By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
ATHENS, Ga. – On paper before LSU’s three-game series at No. 5 Georgia, it was a mismatch.
In reality, it became a mercy killing by college baseball’s top home run-hitting team against a beleaguered pitching staff that served up dinger delights like meatballs on a dinner platter.
The Bulldogs (41-11, 21-6 SEC) not only recorded a series sweep with wins of 11-8, 13-8 and a run-rule 12-1 win in seven innings in the finale, but they also clinched their first SEC regular season baseball title since 2008.
For defending national champion LSU, it was nail, hammer, coffin for their slim NCAA Tournament invitation hopes.
“Georgia is the best team we’ve seen this season in college baseball,” said LSU fifth-year head coach Jay Johnson, whose team fell to 29-24 overall, 9-18 SEC. “They’ve got good mojo, the synergy championship teams have. They have one of the best offenses I’ve ever seen.”
Georgia entered the series batting an SEC-leading .325 and a nation-leading 131 homers.
The Bulldogs hit .382 (39 for 102) against the Tigers with nine homers and nine doubles. Ten of LSU’s 12 pitchers (three starters, nine relievers) gave up 18 extra base hits.
“We couldn’t slow them down,” Johnson said. “Our pitchers aren’t finishing innings (giving up too many two-out runs). We have guys coming out of the bullpen who aren’t ready.”
The only time LSU led in the series was after 4½ innings in Friday’s opening game. The Tigers’ 7-4 advantage was erased in the bottom of the fifth when LSU reliever Ed Sheerin gave up a pair of two-out homers (a two-run shot and a solo blast) to consecutive Bulldogs’ batters.
In Saturday’s game with Georgia leading 12-3 in the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs were on the verge of a run-rule win after loading the bases with one out.
But LSU wriggled out of the situation when second baseman Jack Ruckert threw out a Georgia runner at home plate on a fielder’s choice ground ball.
Reliever Mavrick Rizy followed with an inning-strikeout, but the Bulldogs’ lead was too big to overcome. When Georgia reliever Matt Scott struck out LSU pinch-hitter Ed Yamin IV to end the game, the Bulldogs’ dugout emptied to start celebrating winning the SEC’s regular-season championship.
“It’s so hard to win this league, and then win it outright,” said Georgia third-year head coach Wes Johnson, hired by the Bulldogs after serving as LSU’s pitching coach for its 2023 national championship team. “It’s something that you want to check off on your list of things that you’ve ever accomplished. It’s right up there. It’s hard to do. It’s 10 weekends of just meat house grinding.”
Georgia could have been caught up in patting itself on the back. But the Bulldogs came out Sunday and posted a run-rule win as LSU was swept for fourth time in its last five SEC series.
The loss gave the 2026 Tigers the dubious school record for most SEC losses in a single season.
LSU closes its regular season at home, playing its final league series of the year starting Thursday vs. Florida. The No. 21-ranked Gators (34-18, 15-12 SEC), one of nine SEC teams likely to receive NCAA tourney bids, have won five of nine SEC series this season, including two of three games at Georgia.
Here’s a recap of the LSU-Georgia series:
GAME 1: GEORGIA 11, LSU 8 – The Tigers built a 7-4 run lead in Friday’s opener, keyed by three homers in LSU’s four-run third inning. Solo shots by designated hitter Omar Serna Jr. and third baseman John Pearson, and a two-run bomb by catcher Cade Arrambide had the home crowd concerned.
But the Bulldogs outscored LSU 7-1 the rest of the way. Georgia relievers Zach Brown and Justin Byrd gave up one run on two hits in the final 2.3 innings.
GAME 2: GEORGIA 13, LSU 8 – LSU was buried from the jump in Saturday’s game. Georgia took an 8-0 lead in the second inning, thanks to a grand slam from third baseman Michael O’Shaughnessy and a two-run homer by designated hitter Jordy Oriach.
The Bulldogs scored two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings, giving them a cushion, comfortably withstanding LSU’s four-run eighth inning.
GAME 3: GEORGIA 12, LSU 1 (run-rule in seven innings) – Sunday’s game was a microcosm of the Tigers’ unexpectedly bad season. Georgia hammered LSU’s two best pitchers, starter Casan Evans (returning from an arm injury) and reliever Zac Cowan, for a combined 11 runs and 12 hits. LSU’s offense started the game in a coma and remained there. The Tigers managed just five hits. They were just 2 for 11 (.182) with runners on base and 1 for 7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com