The Tigers are headed back to Omaha following a 14-4 victory over Mississippi State.
In a much different start than Saturday’s game one, LSU jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead at the end of the second inning. The quick start was key for LSU considering that Mississippi State was running extremely low on pitchers.
However, senior pitcher Jared Poche ran into problems in the third inning. Poche walked four batters, and gave up a two-run home run in the inning. The senior, who was making his final start in Alex Box Stadium, was relieved by sophomore Caleb Gilbert.
Gilbert, who came in with the bases loaded, gave up two quick singles which brought in two runs. Mississippi State could’ve had a fifth in the inning, but Cody Brown slipped as he was rounding third.
“That was a critical part of the game,” Gilbert said “They had all the momentum on their side. At that point it was about minimizing, if they get two don’t let them get three. Just focusing on that next hitter and a first pitch strike, and I got out of it. It kind of set the tone for the rest of the way.”
The game would remain at 4-3 in favor of Mississippi State until the Tigers busted the door open in the fifth inning with six runs. LSU maintained its lead throughout the game with a dominant performance on the mound from Gilbert, and finished it off with a five run ninth inning.
At one point in the game, Gilbert retired 15 straight batters. Of the 20 batters he faced, only three reached base. Gilbert finished the night with 5 ⅔ innings pitched, two hits, no runs allowed, a walk and six strikeouts.
“Caleb came in, he minimized the damage, and really dominated the game from that point forward.” coach Paul Mainieri said. “I thought Caleb did a super job in that moment, and as the game went on.”
The Tigers are now heading back to Omaha for the 18th time in school history.
“Everybody’s just stepped up in major ways to get us to this point,” junior outfielder Greg Deichmann said. “It’s been a full team effort.”
“For all of us to come back with one goal in mind, and to accomplish that in front of the greatest fans in college baseball is just humbling.”
Deichmann was a big contributor in the series for the Tigers both offensively and defensive, and finished the Super Regional with three RBIs.
The junior played what many expected to be his last game at Alex Box Stadium, and was taken off the field in the bottom of the ninth along with seniors Kramer Robertson and Cole Freeman and fellow junior Michael Papierski.
The Tigers (48-17), will face Florida State (45-21), in its opening game in the College World Series.
When asked about whether the team will have difficulty on flipping the switch to play for a national championship, Robertson responded candidly.
“You said play for a national championship,” Robertson said, “We’ll be ready to go.”
“We’re not done yet. This isn’t the end, we are ready to go.”
