Eight teams, two weeks of action, and it all came down to one final game in Omaha.
Texas had battled back the entire College World Series (CWS) staging three come-from-behind victories, but this game belonged to LSU.
LSU defeated Texas 11–5 in the final game, bringing back the offensive power that had gotten them there.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri won his first CWS title. “I have dreamed of this my whole life,” he said during his post-game press conference.
“Our pitching has been solid all year. When we got to the end of the season everyone was determined they would get it done. It’s been a coach’s dream to have a group like this.”
Jared Mitchell, a first round draft pick of the Chicago White Sox, was named most outstanding player of the CWS. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to be put in the position where you’re remembered forever in Baton Rouge now,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell won his second title with LSU. His first came playing wide receiver with the football team in 2007.
Texas had battled back the entire College World Series (CWS) staging three come-from-behind victories, but this game belonged to LSU.
LSU defeated Texas 11–5 in the final game, bringing back the offensive power that had gotten them there.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri won his first CWS title. “I have dreamed of this my whole life,” he said during his post-game press conference.
“Our pitching has been solid all year. When we got to the end of the season everyone was determined they would get it done. It’s been a coach’s dream to have a group like this.”
Jared Mitchell, a first round draft pick of the Chicago White Sox, was named most outstanding player of the CWS. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to be put in the position where you’re remembered forever in Baton Rouge now,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell won his second title with LSU. His first came playing wide receiver with the football team in 2007.
Just as in the previous two games, the top of the first started with the visiting team (in this case LSU) scoring. Jared Mitchell belted a three-run home run off of Texas starter Cole Green with two outs.
Texas was able to load the bases in the bottom of the first, looking to strike back, but Kevin Keyes struck out on a high fastball, stranding three runners.
LSU added a fourth run to their lead in the top of the second when Ryan Schimpf hit an RBI single, scoring Micah Gibbs.
Texas loaded the bases again in the third and was able to score two runs after LSU starter Anthony Ranaudo walked three batters, including one home.
Texas tied the game in the fifth inning when Kevin Keyes redeemed himself after the first inning strike out by belting a two-run homer to deep left center field.
LSU immediately answered in the top of the sixth and blew the game open with a five-run inning. Jared Mitchell started and ended the inning as LSU would bat around.
Texas had a dismal inning defensively with a passed ball, a throwing error, a wild pitch, and two hit batsmen.
LSU extended their lead to six runs in the eighth and it looked like Texas would have to mount another major comeback to get their seventh title. Texas had come back from a six-run deficit against ASU in their second game of the CWS.
LSU put the cherry on top of the victory when Sean Ochinko hit a solo homer to lead off the top of the ninth, giving the Tigers an 11–4 lead.
“They are the best team we’ve played by far,” Texas coach Augie Garrido said. “We didn’t lose it. They won it. It was a well-deserved championship.”
“They did the things they need to do to beat us twice, and they deserve to be the champion.”
Texas was voted the number one overall seed at the CWS, but the number one seed has not won since 1999 when the University of Miami did it.
LSU has been to the championship series six times and won each time. Tuesday night’s Game 2 was the first game they had loss in a championship series.
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