2008 LSU Tigers baseball team

American college baseball season March 2026 August 2023 baseball 2008 LSU Tigers Louisiana State University (block logo).svg 150 Southeastern Conference West SEC 6 final ranking 49–19–1 18–11–1 Paul Mainieri Cliff Godwin Terry Rooney Alex Box Stadium SEC West ChampionsSEC Tournament champions The 2008 LSU Tigers baseball team represented Louisiana State University in the NCAA Division I baseball season of 2008. This was the final year for the team in the original Alex Box Stadium.Baseball to Open Final Season at Alex Box Stadium A new stadium was built during the season and opened on opening day of the 2009 season. The team was coached by Paul Mainieri who was in his second season at LSU. In his first year at LSU, Mainieri's team posted a 29–26–1 record and failed to make the SEC tournament or the NCAA tournament. In a dramatic turnaround, Mainieri led the Tigers to an unexpected appearance in the 2008 College World Series. Pre-season In September 2007, Collegiate Baseball newspaper ranked LSU's recruiting class as the top ranked class in the nation. LSU's recruiting class included 9 players that were drafted by Major League Baseball clubs, eight High School All-Americans and three first team junior college All-Americans among the 19 players the Tigers brought in.http://www.baseballnews.com/recruiting/recruiting_results.htm LOUISIANA STATE WINS NCAA DIVISION I RECRUITING TITLE 2008-01-20 2008-01-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20080122082240/http://www.baseballnews.com/recruiting/recruiting_results.htm dead Baseball America ranked LSU's recruiting as the #2 ranked class in the nation, behind San Diego.Baseball Recruiting Class Rated No. 2 by Baseball America In February 2008, the SEC baseball coaches picked LSU to finish 5th (out 6 teams) in the SEC Western Division in the 17th annual preseason SEC coaches poll.Baseball Picked to Finish Fifth in SEC West Also, starting pitcher Jared Bradford was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason third-team All-America squad.Baseball's Bradford Named to Preseason All-America Team Bradford was also named to the watchlist for the 2008 Brooks Wallace Award, which is presented to the nation's top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual induction festivities.Baseball's Bradford Named to Wallace Watch List During the offseason, former LSU baseball head coach Jack Lamabe died. Lamabe coached the Tigers for five seasons from 1979 until 1983.http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=27865&SPID=2173&ATCLID=1355725&DB_OEM_ID=5200 Former Baseball Coach Jack Lamabe Dies, 71 2008-01-21 2011-05-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110517162249/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=27865&SPID=2173&ATCLID=1355725&DB_OEM_ID=5200 dead Regular season LSU entered the regular season ranked #30 in the Collegiate Baseball poll and #34 in the NCBWA poll. They dropped from the ranking after the first weekend of play which saw the team win 2 out of 3 games against Indiana. The Tigers then rebounded and went on a 9-game winning streak before losing the last two games before Southeastern Conference play began. left|thumbnail|LSU fans packed Alex Box Stadium during the 2008 NCAA tournament Baton Rouge Regional. This was the 18th and final Regional hosted at the park. A brand new stadium will open next year. In its first conference series of the year, LSU traveled to Knoxville, TN to face the Tennessee Volunteers. The Tigers were swept 3 games to none but were competitive in all games. LSU then defeated their rival Tulane in a midweek game at home before playing host to the Arkansas Razorbacks in another conference series. The Tigers won the series 2 games to 1. After splitting two midweek games, including a tough loss to the University of New