LSU Takes Charge in NCAA Regional Championship
BATON ROUGE - The LSU Tiger baseball team displayed remarkable resilience in the NCAA Regional Championship game on Monday night at Alex Box Stadium, successfully overcoming an early deficit against the Little Rock Trojans. With the stakes at an all-time high, LSU assertively rallied back to secure a 10-6 victory, thanks in part to an impressive performance by designated hitter Ethan Frey, who went 4 for 4 at the plate.
Following this victory, LSU is set to host West Virginia in the Super Regional, with matchups beginning either Friday or Saturday; specific details regarding days and times will be released on Tuesday morning.
A Comeback Fueled by Key Performances
Initially, the Tigers found themselves trailing 5-1 after three innings, but Frey's pivotal contributions in the fourth inning helped shift the momentum. In that crucial inning, Frey plated three runs with a double, igniting LSU's comeback efforts.
The turning point arrived in the sixth inning, where a solo home run from catcher Luis Hernandez leveled the game at five runs each. Shortly thereafter, Steven Milam contributed with a groundout that brought in the go-ahead run, establishing a 6-5 lead for the Tigers.
To further solidify their advantage, LSU added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning, highlighted by Jared Jones blasting a two-run homer that capped the scoring at 10-6.
Game Highlights and Key Stats
For the second consecutive game against Little Rock, LSU started with the lead as Frey homered in the first inning, putting them ahead 1-0. However, the Trojans answered back fiercely, scoring five runs in the bottom of the second inning, led by Angel Cano's RBI single and Alex Seguine’s two-run shot.
In a turn of events, LSU’s pitching staff faced challenges, with starter Zac Cowan being replaced by Casan Evans after the second inning. Evans, however, rose to the occasion, recording an impressive 12 strikeouts over six innings of relief, allowing just one additional run.
Coach Johnson Celebrates Milestone Win
After the match, LSU head coach Jay Johnson expressed immense pride in his team's performance, labeling it as one of the best wins of his career. This victory also marked a significant milestone for Johnson, as he notched his 500th career win as a collegiate coach. "We obviously have great talent and great players, but also some of the best human beings on the planet," he stated, underscoring the character of his team.
Upcoming Challenges
With this victory, LSU improved their season record to 45-16, capturing the 27th NCAA Regional title in the program's history, while Little Rock concluded its season with a record of 27-34. As they head into the Super Regional next weekend against West Virginia—who recently triumphed in the Clemson Regional—LSU must maintain the momentum cultivated during this intense matchup.
An announcement regarding the schedule for the Super Regional matchups will be made by the NCAA at 9 a.m. CT on Tuesday, setting the stage for a highly anticipated series that will decide who advances to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
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