BATON ROUGE -- LSU center fielder Mikie Mahtook delivered two hits and four RBI, and starter Ben Alsup hurled 6.2 stellar innings to lead the seventh-ranked Tigers to a 10-2 victory over No. 6 Cal State Fullerton and secure a series sweep Sunday in Alex Box Stadium.

The Tigers (15-1) jumped on the Titans early with eight runs in the first three innings and never looked back. Cal State Fullerton fell to 8-6 with the loss.

Mahtook increased his RBI total to 19 on the season, which ties right fielder Mason Katz for the team lead.

Designated hitter Raph Rhymes also shined with three hits, and the duo of left fielder Trey Watkins and Rhymes at the top of the order scored six of the Tigers' 10 runs. Shortstop Austin Nola contributed a pair of hits and two RBI.

Alsup (3-1) earned his third victory of the season after surrendering only one earned run on four hits and two walks. The senior also fanned five.

"This was a great weekend for our team and our fans," said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. "I told our players that throughout the years, LSU has always played its best in the biggest games, and I think we did that in this series. We played with a lot of intensity and energy today, and I think the pressure we created with our bunting and running game really made a difference. What pleases me most is the unselfish attitude that our players have; that's been a big factor in our success so far this season."

The total actual attendance of 27,194 for the three-game series is the largest figure in Alex Box Stadium history.

For the third straight game the Tigers pushed two runs across in the bottom of the first to set the early tone with a 2-0 lead. Following an RBI grounder by Mahtook, Nola doubled in a run with a deep fly into the gap in right center.

In the second, LSU continued to capitalize on defensive miscues that had plagued Cal State Fullerton all weekend as the Tigers scored five runs off four hits and three errors to take a 7-0 lead.

First baseman Grant Dozar and catcher Jordy Snikeris each reached base on Titan errors, and second baseman JaCoby Jones followed with an RBI single to plate Dozar. Titans' starter Colin O'Connell then airmailed a pick-off attempt of Jones at first, allowing Snickeris to score from third and Jones to advance two bases.

Watkins brought home Jones in the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly to right, while Mahtook and Nola drove in the Tigers' fourth and fifth runs of the inning with RBI singles.

The Tigers added a run in the third to go up, 8-0, when Hanover lined an RBI single into center.

Cal State Fullerton put runs on the board in the fifth and seventh frames to cut the deficit to 8-2, but the Tigers put the game out of reach with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth. Mahtook recorded his third and fourth RBI on the day with a base hit up the middle to plate Rhymes and Watkins.

Right-handers Samuel Peterson and Jimmy Dykstra combined for 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen in relief of Alsup.

O'Connell (2-1) was charged with the loss after giving up six runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk in 1.1 innings.

LSU will go on the road for the first time this season when the Tigers travel to Thibodaux to challenge in-state foe Nicholls State on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. CDT.



LSU 10, Cal State Fullerton 2 (Mar 13, 2011 at Baton Rouge, La.)

Cal State Fullerton. 000 010 100 - 2 4 4 (8-6)

LSU..................... 251 000 02X - 10 11 2 (15-1)

Pitchers: Cal State Fullerton - O'Connell, Colin; Devenski, Chris(2); Ackland, Ryan(6); Coronado, Christian(8) and Deacon, Jared; Tanida, Zach.

LSU - Ben Alsup; Samuel Peterson(7); Jimmy Dykstra(8) and Jordy Snikeris.

Win-Ben Alsup(3-1) Loss-O'Connell, Colin(2-1) T-2:43 A-10850

Actual Attendance: 8,167

Actual attendance of 27,194 for the three-game series is the largest in Alex Box Stadium history.