BATON ROUGE, La. — The energy in Alex Box Stadium was electric on Saturday night as LSU fans packed the house to witness their Tigers face Dallas Baptist University (DBU) in the winner’s bracket of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. In a game brimming with postseason intensity and a few twists worthy of a thriller, LSU delivered a powerful message with a 7-3 win over a formidable Patriots squad, inching one step closer to hosting a Super Regional and keeping their Omaha dreams alive.
Behind a dominant performance from their starting pitcher, timely hitting, and some clutch defense, the Tigers (41–20) outlasted a gritty DBU team (44–14) that came in riding the high of an opening-round victory and an aggressive, power-driven approach at the plate. With the win, LSU moves to the regional final undefeated and forces DBU into a Sunday elimination game.
Let’s break down how LSU took care of business in this pivotal postseason matchup.
Thatcher Hurd Dominates on the Mound
If there was ever a time for Thatcher Hurd to reassert his postseason prowess, it was Saturday night—and the sophomore right-hander did just that. Hurd tossed six strong innings, allowing just two runs on four hits, striking out seven, and walking two. His fastball had life and his curveball consistently fooled DBU hitters, many of whom were left swinging over the top or frozen looking.
“Thatcher was incredible,” said LSU head coach Jay Johnson. “He had command of all three pitches and gave us exactly what we needed against a lineup that can really swing it.”
After a scoreless first inning from both teams, Hurd worked out of a second-inning jam after a leadoff walk and a bloop single. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Hurd struck out DBU’s power-hitting senior, Ethan Mann, then induced a double-play grounder to end the threat.
That moment proved pivotal, calming LSU’s dugout and allowing the offense to settle in.
Tigers’ Offense Wakes Up in the Third
DBU starter Alec Baker was solid through two innings, but LSU cracked him open in the third. After a leadoff single from Michael Braswell, the Tigers began to string together patient, disciplined at-bats. Jared Jones was hit by a pitch to put two on, and Tommy White, LSU’s ever-reliable RBI machine, ripped a double to left-center to drive in both runs and open the scoring.
The crowd erupted as “Tommy Tanks” stood at second base pumping his fists, and it lit the fuse for a three-run inning capped off by an RBI single from Tre’ Morgan.
“We talked about being tough in our at-bats,” White said postgame. “Don’t chase, stay in the zone, and good things will happen. That third inning showed what we can do when we’re patient.”
The 3-0 lead allowed Hurd to settle into a rhythm. He retired eight straight at one point and didn’t allow another runner past first base until the sixth.
DBU’s Fightback Falls Short
Dallas Baptist didn’t go quietly. Trailing 4-0 in the top of the sixth, the Patriots mounted their strongest offensive push of the night. A two-out walk followed by a towering double off the bat of Jayden Duplantier gave DBU life. Then, catcher Cole Moore lined a single to right to bring in two and cut the deficit to 4-2.
But Hurd kept his composure, striking out the next batter to end the inning and preserve LSU’s lead.
“I liked the way he responded,” Coach Johnson said. “Those are momentum innings, and Thatcher didn’t let it snowball. That’s what aces do.”
Bullpen Locks It Down
Following Hurd’s exit, Johnson turned to the bullpen to cover the final nine outs. Griffin Herring, the lefty setup man who has grown into one of the most reliable arms in the SEC, handled the seventh and eighth with poise. He struck out three across two scoreless innings, showing pinpoint control of his breaking ball and changing speeds effectively.
In the ninth, LSU brought in closer Gavin Guidry, who gave up a leadoff double but slammed the door with a flyout and two strikeouts, the final one sending the purple and gold faithful into a frenzy.
“Everything we’ve worked on all year—building trust in each other, executing under pressure—showed up tonight,” Guidry said. “We’ve got the best fans in college baseball and we want to keep giving them more to cheer for.”
Key Contributors at the Plate
LSU’s offense didn’t rely on the long ball as much as fans might expect. Instead, it was a collection of timely hits, smart baserunning, and clutch RBI at-bats that did the trick.
- Tommy White: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 1 double
- Michael Braswell: 2-for-4, 2 runs scored
- Tre’ Morgan: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 walk
- Hayden Travinski: 1-for-4, RBI single in the 7th that padded the lead
- Josh Pearson: 1-for-3 with a run scored and an outfield assist that cut down a DBU runner at third
The Tigers plated runs in four different innings and kept pressure on the DBU defense throughout.
“We didn’t let them breathe,” said Pearson. “Every inning, we were trying to manufacture runs or put guys in scoring position.”
Defense Wins Championships
One of the quieter yet crucial components of LSU’s win was its defense. With postseason pressure thick and every out magnified, the Tigers were sharp across the field.
In the fourth inning, Jordan Thompson made a diving stop at short and threw out a runner from his knees to rob a single. Later, in the seventh, Pearson’s laser throw from left field erased a would-be DBU rally.
“These are the plays that define your tournament,” Johnson said. “It’s easy to talk about offense, but our guys took pride in every pitch, every out, every inning.”
What’s Next for the Tigers
With the win, LSU now sits in the driver’s seat. They await the winner of Sunday’s elimination game between DBU and North Carolina State, who defeated Tulane earlier in the day to stay alive. The Tigers would need just one more win to punch their ticket to the Super Regional, while their opponent would need to beat LSU twice.
That’s the kind of position a team dreams about in early June.
But Coach Johnson isn’t letting anyone get ahead of themselves.
“This region isn’t won yet,” he said firmly. “We’re going to prepare tonight, tomorrow morning, and be ready to go. The job’s not finished.”
DBU Still Dangerous
Despite the loss, Dallas Baptist remains a dangerous team. Their lineup is deep, and their bullpen arms showed resilience after the early trouble. Head coach Dan Heefner is no stranger to postseason magic, and DBU has made deep runs before.
“They’re a great ballclub,” said Johnson. “They swing it, they play hard, and they’ve earned our respect.”
Saturday night was a statement game for LSU. With the bright lights on, the Tigers showed balance—strong starting pitching, efficient bullpen work, opportunistic hitting, and stellar defense. More importantly, they played with a confidence and edge that has been building throughout the second half of the season.
After a rocky midseason stretch that had fans questioning if this team could live up to its preseason expectations, LSU now finds itself one win away from a Super Regional. The path is never easy, especially in the unpredictable chaos of June baseball, but the Tigers showed on Saturday night that they’re built for this.
With the crowd behind them, talent on their side, and a coaching staff that knows how to win in the postseason, LSU is marching forward.
