OMAHA, Neb. — LSU is on the brink of elimination again in Omaha.
Following a 4-3 loss to Florida in Game 1 of the College World Series finals, the Tigers will once again have to pull off two straight wins against one of the top teams in the country. LSU would be the fifth team in history to win the championship after losing the first game.
And while the task is daunting, coach Paul Mainieri and his squad seem up to the task.
“We’ve played with our backs against the wall this whole tournament,” junior outfielder Greg Deichmann said. “We are comfortable in this position. We have all the confidence in the world, and this series isn’t over by a longshot.”
Senior pitcher Jared Poché will take the mound in Game 2 for the final time in an LSU uniform. Poché looks to continue his recent string of pitching performances that helped him pick up two victories in the College World Series.
“It’s his last start ever in an LSU jersey,” said junior catcher Michael Papierski. “He’s going to be ready to go. He’s not going to be nervous, he is going to go out there and throw strikes. If he throws strikes we should win the ballgame.”
Poché, LSU’s winningest pitcher all-time, will need to put together another solid outing for the Tigers. The senior lefty struggled against Florida in the two teams’ regular season matchup, giving up six hits, four runs and four walks in four innings of work.
“We’ve got one of our guys going tomorrow,” Mainieri said. “Jared Poché has been a warrior for us for four years. I know that he’s not going to give up and he’s going to go out there and pitch his heart out tomorrow”
“I’m excited that I get the chance to give us one more game after [Tuesday],” Poché said. “Backs against the wall, I’m glad I’m getting the ball.”
While Florida will have to face Poché, LSU will see freshman pitcher Tyler Dyson.
Dyson has made 23 appearances for the Gators and has only pitched 33 total innings on the year. The freshman will be making his second start of the season in game two.
The Tigers will need to capitalize on any mistakes made by the freshman early in the game, which is something the team failed to do in Game 1. LSU failed to convert multiple opportunities into runs in Game 1, which was ultimately the reason for the loss.
The Tiger bats struck out a combined 13 times, oftentimes with runners on base.
LSU will need more production from the first two names in its lineup. Senior infielders Kramer Robertson and Cole Freeman are 7-for-47 (.149 batting average), at the plate during the College World Series.
Robertson and Freeman’s struggles at the plate has been well documented throughout the tournament, but they still have an opportunity to turn it around. With the season on the line, LSU will need the duo to produce.
