Brayden Jobert finished a single shy of the cycle to lead No. 5 LSU to a 6-3 victory over Tennessee on Saturday night in an opening-round game at the Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Jobert went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs for the Tigers (49-15), who will face top-seeded Wake Forest on Monday. Tre’ Morgan also drove in a pair of runs as LSU racked up 10 hits to back a strong outing by right-hander Paul Skenes.
Skenes (13-2) allowed two runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings while walking one and striking out 12. Riley Cooper recorded the final four outs to earn his first save of the season.
The Tigers got to Tennessee starter Andrew Lindsey (3-4) early, as Gavin Dugas ripped a solo home run in the second before Morgan’s RBI groundout in the third made it 2-0.
Lindsey ended up lasting just 3 2/3 innings. He gave up the two runs on five hits and one walk while fanning four.
LSU bumped its lead to 5-0, but the Volunteers (43-21) staged a comeback in the eighth. Maui Ahuna had an RBI single and Hunter Ensley followed with a two-run blast to pull Tennessee within 5-3, but Cooper came on in relief and, after surrendering a single, struck out Christian Moore to snuff the rally.
Jobert then led off the home half of the inning with a solo shot to seal the victory.
Ensley finished with three hits for the Volunteers, who will face No. 8 Stanford in an elimination game on Monday.
–Field Level Media
