Paul Skenes and LSU had to wait 7 hours to start their Super Regional vs Kentucky, but once things got going the nation's best pitcher made sure no one was waiting too long in the stands at Alex Box Stadium.
It was 7.2 innings of utter dominance for Skenes, who struck out 9 en route to a 14-0 victory for the Tigers. Blake Money earned the final four outs for the win.
Unlike Skene's regional start against Tulane, LSU used its power to pin the best pitcher in college baseball to an early lead he protected with ease. This time it was from a bit of an unlikely source, with first baseman Tre' Morgan bombing solo home runs in each of his first to at bats, one to left field and one to right field.
“As soon as one guy kind of breaks the seal, the whole team kind of gets going," Morgan said on the field after the game. "It turns into a barrel fest, and that’s what happened here tonight."
Morgan's second home run came immediately following a two-run shot from Tommy White, who went yard on the first pitch of the at-bat from Kentucky start Zack Lee. White, who struggled in the regional and hit into a double play in the first inning, drove in Dylan Crews after his second infield single in as many at-bats. Gavin Dugas added a home run in the 4th, and Josh Pearson hit a home run of his own during a 6th-run 5th inning that erased any mystery in the final result. Kentucky starter Zack Lee went 4 innings, allowing 9 hits and 6 earned runs.
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Skenes flew through the first four innings, facing the minimum and throwing just 39 pitches. The Wildcats' lone hit was erased on a double-play in the third inning. LSU outhit Kentucky 15-4.
The Tigers need just one more victory to punch their tickets to Omaha for the program's 19th College World Series appearance, and its first since 2017. First pitch of Game 2 will come shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday.