Next Game: at LSU 5/12/2018 | 7 p.m. SEC Network

BATON ROUGE, La. – Alabama baseball suffered a late 7-5 loss to LSU on Friday night at Alex Box Stadium. Following the series opener, the Crimson Tide is 25-26 overall and 6-19 in Southeastern Conference play.

Alabama scored two apiece in the second and third innings and one in the top of the eighth to lead 5-1 entering the bottom of the eighth. In the home half, the Tigers used an error, three walks and four hits, including the game-winning grand slam, to take their first lead of evening at 7-5, the eventual final.

The Crimson Tide struck first on Friday with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Freshman catcher Sam Praytor led off the inning with a single and was followed by a double one out later from sophomore John Trousdale to put a pair in scoring position. Jett Manning took advantage of the opportunity, as the junior sent a two-RBI single over the head of the LSU second baseman to make it a 2-0 game.

One inning later, the Tide added two more for a 4-0 lead. The Alabama third began with Cobie Vance getting hit by a pitch and a walk to junior Joe Breaux to place two aboard. A sacrifice bunt moved the tandem into scoring position and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Keith Holcombe . The junior proceeded to extend his conference hitting streak to eight games with a single back up the middle for a pair of RBI to double the Crimson Tide lead.

LSU got on the board in the third. An error by Alabama reached the leadoff man for the Tigers and a double one out later brought across an unearned run to make it a 4-1 game. The Crimson Tide got back the run in the eighth. Trousdale led things off with a double and Manning brought him in once again, singling over the shortstop to extend the lead to four at 5-1.

In the bottom of the eight, an error allowed the Tigers to reach a man with one down. A pair of walks loaded the bases before a single moved everyone up 90 feet, crossing a run in the process. The Tigers followed with a walk to bring in one more before a grand slam cleared the bases and gave LSU the 7-5 lead which would prove to be the eventual final.

The Crimson Tide received an impressive outing from starter Sam Finnerty . The junior worked 6.2 innings and gave up one unearned run on the night in the no-decision. He allowed six hits and walked three while striking out one Tiger hitter across his 90 pitches of work.

Alabama's offense received multi-hit outings from Trousdale and Manning. Trousdale finished 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles for a second consecutive game and contributed a team-high two runs scored. Manning paced the Tide with three RBI as part of his 2-for-3 night that included a walk.

The two teams return to the diamond tomorrow evening for game two of the series set for a 7 p.m. CT first pitch. Alabama will send senior right-hander Jake Walters to the hill while LSU looks to freshman righty Ma'Khail Hilliard in the start. The game will air nationally on SEC Network with the tandem of Taylor Zarzour and Ben McDonald on the call.

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