LSU baseball is in the catbird seat of the Baton Rouge regional, sitting one win away from their 16th Super Regional appearance.
The team standing in their way is a familiar one in Oregon State, which took down Sam Houston State 3-1 in the late game on Sunday to come out of the loser's bracket. LSU defeated Oregon State 6-5 earlier in the day on the strength of five home runs and a 12-strikeout performance from Thatcher Hurd.
The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. (network TBD) at Alex Box Stadium. The question, as it's been all weekend, will be weather. LSU's first matchup with the Beavers was initially scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, but persistent lightning delayed the Tulane-Sam Houston game in the 7th inning, and the teams never got back on the field that day. Sam Houston finished off the wind early on Sunday, but LSU-Oregon State only got through 2.5 innings before another strong batch of storms caused a 3-hour delay.
The Sunday matchup was thrilling, with seven total home runs. The game was tied 5-5 before Brayden Jobert's solo home run in the 8th inning provided the difference.
It will be hot and humid throughout the morning with 90% humidity and temperatures reaching the 90s, setting up a strong chance for rain and thunderstorms in the early afternoon, according to WBRZ. That will mean more potential weather frustration, but it is expected to clear up later in the day.
LSU head coach Jay Johnson spoke to the weather on Sunday, noting that it's no surprise. This is just what happens this time of year.
"This thing's played out, I wouldn't say a unique way, but I've played two Regionals in the state of Louisiana and it's literally been the exact same thing with rain and weather," he said. "You have to account for everything."
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LSU would prefer to make it easy on themselves, needing just one win over an exhausted Beavers squad to win the regional. They will have a second chance, though, if they did go down in the first game. The second game would begin at least one hour following the first, though an extended delay could potentially push that game to Tuesday. That second game is not allowed to start later than 11 p.m., per NCAA rules.
The starting pitchers for the game have yet to be announced, but LSU is far better situated in terms of availability and rest. The Tigers have only thrown four pitchers over their two games, with Paul Skenes pitching a complete game in the win over Tulane. Ty Floyd went three innings prior to the delay on Sunday, followed by five innings from Thatcher Hurd and Gavin Guidry closing out the 9th inning. Johnson said Floyd was likely unavailable the rest of the way, and already indicated he did not plan to bring Skenes out of the bullpen.
Oregon State has used nine pitchers over its three games, including two appearances from closer Ryan Brown.
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LSU will hope to avoid the same fate it encountered a year ago at the Hattiesburg regional, winning its first two games to set up a title showdown with host Southern Miss, only to lose back-to-back games to end its season.