OMAHA – It started with a laser throw to the plate that gunned out a potential run scorer. Then, it was two straight throwing errors on lazy ground balls back to the pitcher. Finally, it was two walks, a hit batter and another error that put the nail in the coffin.
A series of momentum-shifting plays in just three innings spoiled LSU sophomore starting pitcher Jared Poche’s dream-like start and spun the Tigers’ (53-11) first game of the College World Series into a nightmare.
The Horned Frogs (50-13) capitalized on four LSU errors while being bolstered by a strong outing from right-handed ace Preston Morrison as it dominated the Tigers, 10-3, Sunday afternoon at TD Ameritrade Park.
“It’s amazing,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “I’ve been in this game a long time, and sometimes you see things you haven’t seen all year or for years. We just had a couple of missed plays there, and they got a couple of clutch hits and things just kind of spiralled out of control for us there.”
Poche’ (9-2) cruised through his first three innings, striking out the first three batters he faced while retiring the first nine total. On top of the strong start from Poche’, the Tigers appeared to have struck the first blow on a base hit by sophomore left fielder Jake Fraley with senior second baseman Jared Foster in scoring position.
But TCU center fielder Cody Jones delivered a perfect toss to catcher Evan Skoug, which prevented the sliding Foster from scoring. With the momentum starting to turn in the Horned Frogs’ favor, the wheels came off for Poche’
Jones led off the inning with a weak chopper back to Poche’, who picked up ball, turned toward first base and airmailed the ball over first baseman Chris Chinea’s head. Jones raced all the way to third, and, on the next at-bat, Poche’ again sailed a throw on a similar swing by first baseman Jeremie Fagnan.
“I think that was a big part of the game at that point,” Poche’ said. “I threw those errors, the momentum definitely shifted their way. I should have been better than that [and] made that play. [It’s] definitely my fault.”
With runners on the corners, an RBI single by designated hitter Connor Wanhanen on the following at-bat and another RBI single by left fielder Dane Steinhagen later in the inning gave the Horned Frogs a 2-0 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“One thing we’ve been really stressing for the last couple of weeks in the postseason is kind of an analogy to a boxing match: working the cut,” Wanhanen, who had three RBIs, said. “[The errors were] the cut we saw in them. We really took advantage of it, just getting the each guy up [and] passing the torch on the next guy. That’s something we were really trying to do. Once we see an open door, we’ll try and push through it.”
Although the Tigers were able to grab a run in the bottom half of the fourth on an RBI by junior centerfielder Andrew Stevenson, Poche’s confidence was clearly shaken. TCU was able take advantage of two walks, a hit batter and an error by LSU third baseman Conner Hale with four more runs in the top of the fifth.
Despite just four hits through the five innings, the Horned Frogs were able to chase Poche’ from the game after only 4 ⅓ innings of work.
Meanwhile, the sinkerball pitching Morrison (12-3) was able to shut down the LSU offense through the next three innings. In total, the senior righty struck out five in seven innings on the mound while allowing just one run on five hits.
“They’re a good lineup, and I had to adjust a little bit after that one-run inning,” Morrison said. “They were kind of going after me earlier in the count than we had planned for. But we make adjustments, and it worked out, I guess.”
TCU notched four more runs with two outs in the top of the seventh with the first run coming off a hit batter by left-handed junior reliever Hunter Devall and a throwing error by senior catcher Kade Scivicque. With seven different LSU pitchers appearing, 11 TCU runners reached base without a hit, and the Horned Frogs were 7-of-18 with runners on base.
The Tigers were able to grab a couple of runs in the bottom of the eighth off a solo home run by Foster and an RBI single by Scivicque, but TCU closer Riley Ferrell struck out the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
To avoid elimination, LSU will need to defeat the loser of the Vanderbilt and Cal State Fullerton game at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Freshman ace Alex Lange will get the start for the Tigers in that contest.
“We’ll regain our composure, our poise and confidence, most importantly, and get ready to play on Tuesday,” Mainieri said.