Paul Mainieri has made it clear he's ready to retire after 15 years as LSU's head coach, but he's perfectly fine with delaying that final game as long as it takes.
With two wins in a pair of elimination games on Sunday, the Tigers are now one win away from a potential trip to the Super Regionals out of the loser's bracket in Eugene.
"I just can't tell you how proud I am of our guys. That's three straight elimination games that we've won. We're just not giving up," Mainieri said. "I told the guys after the game, 'you just wont let me retire. You keep making me work.’ I'm happy to do it, though."
The Tigers got to this point in large point due to heroic pitching performances from the likes of veterans in AJ Labas, who went 8 innings in the day game against Gonzaga. But also with a hefty dose of youth, like freshman Dylan Crews raking in a shift back to leadoff and Javen Coleman tossing six lockdown innings to stifle Oregon's potent lineup.
The next challenge: Do it again.
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"We've got guys available, so we're going to have to figure out how we're going to piece it together," Mainieri said. "And somebody's going to have to step up and be the hero for us tomorrow night if we're going to have a chance to win."
Neither Mainieri nor Oregon coach Mark Masikowski would commit to starters for Monday's game, scheduled for a 9 p.m. first pitch.
"I think it's got the makings for a great ballgame tomorrow night," Mainieri said. "Definitely must-see TV."
Watch Mainieri's full comments below. Can't see the video? Click here
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GAVIN DUGAS: 'No stopping there'
LSU left-fielder Gavin Dugas had already launched a home run innings earlier, but the one he ran for definitely left an impression.
That came in the 6th inning when Dugas stepped up to the plate as LSU clung to a 2-1 advantage. He launched a hanging breaking ball off the center field wall. Oregon's outfield misplayed the relay and Dugas motored around for what was officially scored to be a triple and an error.
Dugas wasn't concerned about the scoring decision, and said he saw third-base coach Nolan Cain throw down a stop sign at the last moment -- but the decision had already been made.
"Honestly I did see Nolan. He was giving me the 'go around third.' At the very last second," Dugas said, "when I was touching third base, he kind of gave me the stop sign. But at that point it was all go from there.
“There was no stopping, for sure. But there was a lot of things happening at one time and Nolan had a lot of moving parts on his body at that point, but the last thing I saw before I touched third base was Nolan's arm waving me around, so..."
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See Dugas' full post-game comments below. Can't see the video? Click here
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JAVEN COLEMAN: 'Let it rip'
LSU freshman Javen Coleman made his impact on Sunday night with six stifling innings to help trigger the Tigers' must-have win over Oregon.
The advice he took to heart before that performance was simple: 'Let it rip' and 'fill up the zone.'
See Coleman's full post-game comments below. Can't see the video? Click here
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