Orleans, LSU headed to Gainesville, FL for a conference series again Florida. The Tigers lost the first two games of the series but salvaged the last one and rode a 4-game winning streak until finally losing to Alabama in game two of their series. But the Tigers won the third game of the series and improved to a 5–7 record in SEC games. Next on the schedule was rival Ole Miss. The Tigers lost the first game 2–1 in a close matchup and then proceeded to lose the next game as well. LSU managed an 8–2 win on Sunday to avoid the sweep. After a midweek game against Nicholls State, the Tigers traveled to Maestri Field for their second of three games again the University of New Orleans. New Orleans again pulled away late and won the game by a score of 6–5. right|thumbnail|LSU freshman DJ LeMahieu Georgia then came into Alex Box Stadium for a conference series. At the time Georgia led the SEC and would eventually go on to be the SEC champions. The Tigers played the Bulldogs tough but Georgia managed to win the first two games. In the Sunday game, LSU blew a lead and allowed Georgia to tie the game and send it into extra innings. After 12 innings of play the travel curfew rule came into effect and a tie was declared. After the Georgia debacle the Tigers had a 6–11–1 conference record and looked to be on the outside looking in for the SEC baseball tournament. The Tigers were able to turn things around, however, as they began a winning streak that they rode all the way to the end of the regular season and into the postseason. They started the streak in New Orleans against bitter rival Tulane. They then continued it into their conference series again South Carolina, who was at that time a top-10 team. LSU managed an improbable sweep against the Gamecocks and then moved on to a series against Kentucky in Cliff Hagan Stadium. At that time the Wildcats had only lost 2 games all season in their home stadium. The Tigers again pulled off the improbably sweep and they were now sitting at 12–11–1 in conference, the first time all season that they had been over .500 in conference games. Mississippi State came into Alex Box Stadium for the final 3 regular season games ever to be held in that stadium. The fans showed up in droves to see the Tigers sweep their third straight conference foe and send "the Box" out in style. left|thumbnail|LSU freshman Leon Landry Next up for the Tigers was their final regular season game against the University of New Orleans in the annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic at Zephyr Field in Metairie, LA. New Orleans had already won the previous two meeting and they were riding a 13-game win streak coming into this one. It was the longest winning streak in college baseball. LSU's streak was in second place at 12 games. It looked like New Orleans might extend their winning streak but the Tigers pulled ahead late in the game and won it. Their final 3 regular season games came against a slumping Auburn team in Auburn, AL. LSU swept their 4th straight conference series and finished the regular season with a 39–16–1 record and an 18–11–1 conference record. Georgia won the outright SEC title but LSU was able to win the SEC West division title. The Tigers headed into the SEC Baseball Tournament as the #2 seed in to tournament. SEC tournament The Tigers entered the 2008 SEC baseball tournament on an NCAA-best 16-game winning streak. In Game 1 of the tournament, LSU faced South Carolina, a team they had swept earlier in the season. The Gamecocks took a 4–0 lead into the bottom of the 9th inning but LSU rallied to tie the game and take it into extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th inning, LSU's Blake Dean hit a walk-off home run to end the game at a score of 5–4. In their second game of the SEC Tournament, LSU defeated defending tournament champion