The Tigers got a pitching gem from their starting pitcher for the third day in a row on Sunday. This time, it was the senior that has shined all year for LSU – right-hander Louis Coleman.
The Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year threw eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings while giving up one run on five hits to propel the Tigers to a 10-3 victory against No. 2 seed Minnesota to advance to host the Baton Rouge Super Regional next weekend against the winner of a Monday elimination game between Rice and Kansas State.
In total, LSU starting pitching in the regional went a combined 23 1/3 innings, allowing 5 runs (four earned) on 15 hits while striking out 32 batters.
“[Coleman] was in total control out there tonight,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “When you give him a lead … you know he is not going to give it up by our own mistakes.”
Coleman (12-2) ran into an early jam with runners on the corners with one out in the first inning, but the senior got a pair of strikeouts to end the inning. The Schlater, Miss., native settled down in the next three innings with a trio of three-up, three-down innings as part of 12 straight retired batters.
Minnesota’s only run off Coleman came in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run by catcher Kyle Knudson, his fourth of the season, to bring Minnesota within two grand slams, 9-1.
“I knew our guys were due to start swinging the bats, and it made it easier to go out there and throw the ball over the plate,” Coleman said.
The Tigers bats woke up to the tune of 17 hits – including five for extra bases – off a noticeably depleted Minnesota pitching staff that struggled all night against the Tiger batters.
The Tigers capitalized on an error by Minnesota third baseman Kyle Geason in the second inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead on two earned runs against Minnesota right-hander Allen Bechstein.
Bechstein went four innings in his third start of the season and gave up seven runs (five earned) on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Sophomore catcher Micah Gibbs led off with a single to start the inning before first baseman Sean Ochinko ripped a sharp one-out would-be double play ball at Geason. However, the ball took a bad hop on Golden Gopher third sacker to allow the inning to continue.
Second baseman DJ LeMahieu followed up with a RBI single before third baseman Derek Helenihi god a 2 RBI single to clear the bases.
The Tigers got another RBI on a double by junior left fielder Ryan Schimpf, but junior right fielder Jared Mitchell was thrown out at home.
LSU got three more runs in the third to break out to a 7-0 lead.
Gibbs said the hot start was important for both Coleman and the team.
“It takes the pressure off our pitcher,” said Gibbs, who went 4-for-5 on the night. “It allows him to pitch over the plate.”
Junior designated hitter Blake Dean started the third by riding a 1-1 pitch out to left field for an opposite field home run, his 15th of the season.
Gibbs followed with a single and freshman center fielder Mikie Mahtook was hit by pitch to put two runners on with no out for Ochinko. The junior came through with an RBI single to score Gibbs and move Mahtook to third.
LeMahieu drove in Mahtook with a sacrifice fly to give LSU a 7-0 lead.
The Tigers had another runner in LeMahieu thrown out at home plate in the fifth inning on a single by Helenihi, the second LSU runner to go down at home.
LSU tacked on two more runs in the sixth to take a 9-0 lead.
Mitchell got a one-out single and stole second to get into scoring position. The steal was No. 67 of Mitchell’s career, which moved him into a tie for second in LSU history. Dean later drove in his fellow junior with a two-out single.
Gibbs drove in Dean with a double to the left centerfield gap.
Schimpf got back the run from Minnesota’s home run in the top of the eighth with his 18th home run of the season, a blast down the right field line after his four strikeout performance last night, to bring the score to 10-1.And Minnesota first baseman Nick O’Shea hit a two-run, ninth-inning blast down the left field line to close out the scoring at 10-3.ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMColeman’s performance earned him a selection to the All-Tournament Team as one of LSU’s sixselections, including unanimous Tournament Most Outstanding Player sophomore pitcher Anthony Ranaduo.Coleman and Ranaudo were the All-Tournament Team’s two pitchers, combining for 22 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings while allowing only two earned runs.Gibbs, Ochinko, Mitchell and freshman shortstop Austin Nola rounded out the Tiger selections.McCallum was the All-Tournament’s only other unanimous selection, earning the spot at second base.Minnesota third baseman Kyle Geason, Baylor outfielder Ben Booker, Minnesota outfielder Justin Gominsky and Minnesota designated hitter Matt Nohelty rounded out the team.To watch the post-game press conference, click here.
—-Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]