June 22, 2009

Box Score | Box Score 

OMAHA, Neb. - LSU reliever Matty Ott pitched three innings of hitless relief while CF Mikie Mahtook drove in the winning run in the 11th inning of the NCAA Division I College World Series Championship Finals game one Monday for a 7-6 LSU victory over Texas. Ott recorded the win for LSU, while Texas reliever Brandon Workman took the loss.

LSU trailed 6-4 in the ninth before 2B DJ LeMahieu hit a two-out two-run double to send the game into extra innings. Ott allowed Texas just two baserunners in the last three innings. Offensively, LSU took advantage of two walks, a stolen base, an error and the single by Mahtook to win the game in the 11th.

Though the teams combined for seven solo home runs, the most in any CWS game since 2001, home runs were not a deciding factor in the game. Texas DH Russell Moldenhauer's second and third home runs of the season were two of Texas' five solo homers. The Longhorns only scored one run that was not a solo homer and have now hit eight solo home runs in their last two games.

Texas shook off a 1-0 deficit in the fourth inning, when 2B Travis Tucker, Moldenhauer and RF Kevin Keyes combined for three home runs, putting the Longhorns up 3-1. Texas didn't trail again until the 11th, adding two more solo homers and a run on a wild pitch to round out their six runs.

After LSU jumped out to an early lead on LF Ryan Schimpf's first-inning home run, the game remained a pitcher's duel until the bottom of the fourth. SEC Pitcher of the Year Louis Coleman pitched four scoreless innings out of six with six strikeouts, while Texas starter Chance Ruffin struck out ten, tying his season best.

UT took their 3-1 lead into the top of the sixth, when RF Jared Mitchell tied it up with a two-run triple, scoring DH Blake Dean and catcher Micah Gibbs.

Texas answered with two more runs the bottom of the sixth. Moldenhauer's second home run of the night was Texas' sixth straight in the series. Keyes was driven in on a wild pitch by Coleman after hitting a single.

The seventh inning saw a home run for each team, with LeMahieu pulling LSU within 5-4 before Texas CF Connor Rowe added another solo shot to give Texas a 6-4 lead.

Texas took its lead into the top of the ninth, when pinch hitter Leon Landry and 3B Derek Helenihi took bases on a single and a walk. With two outs, LeMahieu hit a double to tie it up. LeMahieu later scored the winning run after walking in the 11th inning.

LSU, the only remaining undefeated team in the NCAA tournament, will look for its sixth national title Tuesday night at 6 p.m. CDT. Texas, the owner of six national titles itself, will look to bounce back and force a game three. Tuesday's game will be televised on ESPN and ESPN HD.