LSU Staves off Elimination, Vanderbilt to the Bracket Final

LSU 5 - CSF 3

LSU's National Freshman Pitcher of the Year Alex Lange got off to a rough start on Tuesday night surrendering three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first to put his team in an early 3-0 hole.  However he came back to show why he has been one of the best pitchers in the country this year, only surrendering two hits while retiring the Titans in order in five of the remaining eight innings he pitched.  He ultimately went the distance throwing a complete game, giving up only the three first inning runs, on six hits, while striking out ten Titans.  The win moved him to 12-0 to improve on an already impressive rookie campaign.

At the plate, the Tigers would get all they needed when they strung together a total of six singles and a sacrifice fly that yielded four runs in the third inning. LSU was paced by Shortstop Alex Bregman and his four hits while Catcher Kade Scivicque added two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI.

In the end the Tigers did enough behind a gem by Lange to keep the bayou party in Omaha rolling and eliminate the Titans. Cal State Fullerton ends the year with a record of 39-25.

Vanderbilt 1 - TCU 0

The Vanderbilt Commodores moved one step closer to repeating as College World Series Champions as they advanced to the bracket final by virtue of their 1-0 win over the TCU Horned Frogs on Tuesday night.  On a night when the pitchers ruled, Zander Wiel was the difference when he connected on an Alex Young pitch and drove it to left field for a solo home run, breaking up Young's no-hit bid and ultimately sending the frogs to the losers bracket.

Young was fantastic for TCU holding the Commodores hitless through six and only giving up three hits and the one home run through 7.2 innings while striking out 12.

The Horned Frogs couldn't put multiple hits together and only threatened in the bottom of the seventh when they put the leadoff batter on second, but couldn't muster a run. Philip Pfeifer got the win for Vanderbilt going seven shutout innings, giving up only four hits and one walk while striking out seven.

TCU will look to avoid elimination and defeat the LSU Tigers for a second time in this College World Series when they play on Thursday at 8 P.M. with the winner earning a date with Vanderbilt on Friday.