How It Happened: LSU Baseball Falls 7-4 Against Alabama Crimson Tide in Game 3

BATON ROUGE, La. — What began as a promising weekend series for the LSU Tigers ended in disappointment Sunday afternoon, as the Alabama Crimson Tide clinched the rubber match with a 7-4 win in Game 3 at Alex Box Stadium. With the series on the line, LSU found itself chasing early runs, struggling with timely hitting, and ultimately falling short despite a spirited late-game rally.

For LSU (26-15, 8-10 SEC), the loss not only handed the Tigers their second SEC series loss in three weeks, but also highlighted some of the season’s recurring issues: an inconsistent bullpen, defensive miscues, and a lineup that couldn’t string together enough momentum in clutch moments. For Alabama (28-13, 10-8 SEC), the win represented a statement performance and another sign that the Tide are building something substantial under head coach Rob Vaughn.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how Sunday’s Game 3 slipped away from LSU:

FIRST INNING: ALABAMA STRIKES FIRST

Alabama wasted no time putting pressure on LSU starter Gage Jump. The lefty, who entered the contest with a 3.76 ERA, found himself in trouble early after giving up a leadoff double to Jim Jarvis. A sacrifice bunt and a sac fly brought Jarvis home for the first run of the game. The Tide then added a second run after Dominic Tamez worked a walk and came around on a bloop single to right, followed by an LSU error that extended the inning.

By the time LSU got back to the dugout, it was already 2-0 Alabama, and the early deficit set the tone for much of the afternoon.

SECOND THROUGH FOURTH INNINGS: PITCHERS’ DUEL WITH A TENSE UNDERCURRENT

Jump settled down after the rocky first, recording four straight strikeouts across the second and third innings. His changeup began to dance, and his command tightened, but Alabama starter Ben Hess matched him pitch-for-pitch. Hess, who came in with a reputation for overpowering fastballs and a sharp slider, kept the Tigers off balance and retired nine of the first ten batters he faced.

LSU had a chance in the bottom of the fourth when Jared Jones singled and Hayden Travinski worked a walk, but with two on and two outs, Tre’ Morgan grounded out to first. The Tigers had yet to get a runner past second base and trailed 2-0 heading into the fifth.

FIFTH INNING: BAMA POUNCES, LSU STUMBLES

The fifth inning proved to be the turning point.

Alabama opened the frame with a walk and a sharp single up the middle, putting two on with no outs. LSU coach Jay Johnson made a mound visit to calm Jump, but it didn’t help. Alabama’s Andrew Pinckney crushed a 2-0 fastball into the left-field seats for a three-run homer, pushing the Tide’s lead to 5-0.

The home crowd fell silent as Jump exited, his final line reading: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 6 K. LSU turned to freshman reliever Griffin Herring, who stopped the bleeding temporarily, but the damage had been done.

LSU managed to scratch across its first run in the bottom half of the fifth on a Dylan Crews RBI groundout following a leadoff walk and a double by Paxton Kling. Still, the Tigers trailed 5-1, and the uphill battle continued.

SIXTH INNING: LSU THREATENS, BUT ALABAMA ESCAPES

With Alabama’s bullpen beginning to stir, LSU tried to mount a comeback. Back-to-back singles from Tommy White and Jared Jones led to runners on the corners with no outs. However, what came next left fans shaking their heads: a strikeout, a pop-up, and a flyout to center that ended the inning with no runs scored.

The Tigers had stranded five baserunners through six innings and failed to capitalize in key moments. Alabama responded by tacking on another run in the top of the seventh via a double-steal and a throwing error from LSU catcher Brady Neal. That brought the score to 6-1.

SEVENTH AND EIGHTH INNINGS: LSU MAKES A PUSH

To their credit, the Tigers didn’t go down without a fight.

