Tommy White hits walk-off winner as LSU run rules Mississippi State

LSU joined the ranks of SEC winners in walk-off fashion on Friday night, just hours after Florida did so with a 10-0 blanking of Vanderbilt.

The Tigers were terrific in a game against Mississippi State, taking an early lead and riding a commanding outing on the mound by starting pitcher Paul Skenes.

With a 10-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, LSU third baseman Tommy White launched a two-run bomb to left field, making it 12-1 and triggering the run rule to end the game.

TANKS CALLED GAME@tommywhite44 | #ThePowerhouse pic.twitter.com/6Ar9PWkStq

— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 13, 2023

LSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when second baseman and leadoff hitter Gavin Dugas took the first pitch from Evan Siary and cranked it down the left field line over the wall.

The Tigers would go on to score four more runs in the bottom of the second inning in a bit of a Home Run Derby.

Right fielder Brayden Jobert was the second homerun hitter on the evening, launching a two-run shot to right field. Shortstop Jordan Thompson followed up by going back-to-back, taking a solo shot to left field to make it 4-0. After a triple from Dugas, left fielder Tre’ Morgan brought him home with a sacrifice fly, making it 5-0.

And with a comfortable lead to work with, Skenes settled in on the mound and paved the way for the walk-off winner.

He went all seven innings for LSU to earn the win, his 10th of the season. He allowed just three hits and one run, while striking out 13 and walking just one.

Mississippi State finally showed signs of life in the top of the seventh inning, reaching base on a throwing error and then putting a second runner aboard with a single.

Skenes managed to come back with a strikeout for the first out before a web gem retired the side.

Mississippi State first baseman Luke Hancock got hold of Skenes pitch and launched it out to left center field, taking it all the way to the warning track. Morgan raced over, made the catch as he slammed into the wall, then threw the ball to the infield.

Bulldogs baserunner Dakota Jordan missed the tag-up and was thrown out at third base, a double play ending the inning.

The Tigers capitalized on the big momentum swing right away, with Morgan hitting a chop single up the middle to score two runs and make it 10-1. Then White finished the Bulldogs off with his two-run homer and walk-off winner to left field a few moments later.