Thursday recaps; Diodati delivers walk-off single; Marceaux deals for LSU

Alabama posted a walk-off win to defeat arch-rival Auburn and LSU two LSU pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts in the win over South Carolina. Here is a look at Thursday night’s SEC Baseball action.

PLAYER OF THE DAY:

Alabama designated hitter Owen Diodati roped an RBI single down the right field line to lift Alabama to an 8-7, 10-inning win over rival Auburn. The 10^th inning dramatics was the Crimson Tide’s fifth walk-off win of the season, and the second by Diodati. He hit a walk-off grand slam in a 9-8 win over South Alabama on March 9. He finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs in the win over Auburn.

PITCHER OF THE DAY:

LSU right-hander Landon Marceaux tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 12 batters in the win over South Carolina. He struck out every Gamecock batter at least once. Marceaux limited South Carolina centerfielder Brady Allen and DH Wes Clarke to one hit in five at-bats with three strikeouts.

THURSDAY RECAPS:

Alabama 8, Auburn 7 (10 Innings) (Tuscaloosa)

Records: Alabama (21-12, 6-7 SEC); Auburn (13-17; 1-12 SEC)

Series: Alabama leads series, 1-0

Diodati roped an RBI single down the right field line to lift Alabama to an 8-7, 10-inning win over rival Auburn.

Diodati smashed the first pitch he saw from Auburn reliever Carson Skipper past first baseman Tyler Miller to score third baseman Zane Denton with the winning run in the back-and-forth game.

Denton opened the inning with a single to left on 3-2 pitch and then catcher Sam Praytor followed with a single through the right side to put runners at first and second with no outs. Diodati delivered the walk-off hit on the very next pitch from Skipper.

The 10^th inning dramatics was the Crimson Tide’s fifth walk-off win of the season, and the second by Diodati. He hit a walk-off grand slam in a 9-8 win over South Alabama on March 9.

Alabama and Auburn traded solo home runs in the eighth inning.

Auburn centerfielder Kason Howell gave the Tigers a 7-6 lead with a solo home run to dead center to lead off the inning. It was his third extra base hit and second home run of the game. Howell had a two-run inside the park home run in the fourth inning.

Praytor slammed a first pitch curve ball off Richard Fitts into the left field play ground to even the score at 7-7 in the bottom of the inning.

Auburn took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a solo home run by catcher Steven Williams.

Alabama scored the next four runs to take a 4-1 lead. First baseman Drew Williamson belted an opposite field, two-run homer in the second inning and Praytor and Diodati added RBI singles in the third to make it 4-1.

The Tigers answered with two runs in the fourth on a triple by Williams and inside-the-park home run by Howell to cut the lead to 4-3. The triple and home run came on consecutive pitches.

Second baseman Peyton Wilson pushed the Crimson Tide lead to 5-3 with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

 Auburn regained the lead 6-5 with three runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by left fielder Jake Ward’s two-run double into the left field corner.

Denton hit an opposite field home in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 6-6.

Landon Green (3-0) retired all six batters he faced, with four strikeouts, for the win.

Skipper (0-2) took the loss for the Tigers.

 LSU 5, South Carolina 1 (Baton Rouge)

Records: LSU (21-12. 4-9 SEC); South Carolina (22-10, 8-5 SEC)

Series: LSU leads series, 1-0

Marceaux (4-3) tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 12 batters in the win over South Carolina.

He pitched brilliantly, limiting South Carolina to three hits in seven scoreless innings with one walk and 12 strikeouts. He threw 107 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Devin Fontenot allowed one unearned run in two innings of work with four strikeouts. The LSU duo combined for 16 strikeouts in the win.

Left fielder Gavin Dugas gave LSU a 2-0 lead with two-run homer in the first inning.

South Carolina starter Thomas Farr shook off the home run and blanked LSU over the next four-plus innings.

LSU stretched its lead to 4-0 with two runs in the seventh inning off reliever Daniel Lloyd.

Right fielder Dylan Crews stroked an RBI double and third baseman Cade Doughty added a sac fly.

 LSU DH Cade Beloso smacked a solo home run in the eighth to make it 5-0.

The Gamecocks avoided the shutout with an unearned run in the ninth inning.

South Carolina suffered is fourth SEC series-opening loss in five tries.