LSU beats Arkansas to stay perfect in CWS
Monday, June 15th, 2009
LSU whipped up on fellow SEC Western Division team Arkansas in the College World Series, taking the game 9-1.
Mikie Mahtook, Austin Nola and Blake Dean all homered for the Tigers, who have won 12 straight in the tournament. LSU started ace-pitcher Louis Coleman, who gave up only one run and six hits while striking out seven in six innings of work. On May 2, Coleman pitched a two hit shutout against the Hogs in regular season action.
Arkansas’ lone run came in the first inning. Tigers hitters drove Hogs pitcher Brett Eibner out of the game in the second inning. LSU led 4-1 after two innings, but the real damage came in the sixth, when LSU scored five runs to take an eight run lead, 9-1.
Arkansas will now have to play out of the loser’s bracket, where the Razorbacks will face Virginia on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CDT. While the loser of the game will be eliminated, the winner will advance to face LSU on Friday at 1 p.m. CDT. Should LSU win that game, it will advance to the best of three series next week.
One other thought: The Tigers are the 3rd seed nationally behind Texas (#1) and Cal State Fullerton (#2), yet are ranked #1 in three of the four college baseball polls (Baseball American, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA) and second in the other poll (USA Today/ESPN). Texas is ranked 4th, 5th, 5th and 4th respectively, while CS-Fullerton is 3rd, 3rd, 3rd and 5th.
Interesting, but at least the Tigers are getting a chance to prove it on the field.
IN OTHER SEC NEWS:
The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) has announced it’s three national teams for the 2009 season, and eight current and former SEC players have made the rosters.
Making the USA Softball Women’s National Team from the SEC are: Monica Abbott (Tennessee), *Chelsea Bramlett (Mississippi St.), Ashley Holcombe (Alabama), Stacey Nelson (Florida) and Brittany Rogers (Alabama).
The Japan Cup roster features Courtney Bures (Mississippi St.), *Molly Johnson (Kentucky), Stacey Nelson (Florida), Brittany Rogers (Alabama) and *Taylor Schlopy (Georgia).
SEC athletes on the Pan Am Qualifying team are Monica Abbott (Tennessee), *Chelsea Bramlett (Mississippi St.) and Ashley Holcombe (Alabama).
* indicates a current SEC player.
