Jones, Holman guides LSU to victory over Kentucky 11-0 in SEC Championship – LSU

Hoover, Ala. – LSU right-hander Luke Holman pitched six hitless innings on Wednesday, and the Tigers hit two grand slams in an 11-0 win over Kentucky in the SEC Championship Game at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The game ended after the eighth inning due to the SEC’s 10-inning rule.

LSU, which improved to 38-20 on the year, has won five in a row and 16 of its last 21 games. The Tigers are 12-5 in their last 17 games against SEC teams.

Kentucky, the 2024 regular-season co-champion, fell to 39-13 this season.

LSU will play at 4:30 PM Central on Thursday against the winner of Wednesday’s game between Arkansas and South Carolina. Thursday’s LSU game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and will be televised by the SEC Network.

Holman (9-3) covered the Wildcats over his six innings, allowing no hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. He threw 100 pitches in the outing, including 63 for strikes.

“Our guys were ready to play,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “Winning starts and ends on the mound. Again, I think we have one of the best pitchers in the country in Luke, and he continues to prove that over and over again.”

“His poise, his presence, his tough attitude, his level of concentration, his maturity, they’re as good as anyone I’ve coached. He’s obviously the real deal. He’s going to throw the ball for a long time.”

Kentucky starter Travis Smith (3-4) was charged with the loss, surrendering two runs on two hits in 1.0 innings with two walks and one strikeout.

First baseman Jared Jones and third baseman Tommy White each launched a grand slam to highlight the Tigers’ offensive production.

LSU became the first team in league history to hit two grand slams in one SEC Tournament game.

Shortstop Michael Braswell III led off the game with a homer, producing two RBI while scoring three runs. Braswell’s homer to start the game was his second of the season and first since February 22 versus Northern Illinois.

The Tigers extended the lead to 2-0 in the second when right fielder Ashton Larson doubled, moved to second on catcher Alex Milazzo and scored on an RBI groundout by Braswell.

LSU maintained a 2-0 advantage with Holman on the mound through the sixth inning, and the Tigers rallied for five runs in the seventh. Jones unloaded a grand slam, his 23rd^{Research and development} Homer of the season, designated hitter Hayden Travinski recorded a solo home run — his 15th^y Homer of the Year – to increase the lead to 7-0.

Jones’ homer marked the first grand slam by an LSU player in an SEC Tournament game since Blake Dean accomplished the feat versus Alabama in the 2008 tournament.

“Great shot by Jared,” Johnson said. “I thought he did a really good job of slowing the game down. I thought he saw the ball well all day. He hit a couple balls hard before that, was really good at hitting, controlled himself, and stayed in that at-bat with two strikeouts.”

White’s grand slam hit in the eighth inning – his 24th^y Homer of the Year – Gave LSU an 11-0 cushion. The grand slam was White’s second in five days, as he also launched one in Saturday’s win over Ole Miss. White now has four grand slams in his two-season career at LSU.