HOOVER, Ala. -- The duel was as good as advertised Thursday when LSU and Arkansas tangled in the third round of the SEC tournament. The hitters from both teams will vouch for that.

Afterward, there was a lot of symbolic cap-tipping - especially from the Tigers after they dropped a 4-1 decision at the Hoover Met.

"The stage was set for a really great game (Thursday), and I don't think anybody was disappointed with the pitchers' duel," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said.

Added Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn, "I thought the starting pitchers did a tremendous job.