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LSU sweeps SEC opener, but falls from No. 1 spot in rankings

On3 imageby:Shea Dixon•about 23 hours•

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(Photo: LSU Athletics)
(Photo: LSU Athletics)

The LSU Baseball team’s win streak has moved up to 15 games in a row, but the Tigers fell out of the No. 1 spot in Monday’s NCAA Top 25 rankings.

With SEC play kicking off this past weekend, LSU swept Missouri to move to 20-1 on the year and start out 3-0 in the conference.

No matter, No. 1 LSU turned into No. 2 LSU when the Top 25 Rankings were released on Monday. Tennessee, who got the series win over No. 7 Florida, jumped the Tigers in the Top 25 rankings on On3, Baseball America, D1 Baseball, Perfect Game and the Coaches Poll.

On3 broke down all the shakeup in the polls following the start of SEC play, which includes Texas A&M going from the preseason No. 1 team to unranked after the first weekend of conference competition.

LSU sweeps Missouri in SEC Opener

(Editor’s note: The following is a press release from LSUSports.net)

Designated hitter Ethan Frey tied his career high with three hits Sunday, and he drove in a pair of runs as top-ranked LSU recorded a 10-5 win over Missouri in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.

LSU, which has won 15 straight games, improved to 20-1 overall and 3-0 in the SEC, while Missouri dropped to 8-11 and 0-3.

LSU opened SEC play with a three-game sweep for the first time since 2019, when the Tigers swept Kentucky in Baton Rouge.

The Tigers’ 15-game win streak is their longest since the 2017 team won 17 in a row from May 11 through June 17.

“Ethan was clutch today, big hits, executed a hit and run,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I thought he was great, and that’s a guy that wasn’t even in the lineup yesterday.”

Frey was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Sunday as LSU collected 14 hits, including five doubles and one homer. Rightfielder Jake Brown launched a two-run homer in the first inning – his first dinger of the year – and shortstop Steven Milam contributed two hits and two RBI.

Left-hander Conner Ware (3-0) was LSU’s winning pitcher for the second day in a row, as he entered the game in the fourth inning in relief of starter Chase Shores. Ware worked 0.2 inning with no hits, no walks and on strikeout.

“Conner Ware coming back on back-to-back days was big, as left-handed heavy as Missouri is,” Johnson said.

LSU also received an excellent relief outing from freshman right-hander Mavrick Rizy, who pitched 2.0 innings and allowed one run on no hits with one walk and one strikeout. Right-hander Zac Cowan pitched the final 2.1 innings, limiting Missouri to one run on two hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Missouri starting pitcher Kadden Drew (2-1) was charged with the loss, as he surrendered four runs on four hits in 2.0 innings with one walk and two strikeouts.

“In the SEC, you’re playing some better opponents that make the game harder,” Johnson explained. “So, you get challenged, and what’s important is how you respond to those challenges. I thought our team showed up, and that’s my big takeaway from the weekend. If these guys show up in that way, we’ll be in every game that we play.”

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