Tag: Jordan Thompson

What is wrong with LSU baseball?

The 2024 season has not gotten off to the best start for the Tigers.

The 2024 season has not gotten off to the best start for the LSU baseball team. After three conference series, the Tigers are 20-9 overall and 2-7 in conference play and have lost all three series. The Tigers dropped series to Mississippi State and Florida 2-1 and then got swept by Arkansas last weekend.

So, what is going on with this team? For one, let’s rewind to the 2023 season. [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] and the LSU Tigers had the two best players in college baseball on their team, [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] and [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag]. The No. 1 and No. 2 overall draft picks in the 2023 MLB draft.

Along with that, the team had [autotag]Tre Morgan[/autotag], [autotag]Gavin Dugas[/autotag], [autotag]Jordan Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]Brayden Jobert[/autotag], [autotag]Cade Beloso[/autotag] and [autotag]Ty Floyd[/autotag]. That equates to two out of three starting pitchers, first and second base, shortstop, designated hitter, and two of the three outfield spots. One outfield spot ([autotag]Josh Pearson[/autotag]), one starting pitcher ([autotag]Thatcher Hurd[/autotag]), and two catchers ([autotag]Hayden Travinski[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Milazzo[/autotag]) were all that remained from last year’s starting lineup.

Replacing six hitters in your starting lineup and two of your starting pitchers is not an easy task. Johnson had to hit the recruiting trail hard for high school kids and players in the transfer portal. He did a great job of rebuilding the team, but some players you just can’t replace. There is no replacement for those guys.

With that out of the way, let’s take a look at some stats so far. LSU is in the middle of the road for most hitting statistics in the conference. The Tigers are seventh in the conference in batting average, on-base percentage, and hits, eighth in slugging percentage, doubles, and triples. The biggest issue for LSU on the offensive side is that we are ranked 11th out of 14 in RBI and runs scored. LSU is not hitting the long ball as well either as the Tigers rank ninth in that stat.

Three more interesting offensive stats, LSU ranks first in the conference in double plays and caught stealing. First in those areas is not a good thing. That means you have hit the most double plays and been caught stealing the most. [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] leads the conference in double plays. He has hit into eight of them. That’s three more than the next closest player.

Now, let’s look at the Tigers’ performance on the mound. [autotag]Luke Holman[/autotag] is the silver lining of this pitching staff. Without him, you would not want to see any of these numbers. Holman has the second-lowest ERA (1.38), second-highest strikeouts (61), and fourth-lowest opponent batting average (.173). Why am I singling him out? Because if you take him out of the equation, LSU does not have another pitcher in the top 15 of the conference.

LSU has the MOST walks in the SEC (131) and the second most wild pitches in the SEC (28). [autotag]Thatcher Hurd[/autotag] is tied for the most losses in the conference with four and three LSU pitchers are tied for sixth in the conference in wild pitches with four. ([autotag]Kade Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Gage Jump[/autotag] and Hurd)

LSU is sixth in the conference in fielding percentage but [autotag]Michael Braswell III[/autotag] is tied for first for the most errors in the conference with seven. Those numbers will not get the job done, especially in conference play.

LSU will play Southern at home on Monday before hosting Vanderbilt this weekend.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

D1Baseball editor gives an inside scoop on LSU Baseball

LSU will start its title defense on Feb. 16 against VMI.

Kendall Rogers, the managing editor for D1Baseball, took a trip to Baton Rouge to check out the defending national champions to see how they are looking going into 2024. After leaving the bayou, Rogers gave his thoughts on what he saw.

A few interesting thoughts on this. Talk about a strong starting rotation. [autotag]Thatcher Hurd[/autotag], [autotag]Luke Holman[/autotag] and [autotag]Gage Jump[/autotag] are about as good of a three-man rotation as you will find anywhere in the NCAA. Don’t sleep on [autotag]Cam Johnson[/autotag] either. He is just a freshman but he has the talent to be a Friday night starter already. [autotag]Justin Loer[/autotag], the transfer from Xavier is also a top-tier pitcher. What a rotation.

