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.
Matt Tallarini
Matthew (Matt) Tallarini is the Founder and Chief Correspondent for the World Baseball Network. Matt played semi-professional baseball with the Pelham Mets in Pelham, New York for four years, including the 2018 Semi Pro World Series.
During the pandemic, Matt began engaging with international baseball, as a way to keep connected to the sport. Matt created the World Baseball Network and its signature website, WorldBaseball.com as a way to promote and inform similar likeminded fans about the players, teams and leagues innovating the sport of baseball and feeding into Major League Baseball (MLB).
As a result of Matt’s efforts, World Baseball Network is now the benchmark standard for international baseball coverage, including MLB, MiLB, NCAA, Korea, Japan, Caribbean, Baseball United, WBC, WBSC and more.
In a short time, Matt has interviewed a who’s who of global baseball legends and coaches. These include: Former Yankee closer Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera; Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman; former Yankee Luis Sojo veteran of four Yankee World series teams; Mickey Callaway former MLB manager; Paul Mainieri LSU National Championship coach; Eric Holtz manager Team Israel of the 2020 Olympics; Ian Kinsler former MLB player and now Israel national team player; Harold Ramirez of the Tampa Bay Rays formerly with the Indians and Cubs; Joey Meneses of the Washington Nationals; and Mike Cameron current USA Baseball advisor former-MLB outfielder.
Matt Tallarini is 2015 graduate of Mitchell College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and a 2022 graduate of Iona University with a Masters in Finance. Since its inception, Matt has been the Chief Correspondent for World Baseball Network. Matt has interviewed and interacted with many international players and coaches including former Yankee closer Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera, Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman, former Yankee Luis Sojo veteran of four Yankee World series teams, Mickey Callaway former MLB manager, Paul Mainieri LSU National Championship coach, Eric Holtz manager Team Israel of the 2020 Olympics, Ian Kinsler former MLB player and now Israel national team player, Harold Ramirez of the Tampa Bay Rays formerly with the Indians and Cubs, Joey Meneses of the Washington Nationals, Mike Cameron current USA Baseball advisor former-MLB outfielder. Matthew is 2015 graduate of Mitchell College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and a 2022 graduate of Iona University with a Masters in Finance.
