LSU starting pitcher Kevin Gausman may not have pitched his best game Saturday night at Alex Box Stadium, but the sophomore’s efforts were enough to guide the Tigers to a 7-1 victory over the Oregon State Beavers.
The victory put LSU (45-16) in position to win its first NCAA regional since the 2009 season. The Tigers will face the winner of Sunday afternoon’s elimination game against Oregon State (39-19) and University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Gausman, who went eight innings, gave up seven hits and three walks while striking out only three, a season low for the sophomore hurler. Oregon State drove the All-America righthander’s pitch count to 129, but the Beavers could not capitalize as they stranded nine runners on base.
“”I’ve had Kevin (Gausman) now for almost two full years, and nothing the kid does amazes me anymore,” coach Paul Mainieri said. “He has gotten better every week. Today, maybe, wasn’t as sharp as he’s been in previous weeks. He just showed another side of himself, how he could just battle through not being as fine as he normally is.”
“”I didn’t have my normal command; it was something I had to fight the entire night,” Gausman said. “I give all the credit to (Oregon State); they didn’t chase a lot. I think that was the scouting report they had on me. They didn’t chase anything, and they made you throw a lot of strikes.”
LSU spotted Gausman an early lead after plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the second and third innings. Tyler Hanover, Austin Nola, Ty Ross and Grant Dozar each collected an RBI in the offensive outburst to put LSU ahead 4-1 after three innings.
Nola provided an insurance run in the eighth inning after he crushed an RBI triple over the centerfielder’s outstretched glove. The senior shortstop later scored on a wild pitch to swell the Tigers’ lead to 7-1.
CoverItLive Replay – http://www.tigertv.tv/2012/06/02/cover-it-live-lsu-baseball-regional-vs-oregon-state
Previous Games - http://www.tigertv.tv/2012/06/02/lsu-defeats-ulm-4-1-in-baton-rouge-regional-game-
Contact:
Andrew Valenti, [email protected]
Patrick Clay, [email protected]