Another thing, it seems that true freshman [autotag]Jake Brown[/autotag] has earned his spot on the roster as a starter in the outfield. To complement that, it seems [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] will slide [autotag]Josh Pearson[/autotag] down to second base. Pearson has spent the last two years as a corner outfielder for the Tigers but now he will take the place of [autotag]Gavin Dugas[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Thompson[/autotag].

Rogers was even kind enough to give us a possible starting nine for the Tigers. It looks like the outfield will consist of [autotag]Mac Bingham[/autotag] (Arizona transfer), [autotag]Paxton Kling[/autotag] and Jake Brown. In the infield, it will be [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] at third base, [autotag]Michael Braswell III[/autotag] (South Carolina transfer) at shortstop, Pearson/[autotag]Brady Neal[/autotag] at second base, [autotag]Jared Jones[/autotag] at first base, [autotag]Alex Millazo[/autotag]/[autotag]Hayden Travinski[/autotag] at catcher, and Travinski/[autotag]Ethan Frey[/autotag] as the designated hitter.

LSU will start its title defense on Feb. 16 against VMI.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

No longer playing scared: Rutgers football’s Jordan Thompson credits the playbook for increased production

Jordan Thompson continues to see his stock rise with Rutgers football.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Jordan Thompson is making a case this year for an increased role with Rutgers football. The defensive lineman has seen his impact grow in a Rutgers unit that is deep and talented.

As he has gotten more comfortable in the playbook, he is now more comfortable in the opposing team’s backfield.

On the season, Thompson has nine total tackles and an interception. The redshirt junior is on pace to eclipse last year’s tackle total for Rutgers (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten). The product of Parsippany Hills High School has had three tackles this season in each of the wins over Virginia Tech and Temple.

The Scarlet Knights play at Wisconsin (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) on Saturday at noon. The game will be streamed on Peacock.

Thompson, with good length and a strong motor, has continued to rise through the program’s depth chart and is now playing a significant role in the rotation of linemen. But it wasn’t the physical component where Thompson felt he needed to make strides.

Instead, he attributes his increased production this year to a greater understanding of the defense. It is the embodiment of a program that heralds itself as developmental.

“Just understanding the playbook barely last year – I was like playing kind of scared. I had an injury last year too,” Thompson told Rutgers Wire this week.

“So maybe…I was thinking way too much last year but this year I finally got healthy. I finally actually know my playbook inside and out. So I feel like I started closing all the little things. Now, I just focus on the big things.”

It’s been a hot week, especially by October standards in New Jersey. Thompson is coming from an ice bath following a second straight practice where temperatures had reached the low 80s.

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He sits down in a chair at a building outside the team’s practice facility. He apologizes for being all wet.

A small pool of water is forming at his feet, the effects of the ice bath still being felt. While Thompson might be chilled, he is warm and inviting with a personality that has a hint of an old soul.

He is a bundle of smiles when talking about playing high school football at Parsippany Hills, a program that has sent several players to Rutgers over the past few years including long-snapper Billy Taylor. It is hard to imagine that this young man, so peaceful and with a happy presence, has made his mark for Rutgers in such a physical way.

Thompson is the prototype of the Rutgers defense this year. He and the rest of the unit are playing with a violence that has helped elevate the Scarlet Knights to their best start since Greg Schiano returned as head coach in 2020.

He dives into the difference a year makes. An offseason spent understanding the playbook and his role in the defense made a difference, Thompson said.

With his confidence in the playbook improved, Thompson is able to understand his role in certain situations better. This means that he can simply go out and play his role on the field.

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It is not easy to crack a defensive line that might be the deepest unit on the Rutgers two-deep. The accountability from the group is evident in his game and in the line’s production this year.

“One hundred percent. I think one of the main things is the fact that our whole defensive line is that we’re teammates and we treat each other like brothers,” Thompson said.

