Win or lose, Monday night was going to be the last LSU baseball game in Alex Box Stadium. But while it was the final game, it was the first inning that made all the difference and sent the Tigers home to pack for the 2008 College World Series. The LSU offense came out firing on all cylinders in the bottom of the first inning, allowing them to coast to the 21-7 victory against the University of California Irvine. “They weren’t going to be denied today,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “You could see it. I went into the locker room about three hours before game time, and they were loose and relaxed and confident and having fun. There wasn’t an ounce of nervousness. You could just see the determination in their faces.” Senior third baseman Michael Hollander drew a walk to lead off the game and advanced to third base on a single to right field by sophomore left fielder Jared Mitchell. UC Irvine sophomore pitcher Bryce Stowell then helped the Tigers score their first run by allowing the runners to advance on a balk. Hollander came home from third putting LSU ahead, 1-0. LSU sophomore Blake Dean followed two pitches later with a blast over the “Intimidator” sign in right field. UC Irvine coach Mike Gillespie had an talk with his pitcher and infield following the home run, but it did not stop the Tigers’ momentum. Freshman catcher Micah Gibbs and junior first baseman Matt Clark hit back-to-back shots to left field after UC Irvine’s meeting to stretch the lead to 5-0 before UC Irvine was able to record an out. Freshman center fielder Leon Landry extended the lead to 6-0 later in the inning, scoring from first on a two-out hit by sophomore second baseman Ryan Schimpf and a UC Irvine error. When the inning finished, the Tigers had scored six runs on five hits. Every Tiger starter had come to the plate at least once, and the Anteaters were using their second pitcher. “[The inning] clearly had a lot to do with the way the game played out,” Gillespie said. “They ran that five up there in the first inning and effectively, I mean literally, took our starter out of the game. If we were going to be able to contend tonight, we were going to have to have Bryce Stowell pitch deep into the game.” LSU starting pitcher Blake Martin had to warm up again during LSU’s at bat, and the long inning did not slow down the junior. Martin retired the first six batters he faced and allowed two earned runs on five hits through 4 2/3 innings. “What won the game for us was Blake Martin going out there in the top of the first inning and pitching so well,” Mainieri said. “The first game of the series, we walked the first two batters of the game. And when Blake Martin went out there and set the tone that he was going to take charge of the game, I think that set the tone and gave our hitters a lot of confidence.” LSU junior pitcher Jordan Brown earned the win in relief of Martin, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two innings. The LSU offense continued to destroy UC Irvine pitching for the remainder of the game, scoring runs in five of their remaining seven at bats including a seven-run fifth inning. Every Tiger starter recorded a hit by game’s end, and LSU hit seven home runs. Schimpf led LSU with two homers. In addition to five homers by starters, junior Buzzy Haydel and freshman Johnny Dishon homered. Dean finished the day 5-for-5, earning the record for most hits by a Tiger in tournament play. Perhaps the one low point of the game for LSU came in the top of the fifth inning when a ball bounced off the center field wall and hit Landry in the face. He left the game after the injury, but later returned to the dugout to the cheers of fans. The Tigers are unbeaten (4-0) in super regionals in Baton Rouge since the inception of the super regional round in 1999. The Tigers’ trip to Omaha, Neb., this weekend will be the team’s 14th trip to the College World Series. LSU will travel to Omaha on Thursday for the College World Series’ opening ceremonies Friday. The team will open play at 6 p.m. Sunday against North Carolina. Mainieri said while his team is happy to be going to Omaha, they are not done. “We’re going there to win. I promise you that,” Mainieri said. “You don’t go to Omaha, Neb., just to show up.”
—-Contact Jerit Roser at [email protected]