LSU Head Coach Jay Johnson speaks in post-game press conference following 11-0 win over Kentucky
By Doug Kyle and Alex Day
History was threatened and rarity was achieved at the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Wednesday morning as LSU starting pitcher Luke Holman didn't allow a hit in six innings of work, and the first one Kentucky recorded came off reliever Gavin Guidry leading off the top of the 7th. He didn't allow another hit the rest of the game, which was called by run-rule after 8 innings.
The one-hitter was just the sixth in the 47-year history of the SECT, the first since Texas A&M one-hit Florida 10-0 in seven innings on May 26, 2022. With the help of two grand slams hit by Jared Jones and Tommy White, the ten-run rule was invoked, which wound up saving LSU an inning of pitching, a valuable commodity to Head Coach Jay Johnson as he seeks to bolster the Tigers' NCAA tournament hopes and standing.
Holman threw 100 pitches in the game, obviously with no runs or hits, and he walked two and struck out seven. Guidry threw 35 pitches, gave up the one hit, walked one and struck out three in his two innings.
In post game remarks, Johnson praised and highlighted the importance of the pitching in controlling Kentucky, the SEC co-champion and holder of the #4 RPI rating.
Kentucky Head Coach Nick Mingione was a bit more demonstrative in his remarks, likening the SEC competition to a tug-of-war and even demonstrating the principle with his microphone cord.
Hitting wise, four of the Tigers' seven hits were home runs, producing 10 of 11 runs, starting with the leadoff dinger hit by Michael Braswell III, the grand slams by Jones and White, and Hayden Travinski hitting one between them.
LSU advances in the double-elimination round to play the winner of the South Carolina-Arkansas game on Thursday at 4:30 pm. Kentucky will meet the loser of South Carolina-Arkansas in an elimination game on Thursday at 9:30 am. All game times are CDT.
Kentucky Head Coach Nick Mingione on staying competitive in the SEC:
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