LSU has forced a second game against Wake Forest after beating the Demon Deacons five to two last night in the semifinal round of the College World Series. The Tigers gave up two runs in the second inning, but Coach Jay Johnson liked how his team responded after that.
“Had a little bit adversity earlier in the game there and then really responded offensively, in the second inning we took some really good at-bats, and then a big inning there in the third, a great one there by Cade (Beloso), really proud of the pitching staff, everyone contributed tonight,” said Johnson.
Wake Forest scored two runs off LSU’s starter Javen Coleman. But Griffin Herring entered the game in the second inning and threw 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball, striking out six. Gavin Guidry and Riley Cooper also performed well out of the pen and Cooper earned his second save in as many nights.
So could we see Paul Skenes back on the mound tonight? Johnson says we’ll have to wait and see.
“I think it’s a day-by-day deal, we have a pretty thorough process that we go through, with pitchers and their availability, testing, recovery, and all those types of things, so we still need to go through that Thursday before we make any decision,” said Johnson.
Cade Beloso’s three-run homer in the third inning was the difference. Beloso on trying to win a third straight elimination game.
“We are not going to make it any bigger than it is, it’s the same game we’ve been playing since February, we are going to go out there and have fun, we are going to compete to the best of our abilities, and let the rest take care of itself, we are not going to make some massive thing, everyone knows the scenario but you don’t have to put any more pressure on yourself, just go out there and have fun,” said Beloso.
First pitch tonight is at 6 PM. The winner advances to the championship round to play Florida in a best-out-of-three series.
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