LSU coach Paul Mainieri is a fan of history, especially baseball history. But he’s not fond when media question him regarding negative history that doesn’t pertain directly to his ballclub.
That’s why when he was asked before the Super Regionals about LSU’s 0-6 record all-time against Rice in Regional and Super Regional play, he decided to bring up some other history — LSU’s current coaching staff is 3-0 all-time against Rice, as Mainieri had defeated Rice twice before and associate head coach David Grewe had defeated the Owls once at Michigan State.
Now Mainieri and Grewe are a perfect 5-0 against Rice after sweeping the Owls, 12-9 and 5-3, in front of the two largest crowds to ever witness LSU baseball in Alex Box Stadium.
With the victories, the Tigers (51-16) amassed the most team wins since 2000, the last time they won the national championship trophy. The Tigers are also now headed to Omaha, Neb., for the College World Series for the 15th time in program history and the second consecutive year.
“Omaha, here come the Tigers,” Mainieri said.
To get past Rice, it took a pair of nail-biting victories with the style of baseball Mainieri likes to see his team play: balanced.
In Friday night’s 12-9 victory, LSU used the old style of “guerrilla ball” the Tiger faithful were accustomed to seeing under former Tiger skipper Skip Bertman, knocking in 12 runs on 12 hits, including four for extra bases.
Four of those runs were driven in by junior left fielder Ryan Schimpf, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double.
Schimpf’s three-run blast came during a six-run sixth inning and gave LSU a 5-4 lead.
“I had two terrible at bats previously in the game, and I just tried to … get it out of my mind,” Schimpf said. “I wasn’t looking for a home run, I was just trying to drive something up the middle … Fortunately, I put a good swing on it.”
Saturday night’s game saw the Tigers struggle to bring in runs, as LSU left 10 runners on base while collecting 10 hits.
Rice’s offense was also lacking in the game, as they scattered nine hits but got only three runs.
Part of the reason for that lack of clutch hitting may have been the absence of Collegiate Baseball Freshman of the Year Anthony Rendon, who was injured chasing a foul ball near the LSU bullpen in the second inning.
The Rice third baseman went 3-for-4 in the first game, including his 20th home run of the season, but struck out with runners in scoring position in his first at bat of Saturday’s game.
“That was very tough to see Anthony be taken out of the game,” said Rice second baseman Brock Holt. “He has been our best player this whole season, and we’ve been counting on him for big hits.”
The offense in both games was overshadowed by the outstanding pitching performances by LSU sophomore Anthony Ranaudo and senior Louis Coleman. The one-two punch for LSU provided 15 2/3 innings pitched while giving up eight runs (four earned) on 14 hits and striking out 14. Neither starter gave up a walk.
“It always begins with your pitching and defense,” Mainieri said. “I know Skip Bertman won championships here with guerrilla ball, but if you go back and look at his teams, I guarantee you he had great pitchers. You can’t win in this sport without pitching.”
The Tigers also got a solid relief performance from freshman closer Matty Ott in Saturday’s victory, as the right-hander had to face only four Rice batters to get his LSU record 15th save of the season, including a strikeout to end the game.
“In the SEC you face situations like that all the time,” Ott said. “None of them meant as much as this one did – going to the World Series … I’ve been prepared for it all year, though.”LSU will begin College World Series play at 6 p.m. Saturday against Virginia and Cavaliers coach Brian O’Connor, Mainieri’s former assistant at Notre Dame.If the Tigers win Saturday, they will face the winner of the game between Arkansas and Cal State Fullerton on Monday.If Virginia beats LSU, the Tigers will play Monday in an elimination game against the loser of the Arkansas-Cal State Fullerton matchup.
—-Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]