“Like, everyone’s accountable for themselves. Even if a leader messes up, we’re all on him about it. It’s just a brotherhood that keeps us all together. I feel like it’s really just crazy when we are playing because you can trust the brother next to you. You can trust them – trust them  throughout the entire game.”

There is a connection to Rutgers that was deep and natural for Thompson and played itself out early in his recruitment.

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Thompson’s mother, a Rutgers graduate in 1991, ran track for Rutgers. The idea of playing at Rutgers was at the forefront of his mind from early on in the recruiting process.

A member of the 2021 recruiting class, Rutgers got on Thompson early in the process. He was offered in March of his junior year and Thompson committed to Rutgers just days later.

The return of Schiano, now in his fourth year back with the program, cemented Rutgers early in his recruitment as the clear-cut leader. Even after committing to Rutgers in March, offers from programs like Pittsburgh didn’t manage to sway Thompson.

Rutgers was the leader, even before they officially got involved.

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“I guess kind of like my freshman year once I realized I actually could get somewhere with football. And it took me a while to get that mindset going. Once in my freshman year, I was like, ‘Oh, but maybe we can actually do this.’ And then once I kind of set my sights really high,” Thompson said.

“And my mom went to Rutgers, my dad played DI football (at New Hampshire) as a player. So I was thinking (that) I want to be close to home and then once coach Schiano came back, I was like ‘Oh, yeah, I definitely want (an offer) from Rutgers.

“As soon as I got an offer I knew – I really don’t have an interest in anywhere else. Like, there’s no point in me to focus on recruiting. In my mind, I was committed here.”

Thompson pauses to point to the ground with his index finger.

“This is where I want to go – here,” Thompson said.

“It was my dream school. There’s not really any point in me trying to talk to people when I know this is where I’m going.”

Jai Opetaia vs. Jordan Thompson: Date, time, how to watch, background

Jai Opetaia vs. Jordan Thompson: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Cruiserweight titleholder Jai Opetaia is scheduled to defend his belt against Jordan Thompson on Saturday night in London.

JAI OPETAIA (22-0, 17 KOs)
VS. JORDAN THOMPSON (15-0, 12 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: OVO Arena Wembley, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: Opetaia 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Ellie Scotney vs. Laura Soledad Griffa, junior featherweights (for Scotney’s IBF title); Cheavon Clarke vs. Vasil Ducar, cruiserweights; Rhiannon Dixon vs. Katherina Thanderz, lightweights
  • Prediction: Opetaia KO 9
  • Background: Opetaia, a 28-year-old southpaw from Sydney, stunned the boxing world and arrived on the international scene with a convincing decision over veteran 200-pound beltholder Mairis Briedis in July of last year in Australia, his most recent fight. Briedis had lost only to Oleksandr Usyk. Opetaia hasn’t fought outside of Australia since 2017. He competed for his native country in the 2012 London Olympics, losing in the first round. Thompson is a 30-year-old boxer-puncher from London who will be fighting for a major title for the first time. He has stopped seven of his last eight opponents, including Luke Watkins in six rounds on April 22. However, this is a step up in opposition for him.

Jai Opetaia vs. Jordan Thompson: Date, time, how to watch, background

Jai Opetaia vs. Jordan Thompson: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Cruiserweight titleholder Jai Opetaia is scheduled to defend his belt against Jordan Thompson on Saturday night in London.

JAI OPETAIA (22-0, 17 KOs)
VS. JORDAN THOMPSON (15-0, 12 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: OVO Arena Wembley, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: Opetaia 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Ellie Scotney vs. Laura Soledad Griffa, junior featherweights (for Scotney’s IBF title); Cheavon Clarke vs. Vasil Ducar, cruiserweights; Rhiannon Dixon vs. Katherina Thanderz, lightweights
  • Prediction: Opetaia KO 9
  • Background: Opetaia, a 28-year-old southpaw from Sydney, stunned the boxing world and arrived on the international scene with a convincing decision over veteran 200-pound beltholder Mairis Briedis in July of last year in Australia, his most recent fight. Briedis had lost only to Oleksandr Usyk. Opetaia hasn’t fought outside of Australia since 2017. He competed for his native country in the 2012 London Olympics, losing in the first round. Thompson is a 30-year-old boxer-puncher from London who will be fighting for a major title for the first time. He has stopped seven of his last eight opponents, including Luke Watkins in six rounds on April 22. However, this is a step up in opposition for him.

