Lange, Like Poche’ Before Him, Keeps LSU’s Season Alive

He's struck out 8 of the last 9 batters he's faced.@LSUbaseball's @Zack_Hess44 throws straight 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/UZ2yKCWMWv

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) June 23, 2017

OMAHA—With Louisiana State’s season on the line the last two days at the College World Series, two of the best pitchers in the program’s long, storied history stepped up with a pair of stellar starts to extend the Tigers’ stay in Omaha.

After senior lefthander Jared Poche’ became the winningest pitcher in program history with a victory Wednesday against Florida State in an elimination game, it was junior righthander Alex Lange’s turn Friday. The All-American delivered one of the best starts of his career to lead LSU to a 3-1 victory against Oregon State. The victory sets up a winner-take-all rematch Saturday with a trip to the CWS finals on the line.

Lange, drafted 30th overall by the Cubs last week, limited Oregon State to one run on two hits and four walks in 7.1 innings. He struck out eight and retired the final eight batters he faced.

Despite the situation—his team facing elimination against an Oregon State team that entered the day with a 56-4 record and that had routed LSU 13-1 on Monday—Lange said he was relaxed when he began his day.

“I had a sense of calmness about me this morning when I woke up and was getting to the yard,” he said. “I was expecting to be amped up and juiced up; I was calm and relaxed. I think that goes back to pitching in Alex Box Stadium in front of 12,000 people every Friday night. I prepares you for the situation.”

Lange started the game strong, retiring the first seven batters. But the Beavers started to chip away in the third inning, starting from the bottom of the order with a double and a walk by Michael Gretler and Cadyn Grenier, the eight- and nine-hole hitters in the lineup. Steven Kwan followed with a line drive down the left field line that appeared to hit the wall on the yellow stripe marking the foul line, but third base umpire Danny Collins called the ball foul. While replay may have overturned the call, it wasn’t asked for and Lange came back to get Kwan to pop out.

The Beavers did score in the third as Lange walked in a run, but he escaped further damage with a strikeout against K.J. Harrison, who hit a grand slam in Monday’s game. After escaping that jam, Lange avoided trouble the rest of the game. He allowed only two more base runners before exiting with one out in the eighth.

Freshman righthander Zack Hess relieved Lange and got the final five outs of the game, four via strikeout. He earned his fourth save of the season.

Coach Paul Mainieri said he felt confident going into Friday’s game with Lange on the mound even after his start last Saturday in LSU’s first game in Omaha was below-average by his standards.

“Alex never loses confidence,” Mainieri said. “He’s got a short memory when things don’t go well and then he goes out there the next game and just pitches his heart out.”

LSU got just enough offense against Oregon State righthander Jake Thompson, a first-team All-American. The Tigers scratched out two runs in the second, giving them a lead they never relinquished. Josh Smith added a solo home run in the seventh to give Lange and Hess a bit of breathing room.

LSU will have to find a way to repeat its performance Saturday. Oregon State has not lost back-to-back games all season, and will give the ball to righthander Drew Rasmussen, who was drafted 31st overall by the Rays last week. LSU will call on sophomore righthander Caleb Gilbert, pressed into action as a starter following an injury to Eric Walker.

“We get to play another day,” Mainieri said. “Should be a tremendous ballgame tomorrow that we’re all looking forward to.”