Vanderbilt by a score of 8–2. The Tigers extended their winning streak to 18 games and earned a day off before having to play their next game. In LSU's third game in the tournament they faced Alabama. The Crimson Tide took an early lead but the Tigers came back to tie the game at six runs and then LSU's Blake Dean padded his tournament MVP resume by hitting a grand slam to break the tie. The Tigers went on to win the game by a score of 12–8 and moved onto the championship game. The Tigers faced Ole Miss in the championship game, and like many of their games this season, they fell behind early only to rally back to win the game. LSU won the game by a score of 8–2 and claimed the SEC tournament title for the first time since the 2000 season. NCAA tournament: Regionals left|thumbnail|LSU opened the 2008 NCAA tournament with a 12–1 victory against Texas Southern. On Sunday May 25 it was announced that LSU was selected as a host site for the 2008 NCAA tournament for the 18th time in the history of the program and for the first time since the 2005 season. When the full NCAA tournament bracket was released the next day, LSU was awarded the #7 national seed in the tournament, guaranteeing them home field advantage throughout the Super Regionals as long as they won the Regional round. It was the third time LSU earned a national seed since the advent of them in 1999. In 2000 the Tigers were the #2 national seed and went on to win the College World Series. In 2003, LSU again earned the #2 national seed. They made the College World Series that year but went 0–2 and were eliminated quickly. In the Baton Rouge Regional, LSU was designated the #1 seed, Southern Mississippi earned the #2 seed, the University of New Orleans, who beat LSU two out of three times during the regular season, earned the #3 seed and Texas Southern earned the #4 seed. right|thumbnail|LSU's Matt Clark hits a home run against Southern Mississippi. LSU opened the Regional against Texas Southern in an afternoon game on Friday, May 30. LSU grabbed a quick lead in the 1st inning and cruised to a 12–1 victory. The Tigers then awaited the results of the night game between New Orleans and Southern Mississippi to find out who their next opponent would be. Southern Mississippi beat New Orleans and moved on to face LSU in the night game on Saturday. The Tigers defeated the Golden Eagles by a score of 13–4 to advance to the championship round of the Regional. Southern Mississippi climbed back through the losers bracket to make the championship round and face LSU again. But the Tigers again put the Golden Eagles away by winning 11–4 and moving on to the Super Regionals. The win brought LSU's winning streak to 23 consecutive games and set a new SEC record. The previous record was 22 games set by South Carolina in 2000. NCAA tournament: Super Regionals UC-Irvine won the Lincoln, NE regional and moved on to the Super Regional to face LSU in Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. UC-Irvine won the first game 11–5 based on a strong performance by their ace pitcher, Scott Gorgen. The Anteaters looked to be on their way to a second straight trip to the College World Series as they took a lead into the 9th inning of game 2, however the Tigers fought back and won the game in comeback fashion by a score of 9–7. LSU wasted no time in game 3 cruising to a 6–0 lead with three consecutive home runs in the 1st inning and eventually winning the game 21–7. The Tigers celebrated the school's 14th trip to the College World Series in what was the last game in the 70-year history of Alex Box Stadium. NCAA tournament: College World Series Prior to the start of the CWS, LSU's pitching coach, Terry Rooney, was named the new head coach of the University of Central Florida baseball team. Rooney stayed with LSU until the end of the CWS.http://ucf.