LSU celebrates defeeating Oregon State during an NCAA College World Series baseball game Friday, June 23, 2017, in Omaha, Neb.

The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. — All of sudden, LSU’s task doesn’t look quite so daunting.

Very doable, in fact.

Just play one more game like the near-perfect performance the Tigers turned in to beat No. 1-seed Oregon State 3-1 Friday and — presto — it’s straight to the College World Series national championship round next week.

“We get to play another day,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri smiled after Alex Lange threw one of his best career games with the season on the line. He also got restaurant-quality   defense and just enough run support from some opportunistic young bats to break the Beavers’ (56-5) 23-game winning streak.

“We beat an All-American (OSU’s Jake Thompson) who was 14-0, really outstanding.

“Phenomenal ballgame.”

Now to replicate it against a team that hadn’t lost since April 29 and, as recently as Monday, beat LSU 13-1.

“We knew we were a much better team than we showed the first time,” Mainieri said. “I knew we had a better showing in us.”

It certainly was as the Tigers, 3-1 in the CWS, improved to 51-18 on the season with their second straight win-or-go-home performance.

Today will be an elimination game for both teams, with LSU counting on sophomore Caleb Gilbert.

“Should be tremendous,” Mainieri said. “We’re looking forward to it.

Lange (11-4) struck out eight while holding Oregon State to just the one run on two hits while pitching into the eighth inning.

That was long enough to get the game to closer Zach Hess who got his third save of the CWS by retiring all five batters he faced, four on overpowering strike outs.

“My mentality was just take this team as deep into the game as I can,” Lange said. “Then, when it’s time, hand it over to the monster (Hess).”

LSU got all the runs it needed with three straight hits to lead off the second inning, the last an RBI single by Josh Smith, followed by an RBI sacrifice bunt by Beau Jordan.

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“We executed very well there,” Mainieri said. “Got the two-run inning against Thompson. I knew any run we got was going to be valuable, it was probably going to be a low scoring game.”

Smith hit the first pitch of the seventh inning over the right field bullpen for an insurance run that really wasn’t needed with the way Hess was mowing down hitters.

“Just sitting on a fastball,” Smith said. “Alex and Hess were the real story. It was easy to play behind those guys.”

“We missed a few other opportunities,” Mainieri said. “But that pitcher (Thompson) is really good.

“But I like our guy too, and I felt confident about Alex to go out there and throw a gem. He usually does that after a less-than-stellar performance (in the CWS opener against Florida State, which LSU rallied to win).

“He just goes out there and pitches his heart out. He was obviously the key to the game.”

Lange passed the 400 strike out mark for his career, now at 406 and behind only the all-time leader Scott Schultz with 409.

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His only bump came in the third when he gave up a single and three walks to force in a run.

But he got out of it without further damage when he struck out KJ Harrison with bases still loaded.

“He threw the ball where he needed to,” Oregon State coach Pat Casey said. “And he’s good. Man, he’s real good.”

Lange threw 115 pitches, 69 for strikes, before leaving after retiring the first batter in the eighth.

“The toughest call was when to pull Alex,” Mainieri said. “But we had to keep his pitch count within reason.”

It didn’t hurt to have Hess waiting to finish.

“Calm, cool and lets it rip,” Mainieri said. “He threw a lot of strikes and overpowered them.”

Mainieri paused.

“Hopefully Alex will have another game to pitch next week.”

 

 

“My mentality was just take this team as deep into the game as I can,” Lange said. “Then, when it’s time, hand it over to the monster (Hess).”

“He just goes out there and pitches his heart out. He was obviously the key to the game.”