OMAHA, Nebraska — Led by a strong bullpen performance, the LSU Tigers defeated the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 5-2 Wednesday night at Charles Schwab Field. With the win, LSU is one win away from advancing to the College World Series national championship series.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Javen Coleman got into trouble early as he walked back-to-back batters in the first inning but he managed to get Justin Johnson to fly out to end the threat.
Coleman wasn’t as fortunate in the second.
After giving up a leadoff single to left field by Pierce Bennett, Coleman got Danny Cornoa to strike out but then walked the next two batters to load the bases. That ended Coleman’s night.
Blake Money was brought in but gave up a single up the middle by Tommy Hawke which brought home two Demon Deacon runs.
LSU battled back in the bottom of the frame.
Cade Beloso drew a one-out walk, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and then scored on a double down the right field line by Brayden Jobert.
The Tigers then took the lead in the bottom of the third.
Dylan Crews drew a leadoff walk and then advanced to second two batters later on a single by Tre’ Morgan. Gavin Dugas was walked on fourth pitches to load the bases.
A wild pitch by Seth Keener allowed Crews to score and Morgan and Dugas advance to third and second base. Beloso stepped to the plate and took the third pitch he saw and lifted it over the right field wall for a three-run home run.
Wake Forest had an opportunity in the fifth as Hawke got on with a leadoff single. Griffin Herring managed to get back-to-back fly outs before walking Brock Wilken. He got out of the jam by getting Johnson striking out swinging.
Herring gave up a leadoff single in the sixth but steadied himself by getting three quick outs. He would find himself in trouble again in the seventh.
Wake Forest’s Hawke led off with a single to center field and then was joined on the base paths by Lucas Costello who was hit by a pitch. A fielder’s choice put runners on the corners with one out and Jay Johnson went to his bullpen yet again.
Gavin Guidry — who was quickly hooked in the CWS opener against Tennessee on Saturday — came in and got Wiken and Johnson to strike out swinging.
Guidry got two quick outs in the eighth before giving up back-to-back singles and then replaced by Riley Cooper, who got Hawke to line out to end the inning.
BIG NUMBER: 12
Wake Forest had opportunities on the base paths as the team recorded six hits and drew six walks. The Demon Deacons failed to take advantage of those chances leaving 12 runners on base in the loss to the Tigers.
After walking the first batter in the ninth, Cooper would close the door as he struck out the two hitters and got the third one to ground out to end the game.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: GRIFFIN HERRING & GAVIN GUIDRY & RILEY COOPER
The trio of LSU relief pitchers came up huge in Wednesday’s win. The Tiger pitchers combined to give up five hit in 7 1/3 scoreless innings, while striking out 10 Demon Deacons.
UP NEXT: LSU (51-16) will now face Wake Forest in an elimination game on Thursday — with the winner going to the national championship series this weekend. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and you can listen to the game live on THE GAME 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.