In the end, it didn’t mean much. Just an asterisk on the end of Tom Slater’s four-year run as Auburn’s head baseball coach.

The Tigers’ 2008 season finale against LSU didn’t impact the Southeastern Conference standings: LSU had clinched second place and Auburn had sewn up 11th with Friday’s LSU victory.

And it didn’t impact Slater’s future: The coach met with athletic director Jay Jacobs hours before the first pitch and offered his resignation, though no announcement was made until after the game.

Still, LSU’s 11-7 win, which completed a three-game sweep, had some significance. It extended the Bayou Bengals’ win streak to 16 games, including 12 in a row in SEC play.

Slater said he decided not to tell his players of his resignation until after the game.

“I thought that was important for the integrity of the game,” he said. “I wanted our kids to come out and compete today as though this was any other game.”

The result was similar to the previous two games in the series: Auburn looked competitive in the early innings, but couldn’t keep pace with LSU’s offense.

LSU (39-16-1, 18-11-1 SEC) put the game away with five runs in the seventh inning.

Auburn (28-28, 11-19 SEC) couldn’t respond to LSU’s late surge. The Tigers led 7-5 after the sixth, but managed just one baserunner in the final three innings after LSU reclaimed the lead.

LSU reliever Austin Ross (2-1) allowed four runs in three innings, but had enough run support to claim the win.

Auburn reliever Michael Hurst (3-5) loaded the bases in the seventh inning and left with AU ahead 7-6. His replacement, former Central star Bryan Woodall, gave up four more runs before escaping the inning.

LSU added another run in the ninth.

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