The LSU Tigers have fought for two days to avoid going home, but on Monday night they'll fight for the right to return to Baton Rouge as the champion of the Eugene regional.
LSU took the hard road in Paul Mainieri's final coaching run before his retirement, and after a shutout loss in Game 1 against Gonzaga they've now won three consecutive elimination games to set up a winner-take-all finale in the 7th and final game.
Related
The Tigers' winning ways started on Saturday in a walk-off, 6-5 victory over Central Connecticut in 10 innings. The run continued Sunday with a strong 9-4 victory over Gonzaga in the afternoon, then a gritty 4-1 victory over top-seeded Oregon in the nightcap. That result set up a Monday's finale, which will decide which of the Ducks or Tigers ships out to the Super Regionals to face off with the Tennessee Volunteers in a 3-game series.
Neither Mainieri or Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski would commit to starters for the rematch as of Sunday night, but each indicated it'd be all hands on deck for the elimination game. LSU will bring back senior Ma'Khail Hilliard as its starter on Monday on two day's rest, according to a report from The Advocate. Hilliard threw 65 pitches over four innings in the Tigers' win over Central Connecticut on Saturday.
Oregon's starter has not yet been announced shortly before game time in freshman Andrew Mosiello.
Despite the quick turnaround for Hilliard, LSU finds itself with a rested bullpen due in large part to inning-eating performances from AJ Labas, who logged 8 innings against Gonzaga, and Javen Coleman, who entered in the 2nd inning against Oregon and stifled the Ducks offense for six innings. Tigers closer Devin Fontenot went two innings in relief to close out the result, and his availability to pitch Monday is uncertain.
Related
Starting pitchers and lineups will be added below closer to the 9 p.m. first pitch. Scroll below for all the key info you'll need to watch, stream or listen to the game, as well as live updates from Eugene, results and more.
━━━━
THE REGIONAL
WHERE: PK Park, Eugene, Oregon
GAME 7 (winner-take-all)
WHO: LSU Tigers (36-23; No. 4 in SEC West, 13-17) vs Gonzaga Bulldogs (39-15; No. 2 in Pac-12, 20-10)
WHEN: 9 p.m., Sunday (Central)
WATCH: ESPN2/Watch ESPN
LISTEN: WWL-AM 870, WWL-FM 105.3, at WWL.com, or download the Audacy app on IOS or Google Play
NOTE: An LSU win would mean a rematch on Monday for Regional crown
PROJECTED STARTERS
LSU: Ma'Khail Hilliard, senior, right-hander (6-0, 4.66 ERA)
Oregon: Andrew Mosiello, freshman, right-hander (3-1, 3.57 ERA)
Can't see the feed below? Click here.
━━━━
WHAT'S NEXT?
Due to LSU's win on Sunday night, LSU will rematch top-seeded Oregon in a winner-take-all game Monday night for the Eugene regional title. The winner will advance to face Tennessee in the Super Regionals, with the Volunteers rolling unbeaten in their regional over Wright State, Liberty and Duke.
FULL SCHEDULE (all times Central)
FRIDAY, JUNE 4
GAME 1: Oregon 13, CCSU 10
GAME 2: Gonzaga 3, LSU 0
SATURDAY, JUNE 5
GAME 3: LSU 6, CCSU 5 (10) (Central eliminated)
GAME 4: Oregon 7, Gonzaga 3
SUNDAY, June 6
GAME 5: LSU 9, Gonzaga 4 (Gonzaga eliminated)
GAME 6: LSU 4, Oregon 1
MONDAY June 7 (winner-take-all)
GAME 7: LSU vs Oregon, 9 p.m. (ESPN2/WatchESPN)