LSU’s four-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning can only be described as a classic game between two of the biggest rivals in the Southeastern Conference.
“That’s a game we’ll never forget,” said coach Paul Mainieri.”They’ll be talking about this game 10 years from now.”
The Tigers were subdued through seven innings, and the game looked lost after Cody Brown’s two-run double in the top of the eighth inning gave Mississippi State a 3-0 lead.
After Brown’s double, junior Alex Lange intentionally walked a batter, and trotted off the mound at Alex Box Stadium for the last time to a standing ovation. It seemed as if Lange was going to be let down by his offense once more this season.
“It was a pretty emotional day today,” Lange said. “A lot of thinking, just reminiscing on how awesome this university is and how much these fans and this team means to me. This has been the greatest three years of my life. The honor to wear a Tiger uniform is pretty special.”
With Lange out the game, Mainieri turned to freshman pitcher Zack Hess. Hess got the Tigers out the inning, and then the Tigers broke through.
“Hess was like a bull out there,” Mainieri said. “He had us all fired up.”
Following a leadoff walk by senior shortstop Kramer Robertson and a single from sophomore outfielder Antoine Duplantis, junior outfielder Greg Deichmann stepped to the plate with one out. Deichmann was able to hit a double to left field, allowing both Robertson and Duplantis to score.
Freshman center fielder Zach Watson followed Deichmann up with a RBI single to tie the game. Watson would advance to third throughout the inning, and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Michael Papierski.
With the possession of a 4-3 lead, Hess was sent back out onto the mound in favor of senior closer Hunter Newman. Mainieri said Hess was “like a man possessed.”
“I asked him if he wanted to stay in, and he about chewed my head off… I knew he could do the job.”
Hess finished off the game with a three-pitch strikeout, and was charged on the mound by his teammates.
Pitching coach Alan Dunn said that Hess is made for the role due to his intensity and makeup as a pitcher.
“Zack kept his poise and was able to come back, and knew it was about executing pitches,” Dunn said.
Hess, who had no D1 offers going into his junior year, said he never thought he would be in the position to close out a game in the super regional, much less play for LSU.
“This is an awesome feeling,” Hess said, “But at the end of the day, we still have some work ahead of us. I’m just glad we won the game.”
