Next Game: LSU 4/28/2019 | 1 p.m. CT SEC Network+

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball came up short against 14th-ranked LSU by a score of 5-2 on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The loss in game two evened the series up and moved the Crimson Tide to 26-18 overall, 5-15 in Southeastern Conference play.

"Well, as pleased as I was with the way we played yesterday, I am just as agitated, frustrated and disappointed in our guys for how we played today," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon . "We just didn't pitch, hit or defend well enough to beat a team like LSU. The good thing is that we have a lot of really good pitching available for tomorrow's game, and we've gotten double-digit hits in back-to-back days. We need to pitch better, field better and hit better tomorrow, if we want to win the series."

The Crimson Tide recorded double-digit hits for a second consecutive day but could only push across two runs with 10 left stranded. LSU totaled nine hits, including a three-run home run in the fourth that proved the difference. Originally called foul, a review of the long drive was overturned to a home run and put the visitors in front by what would prove the difference in a 5-2 game.

LSU starter Eric Walker (4-3) picked up the win thanks to 5.2 innings of one-run baseball. The sophomore allowed five hits and three walks while striking out a career-high nine batters. Tiger reliever Dylan Fontenot (5) collected his fifth save of the season with 1.1 scoreless frames to close out the day. Redshirt junior Brock Love (4-4) suffered the loss in the start for Alabama.

Senior Keith Holcombe began the day's scoring with a solo home run in the first at-bat for the Crimson Tide, but The Tigers evened things up in the third with a run of their own. Then, in the fourth, the three-run home run provided LSU with a 4-1 advantage. The Tigers added one more in the top of the fifth for a four-run lead through five innings.

Alabama was able to cut into the lead with one run in the bottom of the seventh. Holcombe started things with a one-out single and another single followed to put the senior in scoring position. A flyout to right moved Holcombe up to third before a single to left-center from sophomore Tyler Gentry crossed one for the Crimson Tide, making it a 5-2 affair headed to the final two frames. Alabama reached the leadoff man in the eighth, but a double play ended the threat with UA going in order in the ninth to give LSU the game-two victory.

Sunday's matchup between the Tide and Tigers will decide the series. First pitch at The Joe is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT with Alabama sending graduate right-hander Jeremy Randolph to the hill while LSU calls on freshman Landon Marceaux, also a righty, in the rubber match. Fans can catch the series finale live on SEC Network+.

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