Fight Week: Canelo Alvarez at crossroads against Jermell Charlo

Fight Week: Canelo Alvarez will be at a crossroads in his long career when he faces Jermell Charlo on Saturday in Las Vegas.

FIGHT WEEK

Canelo Alvarez will be defending his undisputed 168-pound championship and fighting to keep his place among the top fighters when he faces Jermell Charlo on pay-per-view Saturday in Las Vegas.

CANELO ALVAREZ (59-2-2, 39 KOs)
VS. JERMELL CHARLO (35-1-1, 19 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
  • Division: Super middleweight (168 pounds)
  • At stake: Alvarez’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles
  • Odds: Alvarez 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: Alvarez No. 7, Charlo No. 8
  • Also on the card: Jesus Ramos Jr. vs. Erickson Lubin, junior middleweights; Yordenis Ugas vs. Mario Barrios, welterweights; Elijah Garcia vs. Armando Resendiz, middleweights; Frank Sanchez vs. Scott Alexander, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Alvarez KO 10
  • Background: Alvarez is fighting to remain at the pinnacle of the sport. The former top pound-for-pounder has looked vulnerable in his last three fights, a loss to 175-pound king Dmitry Bivol in May of last year and uninspiring decisions over Gennadiy Golovkin last September and John Ryder this past May. Many believe the 33-year-old Mexican star is in decline after 18 years as a professional. He says injuries – including one to his left wrist that required surgery – played a role in his sub-par performances and he promises to look better against Charlo now that he’s healthy. He’s 6-0 (3 KOs) in 168-pound title fights. Charlo, the undisputed 154-pound champion, is moving up two divisions for the fight. The 33-year-old from Houston has failed to win twice, a decision against Tony Harrison and draw with Brian Castano. He avenged both disappointments in one-sided rematches, stopping both rivals. The second Castano fight – his most recent outing – took place in May of last year, meaning Charlo will have been out of the ring for more than 17 months. He would become a top figure in the sport with an upset victory.

 

JAI OPETAIA (22-0, 17 KOs)
VS. JORDAN THOMPSON (15-0, 12 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: OVO Arena Wembley, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: Opetaia 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Ellie Scotney vs. Laura Soledad Griffa, junior featherweights (for Scotney’s IBF title); Cheavon Clarke vs. Vasil Ducar, cruiserweights; Rhiannon Dixon vs. Katherina Thanderz, lightweights
  • Prediction: Opetaia KO 9
  • Background: Opetaia, a 28-year-old southpaw from Sydney, stunned the boxing world and arrived on the international scene with a convincing decision over veteran 200-pound beltholder Mairis Briedis in July of last year in Australia, his most recent fight. Briedis had lost only to Oleksandr Usyk. Opetaia hasn’t fought outside of Australia since 2017. He competed for his native country in the 2012 London Olympics, losing in the first round. Thompson is a 30-year-old boxer-puncher from London who will be fighting for a major title for the first time. He has stopped seven of his last eight opponents, including Luke Watkins in six rounds on April 22. However, this is a step up in opposition for him.

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Fight Week: Canelo Alvarez at crossroads against Jermell Charlo

Fight Week: Canelo Alvarez will be at a crossroads in his long career when he faces Jermell Charlo on Saturday in Las Vegas.

FIGHT WEEK

Canelo Alvarez will be defending his undisputed 168-pound championship and fighting to keep his place among the top fighters when he faces Jermell Charlo on pay-per-view Saturday in Las Vegas.

