Milam homers twice and defending champion LSU rallies to beat Wofford 4

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Steven Milam hit two solo home runs, including a game-deciding shot to right-center in the bottom of the ninth, and the defending champion LSU Tigers overcame a two-run deficit to beat Wofford 4-3 in their NCAA Division I baseball tournament opening game on Friday.

LSU’s Michael Braswell and Jared Jones also hit solo home runs, both coming in the eighth inning to tie the game, and reliever Griffin Herring picked up the win by striking out the side in the top of the ninth.

Both of Milam’s home runs were lead-off hits, with his first coming in the seventh to cut Wofford’s lead to 2-1. His game-deciding hit came on a 3-2 count in his second clutch home run in less than a week.

In the SEC semifinal last weekend, the Tigers overcame an 8-0 deficit to beat South Carolina 12-11 on Milam’s two-run homer in the 10th.