LSU baseball hits two grand slams to extend lead vs WVU in NCAA super regional
Editor's note: This story was updated with new information to reflect Josh Pearson's grand slam in the sixth inning. Click here to follow along for updates from Game 1 of the Baton Rouge Super Regional.
Monster Milam has arrived at the Baton Rouge Super Regional.
With a 2-2 pitch and the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the fifth inning vs. West Virginia, Steven Milam put a fastball placed on the outer side of the left batter's box over the right field wall for an opposite-field grand slam.
Milam's big hit for the No. 6 national seed Tigers gave LSU baseball what was then a 7-1 lead over the Mountaineers in Game 1 of the Baton Rouge Super Regional on June 7.
It was the 11th home run and 51st RBI of the year for Milam, who is ranked ninth among all LSU hitters in batting average on the season at .238.
The sophomore shortstop's grand slam was the second home run of the afternoon for the Tigers, as left fielder Derek Curiel put LSU out in front 3-1 with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. LSU's rally in the fifth inning started with a single from Josh Pearson and back-to-back walks by Ethan Frey and Jared Jones.
Milam took the postseason by storm last season as a freshman when he dyed purple Tiger stripes into his hair.
That wasn't the only grand slam of the game for the Tigers. In the bottom of the sixth, Pearson joined in on the "grand salami party" as he put one into the right field bleachers to put LSU up 16-5 against West Virginia.
It is the first time since the Kentucky game at the SEC Tournament last season that LSU has had two grand slams in one game. LSU's 16 runs thus far on the afternoon are also the third-most runs scored in a game this season for the Tigers, as noted by the ESPN broadcast.
A win for the Tigers at Alex Box Stadium on June 7 would put LSU one win away from advancing to the College World Series for the second time in the Jay Johnson era in Baton Rouge. It would also be the first trip to Omaha for LSU since winning it all in 2023.