With the win, the Tigers will play Arkansas next.
HOOVER, Ala. -- Top-ranked LSU erased a five-run deficit with a six-run fifth inning Wednesday night as the Tigers posted a 9-8 win against Auburn in the SEC Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
LSU (47-9) will play No. 5-seed Arkansas, a 7-6 the winner of Wednesday night’s game against Florida. Auburn (35-23) will face No. 4-seed Florida on Thursday.
Two-time defending tournament champion LSU has won eight consecutive SEC Tournament games dating back to 2013. The Tigers have won 11 consecutive games in Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, including three regular-season wins earlier this season against Alabama.
Trailing 8-3, LSU erupted for six runs on six hits in the fifth inning to take a 9-8 lead. Left fielder Jake Fraley lined an RBI single before third baseman Conner Hale delivered a two-run single to narrow the deficit to 8-6. Kade Scivicque’s RBI double reduced Auburn’s lead to one run before first baseman Chris Chinea’s double tied the game at 8-8.
The six-run outburst was culminated by an RBI single from designated hitter Chris Sciambra that scored Chinea and gave LSU its first lead of the game.
“That was about the ugliest game of the year that we have played for the first four innings,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “Somehow we found a way to win the game. That to me is a credit to our kids. They really hang in there. We’ve become so used to falling behind in games that our guys don’t flinch. They know we have a good offensive team, and they’re not going to give up when we fall behind like that.”
Freshman righthander Doug Norman (5-1), the third of seven LSU pitchers, earned the win, allowing one unearned run on one hit in two innings with no walks and one strikeout.
