TCU Ends Tigers Season and Bregman’s LSU Career
By Mike Delayo
Well, it’s over.
The LSU baseball team’s run in the College World Series is over — and the storied career of All-American shortstop and future Major League star Alex Bregman has ended in the process.
Another year, another disappointing finish to the season for Tigers.
Jun 18, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers pitcher Alden Cartwright (32) leaves the dugout after losing to the TCU Horned Frogs in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. TCU won 8-4. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
The Tigers were unable to contain the TCU Horned Frogs offense Thursday night, and went on to lose the game 8-4.
Coach Mainieri followed through with his pitching-by-committee approach, sending eight different pitchers to the mound. Unfortunately, the Horned Frogs were able to mount rallies in the second, fifth and seventh innings to build an insurmountable lead.
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The Tigers were able to strike early thanks to some good execution from the top of the lineup. Leftfielder Jake Fraley drew a walk, stole second, and was able to score from there on a single from Kade Scivicque.
That early 1-0 lead did not last for long.
LSU reliever Zac Person gave up two singles to start off the bottom of the second inning.
After walking TCU third baseman Derek Odell to load the bases, shortstop Keaton Jones drew another walk to tie the game. Person did rebound with a strikeout, but his day was over nonetheless.
However, the Horned Frogs were not quite done with this inning. Garrett Crain knocked in two more runs with a single to put TCU out in front 3-1.
The Tigers offense were able to steal back some of their momentum in the following inning.
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Shortstop Alex Bregman beat out a ground ball to short and scored on an RBI triple from Fraley. Fraley then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at three.
After that rally by LSU, not a single run crossed home plate until the rally caps were on in the top of the ninth.
The game remained nodded at three until the bottom of the fifth inning. TCU put up another three spot, once taking advantage of an unusually shaky Tigers bullpen.
LSU’s Austin Bain walked TCU senior Cody Jones to start the inning and then balked him over to second. After walking Connor Wanhanen he gave up an RBI double to Evan Skoug, once again giving the Horned Frogs the lead.
Coach Mainieri decided he had seen enough, and put the ball into Jake Godfrey’s hands. Godfrey rewarded his coach’s faith by allowing a two RBI single to Dane Steinhagen.
Jun 18, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Paul Mainieri sits in the dugout after the loss against the TCU Horned Frogs in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. TCU defeated LSU 8-4. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Now down 6-3, the Tigers offense was unable to respond. Thirteen straight LSU batters failed to reach base until a double by Chris Sciambra with one out in the ninth.
By that time the deficit had increased to five and the rally caps were on for Tigers fans all across the country. Sciambra was driven in by a double from Andrew Stevenson, cutting that lead to four.
A Chris Chinea strikeout brought LSU down to their final out. Mark Laird kept his team alive by knocking one up the middle for a base hit. With runners on first and third, nine batter Jared Foster struck out swinging, ending the Tigers’ season.
Standing in the on deck circle alone watching the Horned Frogs happily exiting the field was LSU shortstop Alex Bregman.
The second pick in this past week’s MLB Draft could only watch as his teammates collected their belongings in the dugout. If one more man had been able to get on base, Bregman would have been the tying run.
Instead, his college career came to a close without ever claiming a coveted National Championship, finishing 0 for 2 in his two trips (2013, and now) to Omaha.
Jun 18, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers infielder Alex Bregman (8) slides into first base against the TCU Horned Frogs in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
The Tigers lost both of their games to the Horned Frogs in Omaha, so this game in particular was no fluke.
TCU took advantage of a pitching staff that just was not good enough to get the job done at the end of the day.
LSU finished the year ranked second in the nation.
That ranking is an accomplishment in and of itself, but the Tigers will have to try again next year to snatch a once again elusive National Championship……