#2 LSU vs #4 Arkansas 2017 SEC Baseball Championship College Baseball Classics

8th of the year, championship gold jersey, and that will take care of Duplantis, it takes care of LSU in the first inning, Kevin Copps in just his 4th start of the season, the 2-2, got him swinging, Arkansas has only been retired 3 up, 3 down 2 times this entire week, Walker does it in the first, at a Brother Martin High School, here's the payoff, and this one's lined into right field, and a base hit for Dykman, runner goes, throw through is in time, Biggers has the tag right between the legs on Greg Dykman, Cook can do that now, here's Carson Shaddy, and Shaddy jumps on one to the gap in left center field, his bat's been quiet this week, but that's a loud banger that will go for 2 automatically, if he's hitting, that means everybody's hitting in this lineup, and one of the, at a Cisco Junior College and he ropes one to right field, Dykman off of the glove, late jump for Shaddy, he'll make it to 3rd, but that's it, and Greg Dykman had a hard time hauling that in, guys you saw Dominic Fletcher have a hard time seeing the ball off the bat in the last half in, 9 past him, 3rd strikeout for Walker, 2 down, the number 2 RPI team, so, into center field, Zach Watson ranges, takes care of it, and Arkansas strands a pair, Eric Walker comes up big, after the error by his right fielder, the LSU faithful shows their appreciation, can absolutely fly, hot shot to 3rd, he's flying down the line, but Gates has him with ease, 1, 2, 3 frame, Cops has faced the minimum, through 3, and now we're going 4, like that, and it's belted deep to right field, Dykman on the run to the track, it is gone, solo home run, Eric Cole, and Arkansas strikes first, the tournament has been about the long ball, and Eric Cole keeps it going, a 4 seamer, that Walker tries to sneak by him, and I love the way this kid gets ready to swing, and the power to get it out to the big part of the park, such a talented lineup for Arkansas, and here comes Chad Spanberger, punches him out, it's a 6K for Walker, it's a big one, pretty good as well, Raymond Robertson dumps one into right field, second hit of the day for LSU against Kevin Copps, and the LSU faithful starting to maybe feel something, I absolutely love it, little roller to 3rd, Gates, Bobbles, and LSU in business, this is kind of the karma you see from this LSU program in the post season, when things start to get going, well we just talked about the quote, and, differences, they were both aiming for a national title, this one gets through the right side, here comes Robertson, Cole's got a strong arm, and they throw the brakes on, wow, bases loaded for LSU for Greg Dykman, barrel out in front, strike 3 called, and Dykman caught looking with the bases loaded, they do, and it's ball 4, and LSU ties the game on a bases loaded walk to Nick Coombs, in great position as that large is, the 1-2, pulled to the right side and threw, Freeman has scored, Duplantis flying home, Cole's throw is there, but they held him, Nolan Kane has been very, very patient with the base runners here at 3rd base, talking to before the game today, he has incredible respect for Eric Cole's arm in right field, well he's shown it, in school, an SEC title here, and Bowles sends one to right field, Eric Cole towards the line, looking to tag Duplantis, foul territory catch made, here's the throw home, Duplantis is safe, and LSU adds to its lead, popped him up, Biggers on the left side, an error opened the door for this, two home runs and six driven in, trying to bun his way on, the pitcher Walker never picked it up, and Dominic Fletcher, who's got 12 home runs on the season, just bunning his way aboard to start the 4th, selection and location, then you decide where you're going to go later, Smith to 2nd for 1, Freeman gets tied over, and that'll bring his teammates in, and that'll be some words for the base runner Fletcher on his way back out, Josh Smith chasing halfway across the diamond, and the Arkansas dugout's going to spill out of the field. In college, the rule is simple, you must go straight into the bag. At first blush, it looked like Dominic Fletcher did just that. That's what I had. Yeah, I did too, I didn't have anything wrong with it. It's hard, it's aggressive, but it looked like it was straight in. Well, I thought he was off the bag when he caught it, I'm not so sure he was on the base. Look, he's sliding right into the base. There's nothing wrong with that slide. Nothing. It's hard and it's aggressive and it looks worse because of what happened with Freeman, but I got no problem with that. Look, as the 2nd baseman, you have got to get out of the baseline. He is right in the