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=816852 Rooney to be named UCF baseball coach June 12, 2008 July 15, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110715190217/http://ucf.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=816852 dead LSU faced North Carolina in the first game of the 2008 College World Series. The Tar Heels defeated the Tigers by a score of 8–4, giving LSU its 5th consecutive CWS loss and sending them to the losers bracket. The Tigers faced the Rice Owls next and looked to be headed home with an 0–2 CWS record again after trailing by a score of 5–0, however, in typical Tiger fashion, LSU rallied in the bottom of the 9th inning and won the game on a 3-run double by All-American Blake Dean. The Tigers then had to face North Carolina again, who had lost to Fresno State. The game started on June 19 but was delayed by weather and completed on June 20. The game went into the top of the 9th inning tied 3–3 but a grand slam home run, the first in the College World Series since 2001, gave North Carolina a 7–3 lead. LSU was unable to rally in the bottom of the 9th, and their season was ended. Roster Coaches Name Title First season at LSU Alma materPaul MainieriPaul Mainieri Bio @ LSUSports.netHead coach2007Florida International University (1980)Terry Rooneyhttp://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=28707&SPID=2173&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=324837&Q_SEASON=2007 Terry Rooney Bio @ LSUSports.net 2008-01-20 2011-05-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110517162743/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=28707&SPID=2173&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=324837&Q_SEASON=2007 dead Associate head coach2007Radford University (1996)Cliff GodwinCliff Godwin Bio @ LSUSports.netAssistant coach2007East Carolina University (2000)Javi SanchezJavi Sanchez Bio @ LSUSports.netVolunteer Assistant Coach2008University of Notre Dame (2004)Will DavisWill Davis Bio @ LSUSports.netDirector of Baseball Operations2007Louisiana State University (2007) Players Players Position Bats/ThrowsBuzzy HaydelINFR/RJared MitchellOFL/LChad JonesOFL/LDerek HelenihiINFR/RLeon LandryOFL/RMichael HollanderINF/PR/RRene EscobarINF/OFR/RMatt ClarkINFL/RRyan ByrdPR/LRyan VerdugoPL/LAustin RossPL/RJordan BrownPR/RSean OchinkoCR/RPatrick tylerPR/LDJ LeMahieuINFR/RNicholas PontiffOFR/RJason LewisCR/RJohnny DishonOF/CR/RDaniel BradshawPR/RKyle BeerbohmPL/LJared BradfordPR/RTaylor DavisINF/PR/RLouis ColemanPS/RAnthony RanaudoPR/RChris McGheeINF/OFR/RMicah GibbsCS/RBlake DeanOFL/LMatt GaudetINFR/RBlake MartinPL/LJordan NicholsonPR/RNolan CainPR/RShane ArdoinPL/LPaul BertucciniPR/RTaylor MartinPR/RCody ReineOFL/RBen AlsupPR/RStuart PetersonCR/RKevin FarnsworthCR/R Schedule/Results 2008 LSU Tigers baseball Game Log Regular season February # Date Opponent Score Site/stadium Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SEC record 1Baseball Opens Season With 7–1 Win Over Hoosiers February 22 Indiana 7–1 Alex Box Stadium Bradford (1–0) Tufts (0–1) 8,675 1–0 2Brown, Baseball Hold Off Hoosiers, 5–4 February 23 Indiana 5–4 Alex Box Stadium Brown (1–0) Bashore (0–1) Bradshaw (1) 8,406 2–0 3Indiana Rallies to Salvage Final Game of Baseball Series February 24 Indiana 6–7 Alex Box Stadium Leiendecker (1–0) Ross (0–1) 7,440 2–1 4Pitchers Pace Tigers Past Southern, 6–1 February 26 Southern 6–1 Alex Box Stadium Verdugo (1–0) Maloy (0–1) 7,151 3–1 5Baseball Too Much for Delta Devils, 9–1 February 27 Mississippi Valley St. 9–1 Alex Box Stadium Martin (1–0) Reid (0–2) 6,812 4–1 6LeMahieu, Clark Hit First HR's in 10–1 Win Over Duquesne February 29 Duquesne 10–1 Alex Box Stadium Bradford (2–0) Juran (0–2) 7,211 5–1 March # Date Opponent Score Site/stadium Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SEC record 7Baseball