For the first time ever, Alex Box spectators watched as a team not wearing purple and gold dog-piled on its infield following a super regional series.
Despite what can only be called a miraculous comeback in game one, the Tigers were embarrassed in a 7-2 game-three loss to Stony Brook that ended LSU’s season early.
The game marked the first time LSU had ever lost a super regional played in Baton Rouge since 1999 when the format was adopted. This was also LSU coach Paul Mainieri’s first super regional loss as skipper of the Tigers, bringing his record to 2-1.
“We had every expectation that we were going to win this super regional and head off to Omaha this week,” Mainieri said. “But things do not always work out the way they are planned… We have no excuses. They out-played us, they deserved to win this super regional.”
The Seawolves recorded 15 hits compared to the Tigers’ three.
LSU had two batters go without a hit in the series and two more record only one, including junior left fielder Raph Rhymes, who leads the nation in batting average with .431.
“They played phenomenal defense,” Rhymes said. “It was like they were playing with five outfielders. Their pitcher [Frankie Vanderka] was good tonight. I think he kept us off balance. We would think we were getting a fastball count, and he’d throw a curveball.”
Vanderka pitched a complete game for the Seawolves, allowing only three hits, two earned runs and posting five strikeouts.
Sophomore pitcher Ryan Eades started on the mound for LSU, but was pulled after allowing three runs and five hits in the third inning alone.
It took LSU using six different pitchers on the night to record all 27 outs in the game. ____ Contact Mike Gegenheimer at [email protected]