LSU blasts three home runs to clinch series sweep

BATON ROUGE, La.- Top-ranked LSU broke a 1-1 tie with a five-run fifth inning on Sunday, and junior right-hander Ty Floyd was impressive as the Tigers cruised to a 9-2 win over Western Michigan at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. .

LSU improved to 3-0 as it completed a three-game winning streak to open the 2023 season. Western Michigan fell to 0-3 on the year.

LSU returns to action at 2 pm CT Tuesday when the Tigers play host to Southern University at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network affiliate, and will air on SEC Network+.

“I thought the whole weekend was great, a great model for what we’re trying to do,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “We’ve got great starting pitching, great defense and we’re really good at situational hitting. I’m really happy with how many people contributed to the win as well.”

Floyd (1-0) entered the game to start the fifth inning tied at 1-1, and he pitched three perfect innings with no walks and four strikeouts.

“Ty came in with the game tied, and he got the momentum back in our dugout, and we rolled from there,” Johnson said. “He did a really good job; he’s one of the best pitchers on our staff, and you have to have a guy like Ty that you can trust to come in a tough spot.”

LSU collected 10 hits in the contest, including home runs by centerfielder Dylan Crews, shortstop Jordan Thompson and second baseman Gavin Dugas, who was 3-for-3 on the day with a homer and two runs scored. Thompson recorded a team-high three RBIs with a homer and one RBI.

The Crew’s two-run blast in the fifth inning broke a 1-1 tie and plated five Tigers runs. The rally also featured an RBI single by catcher Brady Neal and a two-run homer by Thompson that gave LSU a 6-1 lead.

The Tigers added a run in the sixth in the lead-off Dinger Dugas’, as he homered for the second consecutive game. LSU scored two more runs in the seventh on a Thompson RBI single and a run-scoring groundout by pinch hitter Ethan Frey.

Dugas was 6-for-8 at the plate in the weekend series with two homers, two RBIs and three runs scored.

“Gavin has faced adversity with injuries, but he’s been persevering and staying true,” Johnson said. “I think the best is yet to come for him.”

Lukas Thelen (0-1), the second of seven WMU pitchers, was charged with the loss as he gave up three runs on one hit in 0.2 innings with two walks and one strikeout.