Scores Most Runs in Seven Years, Wins 22–11 March 1 Duquesne 22–11 Alex Box Stadium Brown (2–0) Bugajski (0–2) 7,452 6–1 8Mainieri Wins No. 900; Baseball Completes Sweep, 12–2 March 2 Duquesne 12–2 Alex Box Stadium Verdugo (2–0) Pierpont (0–2) 7,023 7–1 9Hollander's Two-RBI Double Gives Baseball Sixth-Straight March 4 Michigan St. 5–3 Alex Box Stadium Bradshaw (1–0) Wunderlich (1–1) 6,787 8–1 10Mainieri Finding 'Answers'; Baseball Powers by MSU, 12–1 March 5 Michigan St. 12–1 Alex Box Stadium Byrd (1–0) Achter (0–1) 7,103 9–1 11Baseball Takes Game 1 From Stetson, 9–3; Game 2 Underway March 8 Stetson 9–3 Alex Box Stadium Bradford (3–0) Hitchcock (1–1) Ross (1) 7,408 10–1 12Baseball Takes DH From Stetson, 9–3 and 6–5 March 8 Stetson 6–5 Alex Box Stadium Verdugo (3–0) Pugliese (2–1) Bradshaw (2) 6,986 11–1 13Stetson Wins Baseball Series Finale, 7–2 March 9 Stetson 2–7 Alex Box Stadium Donovan (2–1) Martin (1–1) 7,159 11–2 14LeBlanc, SLU Handcuff Baseball Tigers, 6–3 March 11 Southeastern Louisiana 3–6 Alex Box Stadium LeBlanc (1–1) Byrd (1–1) Collins (1) 7,294 11–3 15Baseball Rally Comes Up Short in SEC Opener, 6–5 March 14 @ Tennessee 5–6 Lindsey Nelson Stadium Crnkovich (4–0) Bradford (3–1) Everett (2) 1,372 11–4 0–1 16Baseball Swept by Tennessee in DH, 7–3 March 16 @ Tennessee 3–7 Lindsey Nelson Stadium Morgado (3–1) Verdugo (3–1) 1,918 11–5 0–2 17 March 16 @ Tennessee 3–7 Lindsey Nelson Stadium Lockwood (1–0) Bradshaw (1–1) 1,918 11–6 0–3 18Five-Run Sixth Ends Baseball's Five-Game Slide March 19 Tulane 7–5 Alex Box Stadium Brown (3–0) Pepitone (2–1) Bradford (1) 7,820 12–6 19Gaudet Hits 11th-Inning HR, Tigers Earn First SEC Win, 8–7 March 21 Arkansas 8–7 Alex Box Stadium Bradford (4–1) Richards (1–1) 7,488 13–6 1–3 20Arkansas Squares Baseball Series With Comeback, 14–13 March 22 Arkansas 13–14 Alex Box Stadium Wells (1–0) Bradford (4–2) 7,874 13–7 1–4 21Baseball Takes Game 3, Series From Arkansas, 4–2 March 23 Arkansas 4–2 Alex Box Stadium Verdugo (4–1) Keuchel (2–1) Bertuccini (1) 6,970 14–7 2–4 22Coleman Pitches Tigers Past Northwestern State, 10–3 March 25 Northwestern St. 10–3 Alex Box Stadium Coleman (1–0) Campbell (0–3) Ross (2) 7,253 15–7 23UNO Rallies to Catch Baseball Tigers, 8–6 March 26 New Orleans 6–8 Alex Box Stadium Burch (2–0) Bradshaw (1–2) O'Shea (5) 8,322 15–8 24Big Inning Lifts Florida Past Baseball Tigers, 8–5 March 28 @ Florida 5–8 McKethan Stadium Bullock (3–2) Bradford (4–3) Edmondson (1) 4,531 15–9 2–5 25Florida Clinches Baseball Series, 7–1 March 29 @ Florida 1–7 McKethan Stadium Keating (4–0) Verdugo (4–2) 4,015 15–10 2–6 26Bradford, Homers Give Baseball Victory at Florida, 6–3 March 30 @ Florida 6–3 McKethan Stadium Bradford (5–3) Toledo (4–1) 3,290 16–10 3–6 April # Date Opponent Score Site/stadium Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SEC record 27Ross, Baseball Overtake Southern, 8–3 April 1 @ Southern 8–3 Lee-Hines Field Ross (1–1) Brooks (2–1) 734 17–10 28After Delay, Baseball Shuts Out Centenary, 6–0 April 2 Centenary 6–0 Alex Box Stadium Verdugo (5–2) Clark (0–1) 6,634 18–10 29Baseball Shuts Out Bama, 3–0; Loses Game 2 in 11, 6–5 4/April 5 Alabama 3–0 Alex Box Stadium Bradford (6–3) Hyatt (2–3) Bradshaw (3) 8,187 19–10 4–6 30 April 5 Alabama 5–6 Alex Box Stadium Copeland (2–1) Bradshaw (1–3) 7,611 19–11 4–7 31Baseball Scores Five Unanswered to Win Series, 9–7 April 6 Alabama 9–7 Alex Box Stadium Bertuccini (1–0) Kebodeaux (2–4) 7,597 20–11 5–7 32Schmipf's Slam Powers Baseball Past Southern Miss, 8–4 April 9 @ Southern Mississippi 8–4 Pete Taylor Park Ross (2–1) Billeaud (2–2) 5,658 21–11 33Baseball Loses Close Game at No. 18 Ole Miss, 2–1 April 11 @ Ole Miss 1–2 Swayze Field Lynn (5–0) Bradshaw (1–4) Bittle (3) 5,518 21–12 5–8 34Pomeranz Pitches No. 18 Ole Miss to Baseball Win, 7–1 April 12 @ Ole Miss 1–7 Swayze Field Pomeranz (3–1) Martin (1–2) 9,412 21–13 5–9 35Verdugo, Gibbs Help Baseball Salvage Series Finale, 8–2 April 13 @ Ole Miss 8–2 Swayze Field Verdugo (6–2) Satterwhite (3–2) 4,902 22–13 6–9 36Davis Lifts Baseball to 11–2 Win Over Nicholls State April 15 Nicholls St. 11–2 Alex Box Stadium Coleman (2–0) Breaux (1–4) 7,634 23–13 37Three-Run Eighth Lifts UNO to Baseball Win, 6–5 April 16 @ New Orleans 5–6 Maestri Field O'Shea (1–1) Bradshaw (1–5) 1,162 23–14 38Baseball Rally Comes Up Short Against No. 13 Georgia, 6–3 April 18 Georgia 3–6 Alex Box Stadium Holder (5–2) Martin (1–3) Fields (11) 7,116 23–15 6–10 39Baseball Makes Big Comeback, Falls in Ninth, 9–8 April 19 Georgia 8–9 Alex Box Stadium Weaver (3–1) Bradford (6–4) 7,854 23–16 6–11 40Baseball Settles for 12-Inning Tie with Bulldogs, 10–10 April 20 Georgia 10–10 Alex Box Stadium 7,209 23–16–1 6–11–1 41Baseball Rallies to Beat Longtime Rival Tulane, 8–4 April 22 @ Tulane 8–4 Turchin Stadium Coleman (3–0) Segedin (0–1) 5,017 24–16–1 42Tigers Hurl One-Hitter, Shutout McNeese State, 6–0 April 23 McNeese St. 6–0 Alex Box Stadium Bradshaw (2–5) Conrad (1–6) 7,184 25–16–1 43Baseball Surges Past South Carolina, 11–3 April 25 South Carolina 11–3 Alex Box Stadium Martin (2–3) Cisco (5–2) 7,176 26–16–1 7–11–1 44Baseball Mounts Huge Comeback to Stun USC, 11–10 April 25 South Carolina 11–10 Alex Box Stadium Bradford (7–4) Bangs (3–2) 7,436 27–16–1 8–11–1 45Baseball Completes Sweep of Highly Ranked USC, 6–3 April 27 South Carolina 6–3 Alex Box Stadium Verdugo (7–2) Cooper (5–4) Bertuccini (2) 7,031 28–16–1 9–11–1 46Five-Run Fifth Keeps Baseball Streak Alive, 5–3 April 29 Louisiana-Lafayette 5–3 Alex Box Stadium Bradshaw (3–5) Solich (1–4) Coleman (1) 7,981 29–16–1 May # Date Opponent Score Site/stadium Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SEC record 47Baseball Runs Winning Streak to Eight, Sweeps DH May 3 @ Kentucky 3–1 Cliff Hagan Stadium Bradford (8–4) Green (5–3) 2,335 30–16–1 10–11–1 48 May 3 @ Kentucky 12–5 Cliff Hagan Stadium Martin (3–3) Warner (3–1) Bradford (2) 2,335 31–16–1 11–11–1 49Baseball Completes Sweep of UK, 9–8; Leads SEC West May 4 @ Kentucky 9–8 Cliff Hagan Stadium Bradshaw (4–5) Albers (6–3) Bradford (3) 2,844 32–16–1 12–11–1 50Packed House Watches Baseball Pound MSU, 15–6 May 9 Mississippi St. 15–6 Alex Box Stadium Coleman (4–0) Crosswhite (2–5) 8,548 33–16–1 13–11–1 51Tigers Blast Four HR's; Extend Streak to 11 May 10 Mississippi St. 16–4 Alex Box Stadium Martin (4–3) Bowen (3–6) 8,312 34–16–1 14–11–1 52Baseball Celebrates Final Game at Alex Box; Wins 12th-Straight May 11 Mississippi St. 9–6 Alex Box Stadium Bradford (9–4) Pigott (2–3) Bradshaw (4) 8,701 35–16–1 15–11–1 53Baseball Wins Longest Game in 12 Years, 7–6 Over UNO May 13 vs. New Orleans 7–6 Zephyr Field Coleman (5–0) Brown (2–3) 5,626 36–16–1 54LSU Takes First Battle of Tigers, 6–4; Win 14th-Straight Game May 15 @ Auburn 6–4 Samford Stadium Verdugo (8–2) Dayton (7–2) Bradford (4) 2,067 37–16–1 16–11–1 55The West is Won! Baseball Wins 15th-Straight, 15–6 May 16 @ Auburn 15–6 Samford Stadium Byrd (2–1) Thompson (3–6) 2,122 38–16–1 17–11–1 56Sweet 16: Baseball Wraps Regular season, 11–7 May 17 @ Auburn 11–7 Samford Stadium Ross (3–1) Hurst (3–5) Coleman (2) 2,907 39–16–1 18–11–1 Post-season SEC baseball tournament # Date Opponent Score Site/stadium Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SECT Record 57Dean, Clark Star in Baseball's Latest Heart-Stopper, 5–4 May 21 South Carolina 5–4 Regions Park Bradford (10–4) Farotto (0–1) 6,027 40–16–1 1–0 58Big Innings Move Baseball into SEC Tournament Driver's Seat May 22 Vanderbilt 8–2 Regions Park Martin (5–3) Cotham (7–5) 6,853 41–16–1 2–0 59Dean's Slam Propels Baseball into SEC Title Game, 12–8 May 24 Alabama 12–8 Regions Park Ranaudo (1–0) Graham (6–2) 12,324 42–16–1 3–0 60Baseball Brings Home SEC Gold, 8–2; Will