Down to the last strike, LSU baseball beats Cal in dramatic walk-off win

LSU had a flair for the dramatic Friday night against Cal.

Down to its last strike with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, shortstop Josh Smith delivered with a bloop single on a 2-2 count that scored two runs, the second of which lifted LSU to a 4-3 win.

Here’s the play, courtesy of LSU’s Twitter account:

WHAT. A. GAME. @josh_smith8. Walk. It. Off. pic.twitter.com/R8XhovW0TA

— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) March 9, 2019

The Tigers’ bats had an off-night, but that’s what’s beautiful about baseball. A couple guys get on and things can come alive in an instant. That’s what happened in the ninth for LSU. Saul Garza had a pinch hit single, and Giovanni DiGiacomo beat out an infield single. Hal Hughes then struck out swinging but made it to first base on a passed ball.

That’s when things came together for Smith, who was 0-4 on the night after riding an 11-game hit streak into the contest.

Following the win, No. 9 LSU improved to 10-3, while Cal dropped to 6-5.

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.