In the bottom of the seventh, LSU got a lift when Morgan led off with a double. Two batters later, White laced a single to right to bring him home, cutting the lead to 6-2. Jared Jones followed with a walk, and a fielder’s choice placed runners at the corners.

Travinski then delivered a two-run double off the left-center wall, electrifying the home crowd and pulling LSU within 6-4. Suddenly, the Tigers had life. Alabama went to its closer, Braylon Myers, earlier than expected, but he got Neal to fly out to end the inning.

LSU went down quietly in the eighth despite a leadoff single, and Alabama tacked on one more insurance run in the ninth — a solo home run from Colby Shelton that just cleared the right-field fence.

NINTH INNING: LSU’S LAST CHANCE FIZZLES

Down 7-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers needed a miracle. A walk by Jones to lead off offered a glimmer of hope, but Travinski popped out and Morgan grounded into a game-ending double play.

As the Alabama players stormed the field to celebrate the series win, LSU fans slowly filed out of the stadium, the sting of a missed opportunity hanging in the humid Baton Rouge air.

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR LSU

1. Early-Inning Struggles:
LSU’s slow start has become a concerning pattern. Falling behind 5-0 midway through the game put them in a hole too deep to escape. Alabama’s hitters came in aggressive, and Jump couldn’t keep them off base early.

2. Missed Opportunities:
The Tigers left nine runners on base and went just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. In the SEC, that inefficiency is a recipe for disaster.

3. Defensive Mistakes:
A throwing error in the seventh and a botched relay in the fifth both directly led to Alabama runs. LSU’s fielding percentage has dipped in recent weeks, and Sunday’s miscues only amplified the problem.

4. Inconsistent Bullpen Usage:
While Herring and Gavin Guidry showed flashes, LSU has yet to find a reliable middle-relief formula. Alabama exploited that, especially in innings five through seven.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

For Alabama:

• Andrew Pinckney: His fifth-inning three-run blast proved to be the difference-maker. The junior outfielder finished 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a walk.
• Ben Hess: The right-hander tossed five innings of one-run ball, striking out six and allowing just three hits.
• Colby Shelton: His solo home run in the ninth was the dagger that put LSU away for good.

For LSU:

• Jared Jones: The slugger reached base three times and continued to show why he’s one of the most dangerous power bats in the SEC.
• Hayden Travinski: His two-run double in the seventh ignited LSU’s comeback bid.
• Tommy White: “Tommy Tanks” went 2-for-4 and provided steady production in the middle of the order.

COACHES’ COMMENTS

Jay Johnson (LSU):
“We’ve got to do a better job of coming out ready to play. We knew what was at stake today. Credit to Alabama — they capitalized on our mistakes and came through in the big moments. That’s what good teams do.”

Rob Vaughn (Alabama):
“I’m proud of our guys. We played aggressive, we played clean, and we executed. That’s how you win SEC road series. LSU is a heck of a team, so getting two out of three here means a lot.”

WHAT’S NEXT

LSU now turns its attention to a midweek home game against McNeese State before heading to Oxford for a crucial weekend series with Ole Miss. With just 12 SEC games remaining, the Tigers are in the thick of the postseason positioning battle, currently projected as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament by most analysts — though that could shift if they don’t right the ship quickly.

Alabama, meanwhile, continues to exceed expectations in Vaughn’s first year at the helm. With series wins over both LSU and Arkansas now under their belt, the Tide are eyeing a potential top-16 seed — and perhaps even a chance to host a regional.

Sunday’s loss didn’t just sting because of the scoreline — it stung because it was winnable. LSU had chances to seize control but allowed Alabama to dictate terms far too often. In a conference as unforgiving as the SEC, the margin for error is slim, and the Tigers learned that lesson the hard way.

They’ll need to bounce back quickly, rediscover their defensive rhythm, and find consistency in the bullpen if they want to make a deep run in the postseason. The talent is there — but now it’s about execution.

The road to Omaha is never easy. But for LSU, it just got a little tougher.