Host Regional May 25 Ole Miss 8–2 Regions Park Coleman (6–0) Baker (3–5) 11,123 43–16–1 4–0 NCAA tournament: Regionals # Date Opponent Score Site/stadium Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record NCAAT Record 61Baseball Handles TSU, 12–1; Advances to Face Southern Miss May 30 Texas Southern 12–1 Alex Box Stadium Brown (4–0) Moreno (2–5) Ross (3) 7,671 44–16–1 1–0 62Baseball Earns Spot in NCAA Regional Final, 13–4 May 31 Southern Mississippi 13–4 Alex Box Stadium Verdugo (9–2) McInnis (6–3) 8,012 45–16–1 2–0 63Baseball Sweeps NCAA Regional; Hosts UC Irvine Next June 1 Southern Mississippi 11–4 Alex Box Stadium Bertuccini (2–0) Leach (2–4) Bradford (5) 7,870 46–16–1 3–0 NCAA tournament: Super Regionals # Date Opponent Score Site/stadium Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record NCAAT Record 64UC Irvine Takes Game 1 of NCAA Super Regional, 11–5 June 7 UC-Irvine 5–11 Alex Box Stadium Gorgen (12–3) Verdugo (9–3) 8,023 46–17–1 3–1 65A Comeback for the Ages: Super Regional Knotted After Thriller June 8 UC-Irvine 9–7 Alex Box Stadium Coleman (7–0) Pettis (4–3) 8,029 47–17–1 4–1 66Goodbye Alex Box! Hello Omaha, LSU's Coming Back June 9 UC-Irvine 21–7 Alex Box Stadium Brown (5–0) Stowell (8–3) 8,348 48–17–1 5–1 College World Series # Date Opponent Score Site/stadium Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record NCAAT Record 67White Pitches UNC Past LSU in Series Opener, 8–4 June 15 North Carolina 4–8 Rosenblatt Stadium White (11–3) Verdugo (9–4) Wooten (5) 22,239 48–18–1 5–2 68Dean's 3-RBI Double Gives Tigers Amazing CWS Comeback June 17 Rice 6–5 Rosenblatt Stadium Coleman (8–0) St.Clair (10–3) 19,103 49–18–1 6–2 69Remarkable Baseball Season Ends on UNC Slam, 7–3 19/June 20 North Carolina 7–3 Rosenblatt Stadium White (12–3) Coleman (8–1) 30,422 49–19–1 6–3 Rankings + Ranking movement Poll Pre-season Feb.25 Mar.3 Mar.10 Mar.17 Mar.24 Mar.31 Apr.7 Apr.14 Apr.21 Apr.28 May5 May12 May19 May26 June3 June10 FinalPoll USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll (Top 25) NRArizona State opens season atop baseball coaches' poll – NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 22 21 13 7 – – 6USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 coaches' baseball poll Baseball America (Top 25) NRBaseball America Preseason Top 25 NRCollege Top 25: Feb. 25 NRCollege Top 25: Mar. 3 NRCollege Top 25: March 10 NRCollege Top 25: March 17 NRCollege Top 25: March 24 NRCollege Top 25: March 31 NRCollege Top 25: April 7 NRCollege Top 25: April 14 NRMore Honors For Miami NRAggies Keep Climbing 22College Top 25: May 5 16College Top 25: May 12 10College Top 25: May 19 5College Top 25: May 26 5College Top 25: June 3 4College Top 25: June 10 6College Top 25: June 30 Collegiate Baseball (Top 30) 30Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's NCAA Div. I Pre-Season Poll NRNCAA Div. I Poll (As of Feb. 25, 2008) NRARIZONA ST. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL NRARIZONA ST. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL NRARIZONA ST. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL NRARIZONA ST. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL NRARIZONA ST. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL NRFLORIDA ST. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL NRFLORIDA ST. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL NRMIAMI, FLA. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL NRMIAMI, FLA. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL 23MIAMI, FLA. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL 16MIAMI, FLA. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL 8NORTH CAROLINA NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL 2MIAMI, FLA. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL 2MIAMI, FLA. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL 2MIAMI, FLA. