Robertson makes a great play on a ball up the middle to get first out... Next batter singles to right, Laird came up throwing and almost got a 9-3 ground out. Replay shows he may have got him, but call is safe. Runner steals second....very close Routine ground out to 2nd, runner to 3rd, 2 away. And a 3-pitch strikeout for Nola...now at 88 pitches. 3-1 Tigers after 5 innings.
Connor Hale flies out to right to lead off 6th. Moore strikes out swinging, 2 down. Stevenson with a little flare to center for his second hit....but he's gunned down trying to steal second. EOI
My bad...Nola pitch count at 85 to start bottom of 6th 2 pitch out for leadoff, flyout to Stevenson. Punch out for 7th K (he threw him 4 strikes, not thrilled with home plate ump) 2 down. Comeback grounder to mound for 3rd out. Nola at 92 pitches. still 3-1 after 6 innings.
Ibarra leads off 7th with a grounder through left side for a single. Robertson looking for a sac bunt, gets the walk after going full count. Mound conference, bullpen working for UH....ump ends conference, and it turns into a discussion of his ball-strike calls. Crowd turns up the volume a bit.... Laird with a single to right, Ibarra scores! But Laird overshoots first and thrown out, Mainieri not happy at all with that call...but its 4-1 Tigers! ESPN analyzing play, misses Bregman singling up middle to score Robertson! 5-1 Tigers!! That will do it for Lemoine....feel free to run a Home Depot commercial through your minds during this pitching change. They bring in a lefty to throw to Fraley.....he bloops one to second for 2nd out. The Hat gets a little screen time, sitting right behind LSU dugout. McMullen flies out to left for final out. Tigers up 5-1 going to bottom of 7th.
One pitch, one out...fly out to Stevenson Line out to Fraley for 2nd out. Pitch count, 98 And another fly out Stevenson. 5-1 after 7, Nola at 101 pitches, one more inning?
Same reliever opens 8th for UH... Hale hits it well to the gap, LF gets over for the fly out. Moore bloops one to first for second out. Two arms loosening up for Tigers..... Stevenson drives it up the middle for his 3rd hit of the night...11 hits for the Tigers. Ibarra high chopper deep in hole, SS goes to 2nd....not in time. Fielders choice puts runners at 1st and 2nd. Full count to Robertson, runners going on the pitch....but he strikes out swinging. Still 5-1 going to bottom of 8th.
Nola comes out to start the 8th....gets a routine fly ball to Fraley for first out. Here comes Paul....and Nola will leave to a standing O...he's retired 9 straight. It will be Zac Person....one pitch, one out again, Fraley. Next batter walks...2 out for UH's leading hitter, Grayson. He's 0-3 against Nola....he smokes one past Ibarra for a single. 1st and 2nd, McCune warming up. Person strikes out the cleanup hitter on a steady diet of beautiful curve balls! 5-1 going to the 9th.
New pitcher for Houston, Louisiana lefty Jared West. Laird ground out to 3rd, questionable, 3B couldn't get ball out of his glove. Replay shows it was a good call, but very close. Bregman gets clipped across the chest and takes his base. Chinea will pinch hit for Fraley....first pitch hit right to CF for second out. Joe Broussard warming up. Bregman picked off, thrown out at 2nd to end inning. 3 outs to go.
