The LSU baseball team started itspostseason in fine fashion Friday afternoon with an 11-8 win overNortheastern University before 6,242 fans at Alex Box Stadium.
    The Tigers (41-19-1) received clutchperformances from two players, who for much of the season havestruggled and not played up to their potential, to lead them to thewin. LSU now will play the winner of Tulane and UNC-WilmingtonSaturday at 3 p.m.
    ”That’s a pretty good baseball team,”LSU coach Smoke Laval said of Northeastern (27-23). “You can seewhy they’re representing their conference.”
    Starting pitcher Jake Tompkins (3-5)pitched seven strong innings and earned the win while centerfielder J.C. Holt led the offensive charge with two home runs andfive RBIs.
    Holt and Tompkins’ performances Fridaywere encouraging signs for the Tigers.
    After going 7-1 with a 2.68 ERA and foursaves in his junior season, Tompkins was expected to be LSU’s acepitcher. But Tompkins struggled all season and came into Friday’sgame with a 2-5 record and a 5.34 ERA.
    As a freshman in 2002, Holt hit .349 butsaw his average dip below .250 for most of this season until heraised it to .279 going into the regional opener.
    Holt’s solo home run in the first inninggave LSU a 1-0 lead, which the Tigers held until the fourth, whenthe Huskies tied it on an RBI-double from Omar Pena.
    Northeastern threatened to take the leadin the fourth with runners on second and third with one out, butTompkins toughened up and struck out the next two Huskies to keepthe score 1-1.
    ”[Tompkins] turned it up a notch incertain situations,” said Northeastern coach Neil McPhee. “Hiscurveball was very effective when he needed it to be.”
    LSU responded in the bottom of theinning with four runs, including Holt’s second home run of the game- a 3-run shot to left field. Holt finished the game 4-for-5 andevery Tiger in the starting lineup got a base hit.
    ”Coach knew I was struggling earlier inthe year,” Holt said. “As long as you hit in the postseason, that’sall that matters. The only thing I did different [today] was slowthings down. I tried to take my time. I guess today was just myday.”
    Tompkins said holding Northeastern toone run in the fourth inning while his teammates answered with fourruns made a big difference in the game.
    ”I just went to work and startedthrowing it in there,” Tompkins said. “You just focus in there whenit’s all on the line. They had a little bit of momentum and it justtook the wind out of their sails.”
    Over the next three innings Tompkinssettled down and finished the game with eight strikeouts and onewalk. He started to tire in the seventh and allowed three runs.
    LSU then added to its lead with fiveruns on seven hits in the sixth.
    Catcher Matt Liuzza started the inningwith a single, followed by a base hit from Bruce Sprowl. Holt drovein Liuzza with a double and shortstop Aaron Hill followed with a2-run double to left. Second baseman Blake Gill and third basemanIvan Naccarata added RBI singles in the sixth.
    First baseman Clay Harris also hit his12th home run for LSU, a solo shot to right-center field in theeighth.
    Northeastern scored four runs in theninth off LSU relievers Chad Vaught and Greg Smith and finishedwith 13 hits.
    ”We felt we hit the ball real well andgave ourselves a chance to stay in the ball game late,” McPheesaid. “You can’t pitch behind a team like LSU.”
    LSU ripped 15 hits for 11 runs,including nine hits and eight runs off Northeastern ace JustinHedrick (7-2).
    ”When you face a team like LSU, you gotto come out and pitch ahead, and I wasn’t able to do that,” Hedricksaid.