Did LSU beat Vanderbilt in baseball?
The LSU Tigers and the Vanderbilt Commodores are two of the top college baseball teams in the country and have played each other many times over the years. In the 2019 season, LSU and Vanderbilt faced off in a three-game series, with the Tigers coming out on top in two of the three games.
History of LSU-Vanderbilt Baseball Series
The LSU Tigers and Vanderbilt Commodores have a long and competitive history on the baseball diamond, dating back to the 1950s. The teams have squared off more than 180 times since then, with the Tigers holding a slight edge with a record of 92-90. The two teams have met in the NCAA Tournament six times, with LSU taking four of the games.
2019 LSU-Vanderbilt Series
The 2019 series between LSU and Vanderbilt took place on April 26-28 at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. The Tigers entered the series with an overall record of 28-17 and a conference record of 11-7 while the Commodores had a record of 29-14 overall and 11-8 in the SEC.
Game One: LSU 8, Vanderbilt 3
In the first game of the series, LSU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. The Tigers added two more runs in the fourth inning and two more in the eighth to seal the victory. The Commodores scored three runs in the ninth inning, but it was too little too late. LSU ace Zack Hess picked up the win on the mound, allowing three runs on eight hits in seven innings.
Game Two: Vanderbilt 7, LSU 3
The second game of the series was much closer, as the Commodores scored four runs in the first inning to take an early lead. The Tigers clawed back, scoring two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3. However, Vanderbilt stormed back with four runs in the seventh inning to take a 7-3 lead and never looked back. Mason Hickman earned the win on the mound for the Commodores, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings of work.
Game Three: LSU 5, Vanderbilt 3
The rubber match of the series was a back-and-forth affair. Vanderbilt jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, only to see LSU tie the game in the fifth with two runs. The Tigers then took the lead with a run in the seventh, only to see Vanderbilt score one in the eighth to tie the game at 3-3. LSU took the lead for good in the ninth inning with two runs, securing the series victory. LSU’s Eric Walker earned the win on the mound, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings of work.
LSU’s Performance in 2019
The 2019 LSU squad was one of the most successful teams in school history, finishing the regular season with a record of 42-17 and a conference record of 19-11. The Tigers went on to make their fourth consecutive appearance in the College World Series and finished the season with a 48-21 record.
Vanderbilt’s Performance in 2019
The 2019 Vanderbilt team was also very successful, finishing the regular season with a record of 46-14 and an SEC record of 21-9. The Commodores went on to make their third consecutive appearance in the College World Series, where they finished runner-up to Michigan. Vanderbilt ended the season with a 49-17 record.
Impact of the 2019 Series on Postseason Performance
The 2019 series between LSU and Vanderbilt had a major impact on both teams’ postseason performances. The Tigers’ two wins in the series gave them the edge in the SEC standings, which earned them a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt’s loss in the series cost them the SEC regular season title, which earned them a #5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Final Thoughts
The 2019 series between LSU and Vanderbilt was an intense and competitive three-game set, with the Tigers coming out on top in two of the three games. The series had a major impact on both teams’ postseason performances, with LSU earning a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and Vanderbilt earning a #5 seed. The series was just one of many between these two storied programs, and it will certainly be remembered for years to come.
LSU, Vanderbilt, Tigers, Commodores, Baseball, 2019 season, NCAA Tournament, SEC, Alex Box Stadium, Mason Hickman