When Alex Bregman stepped to the plate in the eighth inning of a 1-0 game against Louisiana-Lafayette — most likely his last at-bat in Alex Box Stadium — he hadn’t managed a hit in his last 14 trips to the dish. But you knew one of the best sluggers in college baseball wouldn’t stay quiet for long. Bregman smoked a single up the middle to score two, sparking a four-run inning and providing the climatic moment of LSU’s super regional-clinching 6-3 win.
The Tigers also got a big day from starting pitcher Jared Poche, who worked 7.2 innings, giving up five hits, one run and fanning seven. Reliever Zac Person gave up two earned runs in the bottom of the ninth, but LSU never felt threatened. Parker Bugg closed out the game, giving up no hits while getting the final two outs.
With the win, LSU won the best-of-three series to advance to the College World Series, where it will face the winner between Texas A&M and TCU. With players like Bregman stepping up, the Tigers will be a tough out for whomever they play next.
Texas A&M 2, TCU 1 (10 innings)
It’s an absolute crime that Preston Morrison — the Division I active leader in career wins — got pegged with a loss in this one. Throwing what was probably his last outing in Fort Worth, the Frogs ace had pitched his way through nine innings with just six hits and one run allowed. But a walk and a single in the bottom of the tenth put men on the corners and finally knocked him out of the game. When A&M’s Blake Allemand lifted a game-winning sacrifice fly to left on the next at-bat, the deciding run was Morrison’s.
THE AGGIES WALK IT OFF!! #RoadToOmaha http://t.co/1GmmrLoc4d
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 7, 2015
The Aggies’ staff finally looked like the one that carried them through the regionals. After getting hammered for 13 runs on 18 hits Saturday, the A&M staff got a 7.2-inning, six-hit outing from Matt Kent to help even up the series.
Things got a little sketchy after Kent left the game, though. With the Aggies leading 2-0 in the top of the ninth, reliever Ryan Hendrix gave up a two singles and a walk to load the bases. TCU then got a sac fly to even things up and send it to extras.
Arkansas 3, Missouri State 2
Missouri State had its chances to play its way into Omaha, but blown opportunities at the plate have the Bears heading home instead. The Bears had a man on third with one out in the first inning. They had the bases loaded with two outs in the second. In the sixth it was a man on third with one away. In total, Missouri State went 2-of-9 with runners in scoring position, stranding seven runners on second and third in the first six innings.
But with the Razorbacks’ offense not doing much themselves (they plated three runs in the first inning and never scored again), Missouri State managed to claw back into the game with an RBI single off Zach Jackson in the sixth.
One run game in Fayetteville after this AMAZING slide! #RoadToOmaha http://t.co/EuZFaY1IWB
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 7, 2015
Jackson then decided to shut it down. The Arkansas closer didn’t give up another hit over the final 3.2 innings, striking out six of the final nine batters he faced.
The Hogs are on to Omaha.
The. Best. Video. Ever. #OmaHogs pic.twitter.com/oVoPRlp5iw
— #OmaHogs (@RazorbackBSB) June 8, 2015
Louisville 9, Cal State Fullerton 3
This was actually a pretty close game in the sixth inning. But then Logan Taylor happened.
BOMBS AWAY!! Logan Taylor puts Louisville up 5-1 after this 2-run shot. #RoadToOmaha http://t.co/dD5orsmFQO
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 7, 2015
That was the first of three hits for Taylor, who finished with three RBI after entering as a pinch runner.
Full bracket:
