LSU Rides Momentum into Finals

LSU hasn’t lost in over a month and is averaging 10.7 runs per game in the CWS, outscoring its three opponents 32-11

by Matt Reynolds
Tiger Rag Assistant Editor

(At left, Paul Mainieri talking it over with Ryan Schimpf during the Arkansas game last Friday. (Photo by Don Carter)

CLICK HERE to listen to LSU coach Paul Mainieri discuss his opponent.

CLICK HERE to listen to Texas coach Augie Garrido at today’s press conference.

OMAHA, Neb. – The two teams matched to quarrel in Rosenblatt Stadium on Monday could not have ended up in this situation any differently.

LSU has feasted on its competition to this point in the 2009 College World Series, while the Longhorns have been able to win the nailbiters.

The Tigers have been on cruise control since the beginning of postseason play, while top-seeded Texas has had to rely on hocuspocus tactics to reach the championship round of the CWS.

“The way we’ve been winning, we’ve added a new assistant coach, David Copperfield,” Texas coach Augie Garrido said. “I’ve been asked if we are going to practice. How do you practice the way we’ve been winning?”

The Longhorns long, strange journey began with the epic 25 innings win in their home regional. Texas rallied from a four-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth against Army and then won it on a Preston Clark grand slam.

The Longhorns opened the CWS with a victory over Southern Miss, scoring the winning run on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth.

In their first meeting against Arizona State in the CWS, the Longhorns rallied to overcome a six-run deficit. Then another rally for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Sun Devils, 4-3, would book another few days in Omaha for Texas.

Garrido has won five championships, three at Cal State-Fullerton and with Texas in 2002 and 2005.

On the other side of the fence, LSU hasn’t lost in over a month and is averaging 10.7 runs per game in the CWS, outscoring its three opponents 32-11. The Tigers outscored Arkansas 23-6 over their last two games and have shown a balanced brand of baseball that has lately looked, well, near flawless.

“We are up against a great team that has played the best baseball of anyone so far,” Garrido said. “They are hitting on all cylinders, but we will just play the game inning-by-inning, play-by-play and hope for the best.”

The Longhorns and Tigers have combined to make 48 CWS appearances. Texas has won six titles, LSU five. This is the first time the two teams have gone 3-0 in Omaha to reach the finals since 2001 when Miami accomplished it.

For LSU coach Paul Mainieri, who’s making his first coaching appearance in the championship round of the the CWS, the bold preseason expectations of his team is something he considers a guiding force in keeping the Tigers down the consistent path that lead to college baseball’s biggest stage.

“Our team had a unique year,” Mainieri said. “We were a preseason No. 1 pick this year and our players handled it with poise. We only lost two games in a row once all year (Tennessee). I think a lot of credit goes to our consistency. We’ve been consistent with pitching and defense. We’ve been up and down with hitting, but we’ve come from behind and won some big games. We have confidence and that’s what has helped us make our way here.”

LSU is hitting .368 in Omaha, averaging 10.7 runs, and spread nine homers among seven players. The Tigers are also the only team of the eight here without an error.

Sophomore second baseman DJ LeMahieu is batting .347 on the year with 12 doubles, three triples, four homers and 40 RBI. LeMahieu is batting .467 (7-for-15) in the CWS with one RBI and six runs.

Second-team all-SEC outfielder Ryan Schimpf is hitting .344 with 19 doubles, one triple, 21 homers and 67 RBI. Schimpf is hitting a team-best .545 (6-for-11) in the CWS with two doubles, two homers, four RBI and six runs.

First-team all-SEC designated hitter Blake Dean is batting .335 with 18 doubles, 17 homers and 70 RBI. Dean is batting .364 (4-for-11) in the CWS with two doubles, two homers, five RBI and five runs.

“They’ve consistently smashed the baseball,” Chase Ruffin, Texas starting pitcher for game one said. “At least since they’ve been here, and their pitching is competitive, so it will definitely be a tough game for us.”

Texas, the Big XII Conference champion, is hitting .289 on the year with 45 homers and 71 stolen bases. The Longhorns are hitting .324 (33-for-102) in their three CWS games with five doubles and six home runs. The Longhorns pitching staff leads the country with a 2.88 ERA.

“I don’t think the teams are all that different,” Mainieri said. “They’ve shown they can hit the ball. Our team is balanced between hitting and pitching. Augie utilizes the sac bunt more than I do. I think he created California small ball. I think the two teams are a lot more similar than what is seen on the surface.”

LSU will start ace Louis Coleman on, who threw six innings and surrendered one hit to beat Arkansas last Monday. Coleman opted to come back for his senior season with the goal in mind of taking care of some unfinished business in Omaha.

A year has passed since Coleman gave up the game winning home run against North Carolina in Rossenblatt Stadium. Now with many more innings of experience and an a closet full of awards and accolades, the All-American intends closing the deal.

“I replayed it so many different times,” Coleman said. “Pitchers aren’t like quarterbacks, it’s hard to put it completely out of your memory. “I’ve thought about it, but when I step on the mound it is a totally different ballgame.”

Game one of the championship round of the CWS begins at 6 p.m. Monday and can be seen on ESPN. The best-of-three winner in the series claims the national title.

Check after the game for reaction and photo galleries and follow the game on Tiger Rag’s Around the Horn Baseball Blog.

#5 Texas Longhorns (49-14-1) vs. #1 LSU Fighting Tigers (54-16)

DATES/TIMES:
Monday, June 22 — 6 p.m. CT
Tuesday, June 23 – 6 p.m. CT
Wednesday, June 24 – 6 p.m. CT (if necessary)

STADIUM:
Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb.

RANKINGS:
LSU - No. 1 by Baseball America; No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball; No. 1 by NCBWA
Texas – No. 4 by Baseball America; No. 5 by Collegiate Baseball; No. 5 by NCBWA

TV:
The CWS Championship Finals will be televised by ESPN

SERIES RECORD:
Texas leads the series with LSU, 20-8-1; the series began in 1899. The last meeting between the clubs occurred in the 2000 College World Series, when LSU defeated UT, 13-5, en route to its fifth national championship. The only other meeting between LSU and Texas in Omaha took place in 1989, when the Longhorns eliminated the Tigers from the CWS, 12-7. From 1989-2000, the teams met a total of 11 times, with Texas holding a 7-4 edge in those contests.

GAME 1 PITCHING MATCHUP:
LSU – Sr. RHP Louis Coleman (14-2, 2.68 ERA, 121.0 IP, 22 BB, 132 SO)
UT – So. RHP Chance Ruffin (10-2, 3.27 ERA, 118.1 IP, 24 BB, 104 SO