CANELO ALVAREZ (59-2-2, 39 KOs)
VS. JERMELL CHARLO (35-1-1, 19 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
  • Division: Super middleweight (168 pounds)
  • At stake: Alvarez’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles
  • Odds: Alvarez 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: Alvarez No. 7, Charlo No. 8
  • Also on the card: Jesus Ramos Jr. vs. Erickson Lubin, junior middleweights; Yordenis Ugas vs. Mario Barrios, welterweights; Elijah Garcia vs. Armando Resendiz, middleweights; Frank Sanchez vs. Scott Alexander, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Alvarez KO 10
  • Background: Alvarez is fighting to remain at the pinnacle of the sport. The former top pound-for-pounder has looked vulnerable in his last three fights, a loss to 175-pound king Dmitry Bivol in May of last year and uninspiring decisions over Gennadiy Golovkin last September and John Ryder this past May. Many believe the 33-year-old Mexican star is in decline after 18 years as a professional. He says injuries – including one to his left wrist that required surgery – played a role in his sub-par performances and he promises to look better against Charlo now that he’s healthy. He’s 6-0 (3 KOs) in 168-pound title fights. Charlo, the undisputed 154-pound champion, is moving up two divisions for the fight. The 33-year-old from Houston has failed to win twice, a decision against Tony Harrison and draw with Brian Castano. He avenged both disappointments in one-sided rematches, stopping both rivals. The second Castano fight – his most recent outing – took place in May of last year, meaning Charlo will have been out of the ring for more than 17 months. He would become a top figure in the sport with an upset victory.

 

JAI OPETAIA (22-0, 17 KOs)
VS. JORDAN THOMPSON (15-0, 12 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: OVO Arena Wembley, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: Opetaia 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Ellie Scotney vs. Laura Soledad Griffa, junior featherweights (for Scotney’s IBF title); Cheavon Clarke vs. Vasil Ducar, cruiserweights; Rhiannon Dixon vs. Katherina Thanderz, lightweights
  • Prediction: Opetaia KO 9
  • Background: Opetaia, a 28-year-old southpaw from Sydney, stunned the boxing world and arrived on the international scene with a convincing decision over veteran 200-pound beltholder Mairis Briedis in July of last year in Australia, his most recent fight. Briedis had lost only to Oleksandr Usyk. Opetaia hasn’t fought outside of Australia since 2017. He competed for his native country in the 2012 London Olympics, losing in the first round. Thompson is a 30-year-old boxer-puncher from London who will be fighting for a major title for the first time. He has stopped seven of his last eight opponents, including Luke Watkins in six rounds on April 22. However, this is a step up in opposition for him.

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Jordan Thompson drafted by Los Angeles Dodgers

Jordan Thompson may be heading back to his home state of California.

LSU shortstop [autotag]Jordan Thompson[/autotag] may be heading back out west.

Though he stayed on the board longer than some expected at the 2023 MLB draft, the California native was ultimately picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 460th pick in the 15th round.

A three-year starter for the Tigers, Thompson batted .246 this past season with 11 homers and 55 RBI. He had a huge outing in the national championship-clinching Game 3 against the Florida Gators, driving in three runs in the decisive victory.

The junior becomes the 11th LSU player taken so far, breaking a draft record of nine players, which was set back in 2013.

We’ll see what kind of offer he gets from the Dodgers, but Thompson has the option to return to LSU for his final season if he chooses.

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Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Projecting where Aggie prospects could land in the 2023 MLB Draft

Ahead of the 2023 MLB Draft, which begins Sunday night, Texas A&M has no shortage of prospects who could hear their names called.

The 2023 MLB Draft kicks off on Sunday, July 9, and carries through Tuesday, July 11, in Seattle. This marks the second straight year that the event has coincided with the MLB All-Star Game, and it could also feature a handful of Texas A&M prospects.

