• 2theadvocate.com staff report
• Published: Apr 4, 2009

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Micah Gibbs, Ryan Schimpf and Sean Ochinko homered as the Tigers beat top-ranked Georgia, 8-4, tonight.

Anthony Ranaudo pitched six scoreless innings to help fifth-ranked LSU (22-7 overall, 7-3 Southeastern Conference) win the opener of an SEC series for the first time in four tries this season.

The Tigers built an 8-0 lead and withstood a three-run Georgia outburst in the ninth.

Ranaudo (3-2) struck out 10 and allowing four hits while working around five walks.

Louis Coleman pitched 2 1/3 innings. He allowed a solo home run to Bryce Massanari in the eighth.

Jordan Nicholson allowed three ninth-inning runs, two on Massanari's second homer of the game.

Gibbs' leadoff home run in the second inning gave LSU a 1-0 lead. Schimpf hit a three-run homer in the third, and Ochinko went deep two batters later to give the Tigers a 5-0 advantage.

Ochinko added a two-run single in the seventh and Leon Landry's RBI groundout later in the inning put the Tigers in front, 8-0.

Georgia starter Trevor Holder (5-2) allowed five runs (four earned), six hits and four walks while striking out five in six innings.