It wasn’t pretty and neither dominated the game, but in the end, the #2 ranked LSU Fighting Tigers scratched and clawed their way to an 8-5 victory over the #29 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

With the win, LSU’s record improves to 25-8 overall and 9-4 in SEC play.

The Tigers led the ballgame by a score of 2-1 until the seventh inning when LSU righthanded pitcher Paul Bertuccini gave up an RBI to the nation’s homerun hitting leader, Kent Matthes which was just short of being a grand slam.

The next Alabama batter, first baseman Brandon May then slammed a three run homer over the left field wall to give the Crimson Tide a 5-2 lead over the Tigers.

In the top of the eighth inning, Leon Landry (above) scored a run on a single and then a three base error after Alex Kubal missed the ball in what should have been an in the park homerun. Jared Mitchell and Ryan Schimph then hit back to back singles. LSU designated hitter Blake Dean then hit an infied RBI and brought Mitchell home to cut ‘Bama’s lead to 5-4.

LSU first baseman Sean Ochinko was retired by the Tide to end the inning.

Alabama failed to score in the bottom of the eighth and LSU came to bat in the top of the ninth.

LSU catcher Micah Gibbs reached second after hitting a double and then with two down and with Gibbs on third, Alabama shortstop Josh Rutledge charged and dropped a hit by Mikie Mahtook allowing Mahtook to reach first base and Gibbs to reach home plate to score the tying run.

LSU third baseman Tyler Hanover was walked and then Jared Mitchell hit a double to score Mahtook and Hanover. Schimph, who had led off the inning, hit an RBI single to score Mitchell and to bring the game to its final score of 8-5.

In the bottom of the ninth, ‘Bama struck out, flied out, and was tagged out at first base by Ochinko.

The game was the first in a three game weekend SEC series between the two teams in Tuscaloosa.

Saturday’s game begins at 6:06 PM and will be televised by Cox Sports Telivision and Comcast Sports South and can be heard on the LSU Sports Radio Network.

Its a matchup of the only SEC teams to make the College World Series last year and its the biggest series that LSU has played this year.

On Friday, the #2 ranked LSU Fighting Tigers will step up to the plate against the #1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia.

Friday night’s game will begin at 6:00 PM, Saturday’s game will begin at 12:00 PM, and Sunday’s version of the series will begin at 11:00 AM.

LSU will send sophomore pitcher Anthony Ranaudo to the mound as they have done throughout most of the Friday night games this year.

Probable starters for Saturday and Sunday are Louis Coleman and Austin Ross who was named SEC Pitcher of the Week last week after his outing against Ole Miss.