ESPN’s Kyle Peterson pushes back on Hayden Travinski fan interference in LSU vs. Texas A&M game

In the eighth inning of Friday night’s game against Texas A&M, LSU catcher Hayden Travinski thought he had a home run. The solo shot would’ve extended the Tigers’ lead to 7-4 entering the ninth inning and provided an insurance run in front of the home crowd.

Instead, upon review, the umpires deemed a fan reached over the stands and made contact with the ball. They then called Travinski out due to fan interference, and ESPN’s Kyle Peterson weighed in on the controversial decision in the top of the ninth.

Peterson disagreed with the call and said he was surprised the decision came to call fan interference. He thought it would either stay a home run or maybe move to a double, and even after seeing the play a few times, said he didn’t think it warranted the final decision.

“That was not exactly what I thought we were gonna get,” Peterson said on the SEC Network broadcast. “I thought we were gonna get either upheld or overturned. In fact, I thought we were gonna get overturned, it’s a double.

“Fan interference didn’t really enter my mind. I still don’t see it.”

Peterson and Tom Hart watched some more replays, including some different views. One of them showed something he found interesting. While he didn’t know if the fan ended up making contact for sure, Peterson said they might’ve stopped it from being a sure-fire home run.

“I’ve got another thought on that angle. I don’t think the fan touched it,” he said. “But if he did touch it, he kept it from being a home run.”

Griffin Herring came back out for the ninth inning for LSU and, despite giving up two hits, picked up the save as the Tigers defeated Texas A&M 6-4 to open the three-game series at Alex Box Stadium.

LSU could be going through this weekend’s series without pitcher Nate Ackenhausen as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. Tigers coach Jay Johnson shared an update with reporters on Thursday and said it was still a wait-and-see type of situation and he’d know more Friday.

“Don’t know yet [if Ackenhausen can play],” Johnson said. “Won’t know until tomorrow.”

Ackenhausen has pitched 30.2 innings this season, recording a 5.87 ERA. The 6-foot-2 senior has dealt 37 strikeouts while only throwing two wild pitches. Over the last month, Ackenhausen has routinely been LSU’s Game 3 starter.