LSU Tigers infielder Steven Milam celebrates a homerun. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The 2023 national champion LSU Tigers won their first game of the 2024 NCAA tournament in the Chapel Hill Regional over the Wofford College Terriers 4-3 with a walk-off home run from freshman second baseman Steven Milam in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Wofford got on the board first in the top of the second inning with first baseman Tyler Hare lifting a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring catcher Daniel Jackson for the game’s first run.
A few batters later, Wofford left fielder Andrew Mannelly drove an RBI single to right field, scoring designated hitter Lucas Manning to extend the lead to 2-0.
Wofford starting pitcher Branton Little threw five innings and allowed two hits, three walks, and three strikeouts while facing 19 batters on Friday.
The Bayou Bengals did not get their first run of the game until the bottom of the seventh inning when Milam hit the first home run of the game with a solo shot over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 2-1.
During the top of the eighth inning, the Terriers extended the lead to two runs when shortstop Jack Wenwick launched a solo home run over the left field wall to make it 3-1.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Tigers tied the game at three apiece when shortstop Michael Braswell III and first baseman Jared Jones ripped back-to-back homers to tie the game at three.
LSU relief pitcher Griffin Herring entered the game in the top of the ninth inning and struck out the side to keep the game tied.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Wofford pitcher Alec Bouchard entered his second inning of work. The first batter of the inning, second baseman Steven Milam, worked a full count and then crushed one over the right field wall to give the Tigers a come-from-behind walk-off win.
LSU (40-21) will play the (43-13) University of North Carolina on June 1 in the Chapel Hill Regional at 5 p.m. EST on ESPN+.
North Carolina is ranked No. 7 overall and is the No.1 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional.
Wofford (41-18) will play (33-24) Long Island University on June 1 in the Chapel Hill Regional at noon EST on ESPN+.
LIU is the No.4 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional.
