LSU’s Run Ends With 11-10 Loss

With a two-run lead and South Carolina mounting a rally in the eighth inning, Louisiana State Coach Smoke Laval took out the one pitcher that had shut down the Gamecocks. That decision led to the end of the Tigers’ stay at the College World Series on Sunday.

Brian Buscher and Landon Powell triggered a three-run outburst off reliever Billy Sadler as South Carolina eliminated LSU, 11-10, before 19,000 at Rosenblatt Stadium.

LSU (45-21-1) rallied from a 6-0 first-inning deficit by scoring three times in the second, two in the third and four in the fourth to take a 9-7 lead thanks in part to LSU left-hander Jason Determann, who relieved starter Bo Pettit in the first and kept the Gamecocks in check over 6 2/3 innings.

In the eighth inning, Laval summoned Sadler, a right-hander, after the Gamecocks put runners on second and third.

The left-handed-hitting Buscher grounded a clean single into right field to score one run and outfielder Jon Zeringue booted the ball to allow the tying run to score.

Powell, a switch-hitter, doubled into the left-field gap to score Buscher.

“Who knows?” Buscher said, admitting he was surprised to face Sadler. “If the guy strikes me out, Smoke looks like a hero. That’s just the chance they took. That’s their go-to guy. Fortunately I got a hit off him.”

South Carolina (45-21), which reached the title game last year after losing its opener, will play Stanford in an elimination game Tuesday.