Points Box
BATON ROUGE – Air Force (1-1) scored three runs at the top of the ninth entry on a pair of base-laden hikes and a fly to defeat the LSU of seventh ranked (1-1), 6-4, Sunday afternoon at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
LSU will return for the final game of its opening weekend at 5 pm CT Monday against Louisiana Tech. The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network + through WatchESPN.com and the app.
Ty Floyd (0-1) was accused of defeat after allowing three runs in one stroke and riding two.
Joe Martinez III (1-0) won the Air Force victory after facing two hitters and hitting one. Paul Skenes won the defense after closing the game for the Falcons. He gave up on a race in the ninth.
“All Air Force pitchers did a great job and their kids really competed,” said the LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “They threw really great guns at us; their last pitcher was playing 97 mph. They made great shots on the field under a lot of pressure, and this is what you would expect from Air Force Academy kids. They are going to be flying 100 million aircraft one day, and there is no other option but to win.
“It is a difficult defeat for us, obviously, and there are many areas where we need to improve. We will face them and we will improve. This was only the second game of the year. We have a tough game tomorrow (against Louisiana Tech), so let’s get ready for that. “
LSU entered the table early with runs on the second and third to take a 2-0 lead. Giovanni DiGiacomo led the second with a triple and scored in a one-out RBI won by Drew Bianco. On the third, Cade Doughty scored in a double off the wall in the left field.
The Air Force tied the game on Wednesday after a couple of errors in the infield. With the runners in the scoring position, designated hitter Braydon Altorfer stopped to mark a runner. On the next hit, Gabriel Garcia scored after a field error.
Falcons took the lead at the top of the sixth in another field error. After a single, stolen base, midfielder Blake Covin scored in the error and gave the Air Force a 4-3 lead.
First base Tre ‘Morgan and Cade Beloso opened the eighth entrance with consecutive walks and advanced to the second and third in a wild field. Second year Zach Arnold then he tied a single left field to help give LSU a 4-3 lead.
The Air Force responded at the start of the ninth inning with three races to take the 6-4 lead. Floyd gave up two individual hikes and one inland field to load the bases. Aaron George then he gave up consecutive walks and a fly to allow the Falcons to run three runs.
Freshman Dylan Crews played a race game at the top of the ninth with an individual home run to the left, but it was not enough for the Tigers.
Landon Marceaux started for the Tigers and threw five entries. Junior allowed two strokes and crossed four on his debut in 2021. He was accused of two undeserved runs.