Ahead of the start of Round 1 of the draft, which opens at 5 p.m. CT on Sunday, Texas A&M will have no shortage of potential prospects who could, realistically, hear their names called. Granted, the top of the draft is arguably reserved for the likes of LSU‘s Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews, and Florida‘s Wyatt Langford, who are all expected to be off the board in the top five. But once it’s all said and done, a handful of Aggies could be making their way to the big leagues next year.

Outfielders Brett Minnich and Jordan Thompson, relievers Matt Dillard (LHP) and Carson Lambert (RHP), and second baseman Austin Bost all saw their college eligibility come to a close and will look to make the jump to the majors.

Additionally, LHPs Evan Aschenbeck, Will Johnston, Brandyn Garcia, RHP Nathan Dettmer, shortstop Hunter Haas, third baseman Trevor Werner, first baseman Jack Moss, and utility Ryan Targac have a chance to become professional.

Dettmer, Haas, and Moss all made the first stop on that journey after showcasing their skills at the MLB Draft Combine last month in Phoenix.

As shared through GigEm247, here is a look at which former, current, and potentially future A&M players are in the MLB.com Top 250 and ESPN Top 300 prospect rankings. The slot value for each projected pick is included as well.

MLB.com Top 250

Round 3, No. 79: Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus outfielder Caden Sorrell – $901,500

Round 5, No. 146: Villa Park (Calif.) High outfielder Gavin Grahovac – $429,400

Round 6, No. 188: Haas – $295,000

Round 7, No. 198: Dettmer – $271,600

ESPN Top 300

Round 3, No. 77: Sorrell – $930,600

Round 6, No. 180: Grahovac – $314,800

Round 6, No. 187: Dettmer – $297,400

Round 7, No. 201: Haas – $265,500

Round 7, No. 216: Montgomery County (Texas) Lake Creek RHP Weston Moss – $235,000

Round 9, No. 261: Targac – $182,100

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

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Why this LSU baseball national title is more special than the rest

You can’t define this team with one play, which makes LSU’s title run all the better.

Championship runs are often boiled down to a single moment. One great play that stands out.

It’s shown over and over again on the stadium big board and finds its way into every preseason hype video until the end of time.

It comes naturally. You recognize it right away and say, “That was special.”

For LSU on its way to winning the 2023 College World Series, there wasn’t just one moment. You can’t define this team by one play or one player.

On the surface, it looks simple. The program with the most national titles in the last 30 years added another trophy to the case with a team led by the top two MLB draft prospects. Nothing about that is a Cinderella story. It’s LSU doing what LSU expects to do.

But it wasn’t that simple.

You can ask five LSU fans what their favorite moment from this College World Series was and you could get five different answers.

Maybe it’s Tre Morgan charging a bunt down the first-place line to throw a Wake Forest runner out at home and preserve a 0-0 tie in an elimination game. Or it’s [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] hitting a walk-off home run later that night.

It’s [autotag]Josh Pearson[/autotag] making a leaping grab in left, taking a walk-off hit away from the best player in the country not on LSU.

It’s [autotag]Ty Floyd[/autotag] punching out 17 batters for the best start of his career or [autotag]Cade Beloso[/autotag], the homegrown fourth-year senior, hitting the winning homer in extra innings.

Some might point to [autotag]Riley Cooper[/autotag], who became a dominant force out of the bullpen, flipping the script on what we thought about that unit all year.

It’s [autotag]Jordan Thompson[/autotag], who played the worst game of his life on Sunday only to be the spark on Monday.

It’s LSU facing rivals Oregon State, Tennessee and Florida over the last month and sending them all home, avenging losses of previous teams.

Nowhere in that did I mention [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] or [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag], two of the greatest players in LSU history who spearheaded the title run.

That’s why this one is so special. We watch sports for those individual moments. The ones that get the crowd stomping and make viewers at home leap off the couch.

Baseball, in particular, is built around this. It doesn’t have the unflinching momentum of a football game or the quick back and forth of a basketball game. Because of that, the biggest moments on a baseball field fall with even more thunder. Tension builds and builds until something special happens.

An LSU had a whole lot of special happenings in Omaha.

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