LSU pounds Auburn 9-1 to complete sweep

Josh Smith looped a single to shallow left field and Beau Jordan rolled a grounder that just eluded second baseman Jay Estes for an RBI single that sent Smith scampering to third base.

In the next at-bat, catcher Michael Papierksi dropped a sacrifice bunt, which drove in Smith and put Jordan on second with one out. After a fly ball to right field advanced a runner to third, Papierski caught Conor Davis stealing for out number two, and second baseman Cole Freeman made a nice play on a ground ball chopped up the middle, throwing to first for the final out of the inning. Since his shutout of Arkansas five starts ago, Walker had allowed 17 runs and 27 hits in 18 innings.

LSU completed the sweep with starting pitching that allowed only two earned runs over 23-2/3 innings - with the last run coming on a solo homer that snapped freshman Eric Walker's no-hit bid with two outs in the eighth inning.

Walker had been shaky in his last three starts with 15 runs allowed over 11.2 innings, but you couldn't tell against Auburn (32-21, 14-13 SEC). Jordan scored when Robertson grounded out to the third baseman.

Auburn, the No. 2 seed, advanced to the semifinals in Knoxville, where it will meet the Tennessee-LSU victor. "I guess if you're going to lose a no-hitter it's better to lose it on a home run". The right-hander walked three and struck out three in the outing.

Walker at one point retired 18 consecutive hitters, and he gave up only three walks - including two in the seventh - before the home run by No. 9 hitter Sam Gillikin, a left-handed hitter who poked a fastball away into the front row of the seats in left. Walker's comments: "The wind was blowing in and that made it a lot easier for me". Often there is a web gem in a no hitter that serves as the decisive play in the outcome, and that play by Josh Smith looked to be like that play.

Todd grounded out to shortstop after Gillikin's homer, and LSU relievers Nick Bush and Caleb Gilbert logged a scoreless ninth to finish Auburn off.

With Mississippi State losing Saturday at Georgia, LSU holds a half-game lead in the SEC West.

The second-seeded Auburn Tigers got a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning from Kendall Veach to knock the Kentucky Wildcats out of the 2017 Southeastern Conference Tournament in a 2-0 game.

"Auburn ties the game after we make an error, but Papierski comes through with a big home run in the seventh, and our bullpen does the job to secure the victory".

"Eric was just tremendous", Mainieri said. "I just thought we played outstanding baseball all weekend in every facet of the game". What followed was a 2-for-3 day with three runs scored in the series finale, along with his usual brand of stellar defense at third base. We had some unselfish situational hitting. Now, we have put ourselves in position to win a championship (Western Division at least) on the last weekend. "He hit his spots and we played flawless defense behind him".