middle of the baseline. You are asking to get hurt when you are right in the middle of the baseline. Now, did Fletcher throw an arm up there at the end because he's trying to protect himself? I didn't see that. But look, you got a guy right in the middle of you trying to slide. I got no problem. Yeah, maybe at the end. It's absolutely clean, that's what I'm saying. But I had nothing wrong with that. Into the gap towards right center, Watson will chase this one down. That kid can flat slide. He takes two hits away from the Hogs here in the... Josh Alberius gives Arkansas a clean 5th inning. He retires the side in order. We go to the bottom of the... Best friends. I just think let the boys play. Gates rolls one over. That's past Freeman. It'll get into right field for a leadoff single. First time Arkansas has put the leadoff man on today. There goes the runner. It's strike 3 called and Cole is punched out. Stolen base for Kendler. Put him on? Yeah. Yeah. Now, I mean, this is why Arkansas is so dangerous. The first to Bonfield. Papirski will give it a look. Loses the helmet. That'll end the inning. One pitch to take care of Bonfield after the intentional walk to Spamburger. No runs, a hit, a pair left in the 5th. 3-1 LSU. Ball game's in with a break in less than 6 hours. This one's lifted to the gap in right center off the bat of DePrantis. Fletcher will cut it off and dropped it. Here he goes around second. DePrantis headed to third. Kane will stop him there. Extra bases for Antoine DePrantis. Well executed. Pitched from Albirious. Lifted to center. Fletcher. DePrantis to tag. Fletcher throws home. Here he comes. It is up the line. The tag is not there. Runner breaks for second. Throw through and Biggers has the tag at second base. Sack fly for Nick Coombs to score DePrantis. But it turns into a double play by Dominic Fletcher. Watch this slide right here. Get to the outside. Make yourself as small as possible. And he goes with the right hand. Yeah, how about the little okey-doke going in? Watch this. You come in. You turn to the side and use the right arm as the tag hits him right in the face. I think he's in there. I think he's safe. This is a reviewable play. What a slide. Tony Walsh will go behind the plate and in the tunnel to watch the plate. The 2-1 pitch. That one to the right side and through. Let's go back to Laura with the commissioner. Yeah, you know actually Tom, Commissioner Sankey was just saying maybe we should talk about Plink. About you being a former bullpen catcher. You know a thing or two about killing time in a rain delay. What do you do? You learn how to spit sunflower seeds effectively. That was the skill I've retained. Punched out on a breaking ball. Taccolini sets down the side in order. K-Lady denied for now. Freeman to his knees. Uh-oh. The bag. Nick Coombs had to go down in the dirt to scoop. To left. 1-2-3 frame worked by Taccolini. Bonfield to the left side. Kramer Robertson gathers. Two down. I need to say this on record. We had a conversation a couple days ago about pitching staffs and I was not sold on Eric Walker being a legit number three and I will say this. He has proved me wrong today. This is with LSU great Todd Walker on the SEC Now set. Paul Maneri has the wrong guy. He wants to go to the lefty and that's what he'll do. Had to get the attention of the umpire crew. Seven and two thirds for Walker. And an ovation from the LSU faithful. Remember he had a takeout slide that was perfectly legal at second base earlier and he's trying to answer him with a moon blast to right. Dyckman to the fence. And he brought it back in but couldn't catch it. Fletcher on his way to second. Great effort by Dyckman. Instead of a home run it's a double. And he had to swing it that one. Hess strikes him out to leave a runner on. Arkansas is stranded seven today. Kenley takes care of Jordan. It's a one two three frame. It's the last chance for Arkansas. Lost twice in this scenario. Battling the sun is Freeman. One down. We'll know the. They will be waiting anxiously tomorrow. Gets back to the back stop and Cook. Hit him. Hit him. Two on. We've got now. And Arkansas has got something brewing with one out. Second. Here's the two oh. Popped him up. Kramer Robertson calls for it. And the senior has the second out. Up the middle. Base hit. Cook around third to score. Lee will stop at the bag and Spanberger will get his chance. The state is the eighth seed in the Big 12 tournament. What a run. Bases loaded here. Luke Bonfield. To the left side. Kramer Robertson comes around to third for the force. It's a dandy dozen for LSU. Their twelfth SEC tournament title. There may be a few more dog piles for this LSU team before the summer is over.