LSU and Oregon State went in for one of the more intriguing Omaha matchups of the College World Series’ opening weekend, and the Beavers have blasted out of the gates to stonewall the notoriously big bad Tigers. Things began slowly enough, with Oregon State crossing a single run in the top of the first to pull out a tenuous 1-0 lead, but the Beavs have pounced on LSU in the middle innings.
Oregon State hit 1st grand slam in TD Ameritrade Park’s 6-year history
The Tigers are getting whipped.
In the top of the fifth, LSU completely forgot how to play baseball, committing two heinous errors in the frame to plate three Oregon State runners, and in the process granting every ounce of momentum to the Beavs. Things are not going well for the Tigers, to say the least.
So, in the top of the sixth, and thoroughly bruised after the previous inning’s basura, Hunter Newman stepped to the mound — the Tigers’ fifth pitcher on the night — and immediately got stabbed with a bases loaded jam. If you’re Oregon State first baseman KJ Harrison, what do you do with a chucked bases situation?
You mash that ball out of the dang yard.
Harrison here blasts the ball into left center of TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, an area of the field that plays famously long. However, the wind is blowing out to direct center on Monday night, and that has something to do with the carry on this hit.
Anyway, Harrison goes down in history as having hit THE FIRST GRAND SLAM IN THE NEW TD AMERITRADE BALLPARK. That’s some fancy polish on what is a momentous slam against a formidable opponent. Mercy.
This was all before the Beavs dropped another three runs on the Tigers in the top of the seventh, so it’s safe to say that LSU is shook. That flurry ended Newman’s night, as LSU then brought in Matthew Beck to help stem the tide.
At least the Tigers can fall back on football or something. Oregon State held a commanding lead after the top of the seventh, 11-0.
