BATON ROUGE – Things needed to line up right.
First, Jay Johnson wanted LSU baseball to chase Alabama reliever Matthew Heiberger out of the game as the plan he was cooking up required a right-hander pitcher.
Jake Brown drew a walk off eight pitches, then the Crimson Tide fell into the trap. They brought in right-hander Austin Morris. Then Johnson sent out senior Josh Pearson to hit for Michael Braswell and was going to pinch hitter Ashton Larson after him.
LSU trailed 5-1 and as Johnson put it “had no momentum” and the hope was the left-handed bat could provide some life. And they did.
Pearson gapped a single before Larson got an inside pitch he wanted and blasted a three-run home run to pull the Tigers with one run. From that point, the No. 7 Tigers outscored No. 15 Alabama 7 to 1 as they took game one of the SEC series, 11-6, Thursday night at Alex Box Stadium.
“It has to line up right,” Larson said. “There were a couple of different spots I was ready to go.”
Johnson said he contemplated subbing Larson in two innings before but he wanted the right matchup.
“The coaches have been really good in the dugout about making sure I engaged within the game, make sure I’m watching at-bats,” Larson said. “Taking mental reps, even if I’m not necessarily in, I’m staying mentally locked in as possible so I can be ready for moments like that.”
Larson was ready. His three-run homer was the first hit he’s recorded since March 11. He’s only played in six games since then.
Almost an everyday starter for LSU last season – he started 40 games as a freshman – Larson has found himself an odd man out for consistent playing time. This year, he’s seen in time just 20 of LSU’s 39 games and is batting .222.
“It’s been interesting for sure. It’s not necessarily how I pictured it going into the year but I know that God has a plan and through him all things are possible,” Larson said of how he would describe his second thus far. “So I’ve just been relying on my faith, relying on my people and trying to learn from anything that happens. Make the most of it.
“This team is really good, it’s really talented. I love being with those guys and continue winning, that’s what it’s all about.”
Larson credited his family and his teammates for helping him navigate the unexpected pushes and pulls of this season.
“I’ve really been relying on my faith, my people have been amazing in keeping me engaged and supportive, the coaches as well to stick with it. Continuing to do what I can to help the team and to go out and have a moment like that, it is special,” Larson said. “It’s a blessing.”
Everything lined up. From Larson remaining locked in while in the dugout, going into the trainer room while LSU was on defense to keep his body warm, to visualizing his at-bat and the end result he wanted. His family’s support and encouragement made a moment like his three-run home run a possibility.
Johnson got the matchup he felt Larson could win and he ran his guy out there.
“The most pivotal at-bat in the game today,” Johnson said. “We set the table again, we had a runner in scoring position in three of the first four innings and didn’t get a hit. We got a good at-bat by Jake there with the walk, then Josh Pearson with the single.
“(Larson) did a good job, he took a good swing on the first one, laid off a bad one than got a mistake and hit it. He’s a good hitter as we know. It was a huge at-bat tonight.”
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: How Ashton Larson sparked LSU baseball’s win over Alabama
BATON ROUGE – Things needed to line up right.
First, Jay Johnson wanted LSU baseball to chase Alabama reliever Matthew Heiberger out of the game as the plan he was cooking up required a right-hander pitcher.
Jake Brown drew a walk off eight pitches, then the Crimson Tide fell into the trap. They brought in right-hander Austin Morris. Then Johnson sent out senior Josh Pearson to hit for Michael Braswell and was going to pinch hitter Ashton Larson after him.
LSU trailed 5-1 and as Johnson put it “had no momentum” and the hope was the left-handed bat could provide some life. And they did.
Pearson gapped a single before Larson got an inside pitch he wanted and blasted a three-run home run to pull the Tigers with one run. From that point, the No. 7 Tigers outscored No. 15 Alabama 7 to 1 as they took game one of the SEC series, 11-6, Thursday night at Alex Box Stadium.
“It has to line up right,” Larson said. “There were a couple of different spots I was ready to go.”
Johnson said he contemplated subbing Larson in two innings before but he wanted the right matchup.
“The coaches have been really good in the dugout about making sure I engaged within the game, make sure I’m watching at-bats,” Larson said. “Taking mental reps, even if I’m not necessarily in, I’m staying mentally locked in as possible so I can be ready for moments like that.”
Larson was ready. His three-run homer was the first hit he’s recorded since March 11. He’s only played in six games since then.
Almost an everyday starter for LSU last season – he started 40 games as a freshman – Larson has found himself an odd man out for consistent playing time. This year, he’s seen in time just 20 of LSU’s 39 games and is batting .222.
“It’s been interesting for sure. It’s not necessarily how I pictured it going into the year but I know that God has a plan and through him all things are possible,” Larson said of how he would describe his second thus far. “So I’ve just been relying on my faith, relying on my people and trying to learn from anything that happens. Make the most of it.
“This team is really good, it’s really talented. I love being with those guys and continue winning, that’s what it’s all about.”
Larson credited his family and his teammates for helping him navigate the unexpected pushes and pulls of this season.
“I’ve really been relying on my faith, my people have been amazing in keeping me engaged and supportive, the coaches as well to stick with it. Continuing to do what I can to help the team and to go out and have a moment like that, it is special,” Larson said. “It’s a blessing.”
Everything lined up. From Larson remaining locked in while in the dugout, going into the trainer room while LSU was on defense to keep his body warm, to visualizing his at-bat and the end result he wanted. His family’s support and encouragement made a moment like his three-run home run a possibility.
Johnson got the matchup he felt Larson could win and he ran his guy out there.
“The most pivotal at-bat in the game today,” Johnson said. “We set the table again, we had a runner in scoring position in three of the first four innings and didn’t get a hit. We got a good at-bat by Jake there with the walk, then Josh Pearson with the single.
“(Larson) did a good job, he took a good swing on the first one, laid off a bad one than got a mistake and hit it. He’s a good hitter as we know. It was a huge at-bat tonight.”
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: How Ashton Larson sparked LSU baseball’s win over Alabama
