LSU opened its series with Vanderbilt by sinking the Commodores, 13-2 on Thursday night. The Tigers jumped out front with a six-run second inning. Jordan Thompson opened the frame with a solo home run followed by a three-run blast by Dylan Crews. Cade Doughty went yard twice and Brayden Jobert smacked his 15th homer of the season as well, as the Tigers pounded out 16 hits against Vandy pitchers. Ma’Khail Hilliard gave another strong start, going five and a third innings and allowing just one run while improving to 6-1 on the season. The win guarantees LSU at least a .500 finish in the SEC. Game two starts tonight at 6 pm.
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Southern took over first place in the SWAC West with a 21-2 destruction of Alcorn State. Jovante Dorris hit a grand slam to cap a nine-run first inning for the Jags. The Ragin Cajuns lost to Little Rock 2-0, UL-Monroe ended a three-game skid with a 16-9 win over Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech lost to Charlotte 11-3 and Tulane fell to Memphis by the same score.
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More college baseball as the Southland Tournament began yesterday in Lake Charles and Hammond. In the McNeese Bracket, fourth-seeded Nicholls topped Northwestern State 7-5 and the top-seeded Cowboys doubled up Incarnate Word 12-6. NSU and UIW play an elimination game at 1 pm with Nicholls and McNeese starting at 6 tonight.
In the Southeastern Bracket, three-seed UNO beat Houston Baptist 10-3, and Southeastern was upset by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6-5. The Lions try to stay alive against HBU this afternoon while the Privateers take on the Islanders this evening.
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The NCAA softball tournament begins today. UL-Lafayette makes its 23rd consecutive appearance in the tournament and faces Auburn at 1:30 this afternoon in the Clemson Regional. LSU opens regional play on the road for the first time since 2014. The Tigers will take on San Diego State tonight at 7 pm in the Tempe Regional.
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