Giovanni DiGiacomo had a chance for a big moment with the bases loaded on Friday, but came up just short. He got another opportunity in extra innings against Central Connecticut on Saturday and delivered with a walk-off single to keep LSU's season's alive.
The Tigers had its back against the wall in the loser's bracket of the Eugene regional and delivered with a clutch, 6-5 victory in 10 innings to extend their season. They'll next face the loser of the Oregon-Gonzaga matchup later on Saturday.
DiGiacomo said he was "just getting the ball out of the infield," in the ultimate at-bat of the game, "finding a way to hit the ball hard somewhere."
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The Tigers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after a leadoff home run from Dylan Crews, but that hot start was short lived. The Blue Devils capitalized on some poor outfield defense to drop five runs on Tigers starter Ma'Khail Hilliard in the second inning.
The 23-pitch inning helped drive the senior right-hander out of the game after four innings, but a masterful relief performance from Garrett Edwards silenced the CCSU bats the rest of the way. Edwards took over in the 5th and silenced the Blue Devils' bats through the 9th inning, striking out four and allowing just two hits on 62 pitches.
LSU had a chance to walk off in the bottom of the 9th after a 1-out double by Jordan Matthews, but he was stranded at 3rd after Crews was intentionally walked Cade Doughty popping out to right field.
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LSU closer Devin Fontenot took over and continued to shut down the Blue Devils bats, and the Tigers didn't waste their opportunity in the bottom of the 10th inning. After a Tre' Morgan strikeout to begin the inning, Gavin Dugas worked the count before getting hit by a pitch. LSU eventually loaded the bases with a Drew Bianco walk -- with the 2nd baseman narrowly missing a walk-off home run pitches earlier -- to load the bases with one out.
The win means LSU coach Paul Mainieri has at least one more game in his coaching career. After 15 seasons, Mainieri has said he'll retire at the end of the season.
"I wouldn't say it's extra pressure," Digiacomo said on the field after the game. "I'd say it's kind of extra motivation."