OMAHA, Neb. — With senior pitcher Jared Poché starting Game 2 on the mound, LSU had every member of its “Fab Four” on the field in what would be their last game together.
Poché, senior infielders Cole Freeman and Kramer Robertson and junior outfielder Greg Deichmann all decided after last season to return to LSU for one more go. The four led LSU through the bumps and bruises of the season all the way to the College World Series final.
With Poché on the mound, it looked like the Tigers were destined for a Game 3, but that wouldn’t be the case.
“I am definitely going to remember this team,” Poché said. “It’s definitely one of the more special teams I’ve been on in my four years, just the relationships that we’ve built throughout the season.”
Poché pitched 5⅔ innings, giving up seven hits and two unearned runs in his final game, but the lefty will go down as the winningest pitcher in LSU history with 39 career wins.
“It’s relationships that are going to last for a very long time, and it’s one of those things that I probably won’t ever be able to play with [Robertson] or Cole Freeman or Greg again.”
The pitcher had been flanked by Freeman and Robertson for the past two years, both of whom made spectacular plays in the field.
“You don’t get to play with them again,” Robertson said. “I think that’s the hardest thing.”
Robertson, who did not play at his usual elite level in the College World Series, said that he is at peace with his career and left everything he had on the field.
“We got second place,” Robertson said, “But it was a special group of guys in there, and we made relationships that will last forever.”
“It’s tough for anybody to make it this far and not win it, but there’s lots to be proud of. We won five championships, we just didn’t get number six.”
The shortstop finished his career 206 hits, and created a vault of highlights with his play in the field.
Robertson’s ability in the field was matched by his middle infield partner Freeman, who has also been LSU’s best hitter the past two seasons.
“This is what we came back for, and it hurts we couldn’t finish it off,” Freeman said. “We just have to look at the positives, it has been an unbelievable season.”
“I wouldn’t trade this for the world.”
Freeman’s ability to get singles and doubles was contrasted by the slugging ability of Deichmann. In 2017, the junior outfielder hit 19 home runs, the most of any LSU player since Matt Gaudet hit 19 in 2010.
“We did a lot of great things this year,” Deichmann said. “We had some guys who poured their hearts out and gave everything for this program. It’s just learning about the guys on the team, and the guys that become close family. It sucks, it really sucks we are going to have to go our separate ways.”
“Us four were kind of highlighted for coming back, but there is so much more in this program than just us four.”
“They are like my own family,” coach Paul Mainieri said. “They’ve sacrificed and given so much for our program, and they are ready to start their pro careers. I know it will never be the same for them because they love LSU, and it’s going to be the hardest thing in the world to say goodbye to them.”
Mainieri said the next couple of days is the hardest part of the year for him because of the goodbyes to so many players, but that he cherishes the memories.
“In Jared and Kramer’s case, we’ve been through four years together. And other guys, Cole Freeman it’s two years, Deichmann, three years. There’s a lot of things that happened throughout those times, a lot of awesome experiences that we’ll cherish forever.”
