LSU routs Arkansas in semifinals

LSU's Conner Hale (20) celebrates with Tyler Moore (2) after hitting a home run against Arkansas during the second inning at the Southeastern Conference NCAA college baseball tournament on Saturday, May 24, 2014, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Arkansas' run at the SEC Tournament is over.

LSU hit three home runs and got a great performance from starting pitcher Kyle Bouman in an 11-1 win over the Razorbacks in eight innings Saturday. The Tigers advanced to play in the tournament championship game Sunday against either Florida or Kentucky.

Bouman took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished the game allowing one run on two hits in six innings. The left-hander had struggled against Arkansas earlier this season, allowing four runs in a one-inning start on April 13.

Alex Gosser broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the sixth inning. The Razorbacks loaded the bases with no outs in the inning, but scored only once when Eric Fisher worked a bases-loaded walk.

It was the second straight year Arkansas struggled offensively against LSU in the tournament semifinals. Six pitchers held the Razorbacks to one hit in the Tigers' win last year in the semifinals round.

Playing their fifth game in five days, the Razorbacks' pitching staff wasn't up to the challenge and allowed 16 hits. Arkansas threw five pitchers, led by Zach Jackson who allowed one run in a three-inning start.

LSU (43-14-1) took the lead on Conner Hale's solo home run off Jackson in the second inning. Tyler Moore added a two-run home run with two outs in the fourth inning of Jackson Lowery to extend the Tigers' lead to 3-0.

LSU added five more runs in the fifth inning off Lowery and reliever Dominic Taccolini. Kade Scivicque added a solo home run off Alex Phillips to leadoff the seventh inning. LSU nearly had another home run in the sixth, but Arkansas left fielder Joe Serrano made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Alex Bregman.

he Tigers scored twice in the eighth to end the game, which had a 10-run rule after seven innings. LSU has outscored its opponents 85-8 during a seven-game win streak.

Arkansas (38-23) now awaits its postseason destination. The Razorbacks went 3-2 at the SEC Tournament with a pair of wins over No. 10 Ole Miss.

The NCAA will announce regional pairings Monday. Regionals begin next Friday.

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