LSU throwing its best against Florida State, FSU will do likewise
OMAHA, Neb. — While scouting Florida State, LSU might as well have been looking in the mirror.
The Tigers (48-17) open their 18th trip to the College World Series tonight against a Seminoles team (45-21) that took a similar path to college baseball’s mecca.
Both are regular visitors here, but neither looked Omaha-bound two months ago. Yet now they come in as two of the hottest teams in the country.
In today’s other game, Cal State Fullerton (39-22) takes on No. 1 national seed Oregon State (54-4) in the CWS opener at 2 p.m.
LSU has won 16 straight and 21 of its last 23 while Florida State has won 18 of its last 21.
Two months ago both teams were wondering if they’d even host NCAA regionals.
With Florida State, it was mostly injuries, according to legendary head coach Mike Martin.
LSU just needed some tinkering to get out of a puzzling rut.
But all of that is forgotten now — even the glut of frustrating midweek games the Tigers dropped while figuring out it’s pitching staff.
“I’d rather be here right now than unbeaten in the midweek,” Mainieri said Friday, recalling the irritation among LSU fans when his team was scuffling.
The Tigers are hitting .308 over those last 23 games.
“We have hit better,” Mainieri said. “But it’s been our pitching that has been the difference.”
The batting average isn’t significantly different than the .294 for the season.
“I remember looking up one time and we were 10th in the SEC in ERA,” he said. “Now, we’re just behind (Texas A&M) for second.”
LSU’s ERA has been 2.67 over the last 23 games while Tiger pitching — with an improved bullpen as much as anything — has held opponents to just a .208 average.
That could be on display today — canyon-sized TD Ameritrade Park may be the ultimate college pitchers’ ballpark.
And as so often happens here, the game will feature a marquee pitching matchup between the Tigers Alex Lange (9-5, 2.92) against FSU sophomore lefthander Tyler Holton (10-2, 2.25).
“Alex will be very confident,” Mainieri said. “He’s pitched a lot of big games. He’s pitched here, won a big game. I think he’s ready. He’s our best option, no doubt about it.”
Lange, who was taken in the first round of the Major League draft by the Chicago Cubs last Monday, is one of the few Tigers that has played in TD Ameritrade before.
In fact, he has the Tigers’ only pitching victory in five previous games since this ballpark opened, a 5-3 victory over Cal Fullerton two years ago.
“He pitched a tremendous game against Fullerton in an elimination game,” Mainieri said, noting that the Tigers shut out the Titans after giving up all three runs in the first inning.
LSU could have its hands full, too.
Mainieri said Holton reminds him of a former Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer.
“I thought I was watching Tom Glavine,” Mainieri said. “He’s kind of a straight-over-the-top lefty, tries to stay away from the righthanders and tries to see how much the umpires are going to give him. He’ll keep expanding the strike zone as far as they let him.
“Soon as you’re sure he’s going to throw his fast ball, he’ll throw a change up that’s a killer. His numbers are ridiculous.”
Holton has allowed opponents to hit only .171 against him, with 139 strike outs in 112 innings against only 29 walks.
He evidently doesn’t have to pitch against his own team.
Lange will face one of his biggest challenges against a patient FSU team that leads the nation in luring walks, having piled up 380 of them.
“Love to walk,” Mainieri said of the Seminoles. “They love to take a lot of pitches.”
His plan for Lange will be straight forward.
“I want to see Alex challenge the hitters more,” he said. “Not nibble on the corners as much, They’re not going to swing if you don’t throw strikes. They’ll try to drive our pitch counts up.”
LSU will have a plan against Holton, too — and the ballpark.
“Long fly balls don’t play here,”Mainieri said. “You can’t win like that. You’ve got to hit down the lines and drive balls through the infield.
“The grass is kind of slow here, too. It’s a pitchers’ park.”
But Mainieri described his team as loose and ready to play.
And he said selecting Lange to start the opener was a no-brainer.
“That’s our best dude,” he said. “Let’s if we can win that first game. I don’t care who you are, the first game there’s going to be some nerves. Give it our best shot with our best guy.”
LSU pitcher Zack Hess (38) hands back a signed baseball to fans following team practice in Omaha, Neb., Friday, June 16, 2017. LSU plays Florida State in the NCAA baseball College World Series on Saturday.
LSU’s Kramer Robertson makes a leaping catch in the outfield during team practice in Omaha, Neb., Friday, June 16, 2017. LSU plays Florida State in the NCAA baseball College World Series on Saturday.
Fans look into the bullpen as LSU pitcher Alex Lange (35) prepares to throw during team practice in Omaha, Neb., Friday, June 16, 2017. LSU plays Florida State in the NCAA baseball College World Series on Saturday.