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL 6FRESNO ST. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL NCBWA (Top 30)^ 342008 PRESEASON NCBWA POLL NRARIZONA STATE TOPS NCBWA POLL NRARIZONA STATE TOPS NCBWA POLL NRARIZONA STATE TOPS NCBWA POLL NRARIZONA STATE TOPS NCBWA POLL NRARIZONA STATE TOPS NCBWA POLL NRARIZONA STATE TOPS NCBWA POLL NRMIAMI TOPS NCBWA POLL NRMIAMI TOPS NCBWA POLL NRMIAMI TOPS NCBWA POLL NRMIAMI TOPS NCBWA POLL 27MIAMI TOPS NCBWA POLL 24MIAMI TOPS NCBWA POLL 16NORTH CAROLINA TOPS NCBWA POLL 11MIAMI TOPS NCBWA POLL 7MIAMI TOPS NCBWA POLL 5MIAMI TOPS NCBWA POLL 6FRESNO STATE TOPS FINAL NCBWA POLL Rivals.com (Top 25)http://collegebaseball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=627294 Rivals.com Top 25 February 25, 2008 March 11, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100311033349/http://collegebaseball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=627294 dead NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 21 16 15 6 – – 6 NR = Not ranked ^ The NCBWA ranked 35 teams in their preseason poll but only 30 teams during the season. Awards and honors Player Award/Honor Jared Bradford SEC Pitcher of the Week (April 28 – May 5)Bradford Earns SEC Baseball Player of the Week HonorLSWA Pitcher of the Week (April 28 – May 5)LSWA Names Bradford Pitcher of the WeekSEC All-Defensive Teamhttp://secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=5&url_article_id=11135&change_well_id=2 SEC Announces Annual Baseball Honors 2008-05-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20080529044047/http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s= 2008-05-29 dead Matt Clark LSWA Player of the Week (February 26 – March 3)Clark Earns LSWA Player of the Week HonorLSWA Player of the Week (May 12 – May 19)Clark Named LSWA Baseball Player of the WeekSEC All-Tournament Team – 1Bhttp://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=5&url_article_id=11151&change_well_id=2 LSU Wins 2008 SEC Baseball Tournament 2008-05-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20080529044047/http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s= 2008-05-29 dead Blake Dean LSWA Player of the Week (April 21 – April 28)Dean, Martin Named LSWA Baseball Players of the WeekSEC All-Tournament Team – DH & MVPLouisville Slugger National Player of the Week (May 20 – May 26)Baseball America First-Team All-American2008 First-Team College All-Americans Micah Gibbs SEC All-Freshman TeamBaseball America First Team Freshman All-American2008 Freshman All-American Team Michael Hollander SEC Baseball Community Service TeamHollander Named to SEC Baseball Community Service Team Blake Martin LSWA Pitcher of the Week (April 21 – April 28)SEC All-Tournament Team – P Patrick tyler LSWA Pitcher of the Week (March 31 – April 7)Ross Named LSWA Pitcher of the Week Ryan Schimpf SEC Player of the Week (May 6 – May 12)Baseball Continues Climb in Polls; Schimpf HonoredLSWA Player of the Week (May 6 – May 12)Schimpf Named LSWA Player of the WeekSEC All-Tournament Team – 2B Ryan Verdugo SEC Pitcher of the Week (February 26 – March 3)Verdugo Named SEC Pitcher of the Week LSU Tigers in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft The following members of the 2008 LSU Tigers baseball team were drafted in the 2008 MLB draft. Player Position Round Overall MLB team Ryan Verdugo LHP 9th 267 San Francisco Giants Matt Clark 1B 12th 375 San Diego Padres Louis Coleman RHP 14th 421 Washington Nationals Blake Martin LHP 17th 516 Minnesota Twins Jared Bradford RHP 18th 545 St. Louis Cardinals Michael Hollander 3B 20th 603 Texas Rangers Jordan Brown RHP 39th 1181 Chicago Cubs References 30em Lsu Category:LSU Tigers baseball seasons Category:College World Series seasons Category:Southeastern Conference baseball champion seasons LSU LSU