BATON ROUGE – In a stunning reversal of fortune, the No. 3-ranked LSU Tigers baseball team suffered its first loss of the 2025 season Saturday afternoon at Alex Box Stadium, falling 5-4 to Omaha Mavericks in a chaotic doubleheader matchup that saw multiple lead changes and bullpen meltdowns.
Seventh-Inning Collapse
What began as a pitching duel turned disastrous when relievers Grant Fontenot and Connor Benge combined to surrender five runs in the seventh inning. The collapse included:
- A wild pitch scoring Drew Borner
- Jackson Trout’s three-run homer on Benge’s first pitch
- Four consecutive batters reaching base without recording an out
Too Little, Too Late
The Tigers mounted a furious ninth-inning rally behind freshman Daniel Dickinson’s clutch 2-RBI double. Key moments included:
| Play | Result |
|---|---|
| Jared Jones’ RBI single | 5-3 deficit |
| Josh Pearson’s sacrifice fly | 5-4 score |
| Steven Milam’s game-ending flyout | Bases left loaded |
“We showed tremendous fight late,” said Coach Jay Johnson. “But you can’t spot quality opponents five runs and expect to survive in championship baseball.”
What’s Next
The Tigers (6-1) face immediate challenges with:
- A Sunday rematch against Omaha at 1 p.m. CT
- Upcoming road tests at Texas (March 7-9)
- SEC play opening March 14 at Auburn
