No. 7 LSU looks to get past Super Regional

By: LANCE REED

Sports Editor

The seventh-ranked LSU Tigers are looking to make it back to Omaha, Nebraska and the men’s College World Series. However, they will have to take down the UC Irvine baseball team in the NCAA Super Regional.

LSU will open play Saturday at 5 p.m. against UC Irvine at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. The Ant Eaters (41-16) won the NCAA Lincoln Regional Sunday with an 8-0 blanking of Oral Roberts.

The best-of-three series will continue Sunday at 3 p.m. (ESPN), with the “if necessary” game scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday (ESPN2).

LSU (46-16-1) extended its winning streak to 23 games and shattered the Southeastern Conference record for single-season consecutive wins. South Carolina held the previous mark after winning the first 22 games of the 2000 season. Southern Miss ended its season with a 42-22 record.

The Tigers won the regional and dedicated their championship to Skip Bertman. “We won that one for the ‘Skipper’ (Skip Bertman),” Mainieri said. “Obviously, my thoughts all day have been with Skip as he recovers from his heart attack yesterday. I hope this gave him a little bit of joy and maybe helps his recovery.

“I’m just so proud of my kids. They have responded to every challenge that has come their way. Somebody told me we broke the SEC record for consecutive games won. Obviously, this game had significance in a lot of ways but mostly because we won the regional championship now, and we get to advance to the next round."

LSU claimed its 17th NCAA regional title Sunday and its first since 2004. The Tigers improved to 29-6 on championship day in NCAA postseason play, including a 20-2 mark in NCAA regional final rounds.

The winner of the super regional will face either North Carolina or Coastal Caro in Omaha.