LSU's J.T. Wise Keeps Torrid Clip at the Plate for Tigers

May 8, 2006

For Immediate Release

AUBURN, Ala. -- Freshman second baseman J.T. Wise went 2-for-5 with a homer and four RBI on Sunday, highlighting a 12-hit LSU attack as the Tigers completed an SEC series sweep of Auburn, 8-2, at Plainsman Park.

LSU (32-17, 11-13 SEC) is one-half game behind eighth-place Mississippi State for the final spot in the SEC Tournament with two weekends remaining in the regular season.

Auburn (22-28, 9-15) dropped into 11th place, while Tennessee sits 1.5 games behind LSU for ninth place and two games behind Mississippi State for eighth.

“I'm very proud of the way our guys competed this weekend,” said LSU coach Smoke Laval. “Our pitching was outstanding in all three games and today we had some offense to go along with it. Hopefully, we can continue to play at our best down the stretch.”

LSU plays host to Vanderbilt in the final home series of the season next weekend at Alex Box Stadium. The Commodores (12-12) are one game ahead of LSU for seventh place in the overall league race. The Commodores lost two of three games at Tennessee this weekend.

Live streaming video and audio of all three LSU-Vanderbilt games are available in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies on www.LSUsports.net. Friday's 6:30 p.m. contest will also be broadcast by Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge).

After winning a pair of close games on Friday and Saturday, LSU left little doubt Sunday by managing its third-highest SEC hit tally of the season en route to its first league sweep since last April at Arkansas.

Junior left-hander Daniel Forrer and right-hander Jonathan Wilhite combined for the third consecutive solid outing for LSU pitchers. As a staff, LSU only allowed eight runs all series and no more than three runs in each contest.

Wilhite (2-1) picked his second win in relief of Forrer, allowing no runs on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts in a career-high 4.2 innings

LSU left three runners in scoring position through the first two frames but took advantage of an opportunity in the fifth against Auburn starter Chris Dennis.

Centerfielder Jarred Bogany, who saw his nine-game hit streak come to an end Saturday, reached base with a sharp single through the middle. He came into score the game's first run when third baseman Will Harris unloaded an RBI double off the centerfield wall.

Auburn's sixth defensive error of the weekend kept the inning alive. After left fielder Bruce Sprowl coaxed a one-out walk, shortstop Michael Hollander rolled a routine grounder to shortstop that could have been an inning-ending double play.

However, shortstop Justin Bristow misplayed the ball, allowing Harris to scamper home and Sprowl to take third. Wise capitalized on the miscue with an RBI single of his own, giving LSU a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Forrer cruised through the first four innings and retired the first 10 batters of the game before issuing a one-out walk to designated hitter Luke Greinke in the fourth.

Auburn finally connected for its first hit of the game to lead off the fifth on a single by third baseman Andy Bennett. Left fielder Jeff Boutwell followed with an RBI triple, and right fielder Russell Dixon drew Auburn to within a run on a single to right.

Forrer compounded the jam when he threw wildly down the right field line on a bunt attempt from centerfielder Bruce Edwards. The error chased Forrer from the game, but Wilhite struck out second baseman Tyler Johnstone, who was also called for batter's interference when catcher Matt Liuzza attempted to throw out a base runner.

Wise stretched the lead to a four-run cushion when he crushed a three-run homer – his 10th of the season – in the seventh against Greinke, who moved from designated hitter to the mound.

Greinke had just relieved Andy Masten and surrendered his first homer of the season. Bogany and Sprowl added RBI singles in the eighth to help clinch the victory.

Dennis (3-5) took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits in five innings of work.

Photo Courtesy of LSU Athletic Department