LSU sweeps Vols after disastrous ninth inning

After losses on Friday and Saturday, it looked like Tennessee was going to salvage at least one win from No. 23 LSU on the road on Sunday.

Then the ninth inning happened.

Tennessee entered the bottom half of the ninth with a 7-3 lead, but after a slew of errors and base hits, Daniel Cabrera hit a three-run, walk-off homer to give the Tigers a 9-7 win.

Vols’ starter Will Neely pitched into the ninth, but was taken out after LSU cut the Tennessee lead to 7-4. Neely finished the game with 8 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB and 6 K.

Zach Linginfelter came on in relief, but allowed a hit and two earned runs and did not record an out. Andrew Schultz came in for the Vols and recorded a strikeout before giving up the game-ending home run to Cabrera.

Tennessee’s seven runs were its most in SEC play since the conference opener — a road win over then-No. 8 Ole Miss. But if Tennessee wants to compete regularly in the SEC, the pitching and defense cannot have innings like the one they did on Sunday.

The Vols will head back on the road for a game at ETSU on Tuesday before returning to Knoxville for a three-game series with No. 22 Texas A&M.