup that ranks 13th in runs scored nationally.

LSU is coming off being swept in Plainsman Park against the Auburn Tigers, and their game one starter, Kade Anderson (6-1, 3.48 ERA) had possibly his worst start of the season, giving up six runs across just over four innings. The left-hander is one of the nations top arms, excelling especially at missing bats, having struck out 81 batters across 51.2 innings—good for fifth in the country.

It is a tough matchup for the Alabama batters that have struggled as of late (averaging just over three runs per game in their last two SEC series) it will be up to Fay and the Crimson Tide bullpen to keep a strong LSU offense off the board, especially in early innings.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be nationally televised on ESPNU, as Alabama will look to steal one in the bayou on Thursday night against a top ten team with its ace on the mound.

Starting Lineups:

Alabama:

5. RF Bryce Fowler (L)

2. SS Justin Lebron (R)

3. LF Kade Snell (L)

4. CF Richie Bonomolo Jr (R)

5. 1B Will Hodo (L)

3B Jason Torres (R)

7. DH Garrett Staton (R)

8. C Brady Neal (L)

9. 2B Brennen Norton (R)

SP: RHP Tyler Fay (0-0, 4.98 ERA)

LSU:

1. LF Derek Curiel (L)

2. DH Ethan Frey (R)

3. 1B Jared Jones (R)

4. 2B Daniel Dickinson (R)

5. SS Steven Milam (S)

6. RF Jake Brown (L)

7. 3B Michael Braswell III (R)

8. C Luis Hernandez (R)

9. CF Chris Stanfield (R)

SP LHP Kade Anderson (6-1, 3.48 ERA)

Game Start: 7 p.m. CT

Top 9th: Right-hander, Connor Benge (1-1, 6.00 ERA) comes in for Evans with one out. Bases are loaded up after an HBP and two walks, and a run scores after Snell draws another walk with two outs. Right-hander, Zac Cowan (2-0, 0.79 ERA) then takes the ball to get the final out, and he draws a Bonomolo Jr fly out to end the game. FINAL: Alabama 6, LSU 11.

Bottom 8th: A leadoff base hit is followed by a two-run homer by Ethan Frey to add two more runs before an out is recorded. Right-hander Ariston Veasey (0-0, 11.57 ERA) comes in, and gives up a walk and base hit. A one out sac bunt scores a run from third, and an ensuing groundout ends the inning. Tigers balloon its lead up to six runs with the Crimson Tide down to its final three outs. 11-5, LSU.

Top 8th: A one out single from Bonomolo is stranded after a groundout followed by a strikeout to end the inning. Score remains 8-5 with LSU in front.

Bottom 7th: Right-hander, J.T. Blackwood (2-0, 4.67 ERA) starts the inning and gives up a leadoff base hit followed by a walk, and a wild pitch moves both runners into scoring position with no outs. With one out, Steven Milam, sends a ball over the right field wall to give LSU its first lead. The Tigers tacks on another one-out base hit, and Hodo throws a ball into left field trying to turn a double play which results in the runner coming in to score. Left-hander, Connor Ball (0-0, 6.23 ERA) comes in for Blackwood, and a strikeout followed by a fly out finally ends the inning. 8-5, LSU now up.

Top 7th: A leadoff HBP puts Staton on first, and right-hander, Casan Evans (1-0, 0.73 ERA) comes in to relieve Mayers. A sac bunt moves Staton to second with one out, and a two-out walk brings Justin Lebron up to the plate with two on. A questionable called-third-strike ends the inning and assistant coach, Mike Morrison, gets tossed from the game after sprinting out of the dugout to argue the call. Tensions rising in Baton Rouge. 5-4, Alabama.

Bottom 6th: A one-out walk results in Heiberger getting pulled for right-hander, Austin Morris (2-0, 3.86 ERA) who gives up a single on his first pitch to put two on. A three-run shot to right field by pinch hitter, Ashton Larson, puts the Tigers within one. Left-hander, Connor Lehman (0-0, 7.71 ERA) comes in with two outs to face Curiel, and he hits a ball that is caught at the wall to end the inning. Tide still up but damage done. 5-4, Alabama.

Top 6th: A one-out Fowler single gives the Crimson Tide its first baserunner of the night, and Snell hits his second, two-out, home run of the night this time over left field to add two runs to the lead. The ensuing batter, Bonomolo Jr adds on with a solo-shot for the team's fourth home run of the night. Hodo makes it three straight extra base hits with a two-out double, which results in Anderson getting pulled for right-hander, Jacob Mayers (0-0, 3.38 ERA) who strikes out Torres to end the inning. Now 5-1, Alabama.

Bottom 5th: Heiberger strikes out first two batters, but a two-out walk and an error by Torres puts another runner in scoring position. He draws a fly out to end the threat, more clutch pitching by the Alabama staff. Still 2-1, Alabama still up.

Top 5th: A pair of strikeouts followed by a groundout gets the Crimson Tide down one-two-three yet again. Nine strikeouts for Anderson in just 72 pitches. Stiill 2-1, Alabama.

Bottom 4th: Left-hander, Matthew Heiberger (3-1, 3.60 ERA) comes in for Fay after a leadoff single. Heiberger pitches around a two-out single with a strikeout to end the inning. Eight strikeouts from Alabama pitchers through four innings. Score remains 2-1, Alabama.

Top 4th: Alabama goes down one-two-three, and Anderson picks up his sixth strikeout to end the inning. Still 2-0, Alabama.

Bottom 3rd: Fay begins the inning with strikeout number four, but back-to-back doubles scores the first run for the Tigers. An error from Fowler advances Stanfield to third, but another two Ks strands the him. Six strikeouts for Fay through three innings, but the Tigers get a run back. 2-1, Alabama.

Top 3rd: Former LSU Tiger, Brady Neal, takes the second pitch of the inning the other way and over the wall in left-center field to add another run. The next three Alabama batters go down, but could not have asked for a better start on both ends through two-and-a-half innings. Now 2-0, Alabama.

Bottom 2nd: Fay retires LSU batters one-two-three in just ten pitches. Inning ends with his third strikeout. As clean a first two innings as an Alabama starter has had in some time. 1-0, Alabama.

Top 2nd: Anderson strikes out the side and has five Ks in his first six outs. Still 1-0, Alabama.

Bottom 1st: Curiel takes the first pitch up the middle for a base hit, steals second, and a wild pitch moves him to third with one out. However, two strikeouts and a lazy fly ball strands him. A very good response from Fay after an early runner in scoring position. Still 1-0, Alabama.

Top 1st: First two Alabama batters go down, but Snell hits a no doubt solo-shot to right field with two outs to get the scoring going. Anderson picks up a couple of strikeouts, but the Crimson Tide is on the board. 1-0, Alabama.

First pitch: 7:02 p.m.