The 2008 LSU Tigers baseball team represented Louisiana State University in the NCAADivision Ibaseball season of 2008. This was the final year for the team in the original Alex Box Stadium.[2] A new stadium was built during the season and opened on opening day of the 2009 season.
The team was coached by Paul Mainieri who was in his second season at LSU. In his first year at LSU, Mainieri's team posted a 29–26–1 record and failed to make the SEC tournament or the NCAA tournament.
In a dramatic turnaround, Mainieri led the Tigers to an unexpected appearance in the 2008 College World Series.
Pre-season
In September 2007, Collegiate Baseball newspaper ranked LSU's recruiting class as the top ranked class in the nation. LSU's recruiting class included 9 players that were drafted by Major League Baseball clubs, eight High School All-Americans and three first team junior college All-Americans among the 19 players the Tigers brought in.[3]Baseball America ranked LSU's recruiting as the #2 ranked class in the nation, behind San Diego.[4]
In February 2008, the SEC baseball coaches picked LSU to finish 5th (out 6 teams) in the SEC Western Division in the 17th annual preseason SEC coaches poll.[5]
Also, starting pitcher Jared Bradford was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason third-team All-America squad.[6] Bradford was also named to the watchlist for the 2008 Brooks Wallace Award, which is presented to the nation's top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual induction festivities.[7]
During the offseason, former LSU baseball head coach Jack Lamabe died. Lamabe coached the Tigers for five seasons from 1979 until 1983.[8]
Regular season
LSU entered the regular season ranked #30 in the Collegiate Baseball poll and #34 in the NCBWA poll. They dropped from the ranking after the first weekend of play which saw the team win 2 out of 3 games against Indiana. The Tigers then rebounded and went on a 9-game winning streak before losing the last two games before Southeastern Conference play began.
LSU fans packed Alex Box Stadium during the 2008 NCAA tournament Baton Rouge Regional. This was the 18th and final Regional hosted at the park. A brand new stadium will open next year.
In its first conference series of the year, LSU traveled to Knoxville, TN to face the Tennessee Volunteers. The Tigers were swept 3 games to none but were competitive in all games. LSU then defeated their rival Tulane in a midweek game at home before playing host to the Arkansas Razorbacks in another conference series. The Tigers won the series 2 games to 1.
After splitting two midweek games, including a tough loss to the University of New Orleans, LSU headed to Gainesville, FL for a conference series again Florida. The Tigers lost the first two games of the series but salvaged the last one and rode a 4-game winning streak until finally losing to Alabama in game two of their series. But the Tigers won the third game of the series and improved to a 5–7 record in SEC games.
Next on the schedule was rival Ole Miss. The Tigers lost the first game 2–1 in a close matchup and then proceeded to lose the next game as well. LSU managed an 8–2 win on Sunday to avoid the sweep.
After a midweek game against Nicholls State, the Tigers traveled to Maestri Field for their second of three games again the University of New Orleans. New Orleans again pulled away late and won the game by a score of 6–5.
LSU freshman DJ LeMahieu
Georgia then came into Alex Box Stadium for a conference series. At the time Georgia led the SEC and would eventually go on to be the SEC champions. The Tigers played the Bulldogs tough but Georgia managed to win the first two games. In the Sunday game, LSU blew a lead and allowed Georgia to tie the game and send it into extra innings. After 12 innings of play the travel curfew rule came into effect and a tie was declared.
After the Georgia debacle the Tigers had a 6–11–1 conference record and looked to be on the outside looking in for the SEC baseball tournament.
The Tigers were able to turn things around, however, as they began a winning streak that they rode all the way to the end of the regular season and into the postseason.
They started the streak in New Orleans against bitter rival Tulane. They then continued it into their conference series again South Carolina, who was at that time a top-10 team. LSU managed an improbable sweep against the Gamecocks and then moved on to a series against Kentucky in Cliff Hagan Stadium. At that time the Wildcats had only lost 2 games all season in their home stadium. The Tigers again pulled off the improbably sweep and they were now sitting at 12–11–1 in conference, the first time all season that they had been over .500 in conference games.
Mississippi State came into Alex Box Stadium for the final 3 regular season games ever to be held in that stadium. The fans showed up in droves to see the Tigers sweep their third straight conference foe and send "the Box" out in style.
LSU freshman Leon Landry
Next up for the Tigers was their final regular season game against the University of New Orleans in the annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic at Zephyr Field in Metairie, LA. New Orleans had already won the previous two meeting and they were riding a 13-game win streak coming into this one. It was the longest winning streak in college baseball. LSU's streak was in second place at 12 games. It looked like New Orleans might extend their winning streak but the Tigers pulled ahead late in the game and won it.
Their final 3 regular season games came against a slumping Auburn team in Auburn, AL. LSU swept their 4th straight conference series and finished the regular season with a 39–16–1 record and an 18–11–1 conference record. Georgia won the outright SEC title but LSU was able to win the SEC West division title. The Tigers headed into the SEC Baseball Tournament as the #2 seed in to tournament.
SEC tournament
The Tigers entered the 2008 SEC baseball tournament on an NCAA-best 16-game winning streak. In Game 1 of the tournament, LSU faced South Carolina, a team they had swept earlier in the season. The Gamecocks took a 4–0 lead into the bottom of the 9th inning but LSU rallied to tie the game and take it into extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th inning, LSU's Blake Dean hit a walk-off home run to end the game at a score of 5–4.
In their second game of the SEC Tournament, LSU defeated defending tournament champion Vanderbilt by a score of 8–2. The Tigers extended their winning streak to 18 games and earned a day off before having to play their next game.
In LSU's third game in the tournament they faced Alabama. The Crimson Tide took an early lead but the Tigers came back to tie the game at six runs and then LSU's Blake Dean padded his tournament MVP resume by hitting a grand slam to break the tie. The Tigers went on to win the game by a score of 12–8 and moved onto the championship game.
The Tigers faced Ole Miss in the championship game, and like many of their games this season, they fell behind early only to rally back to win the game. LSU won the game by a score of 8–2 and claimed the SEC tournament title for the first time since the 2000 season.
On Sunday May 25 it was announced that LSU was selected as a host site for the 2008 NCAA tournament for the 18th time in the history of the program and for the first time since the 2005 season. When the full NCAA tournament bracket was released the next day, LSU was awarded the #7 national seed in the tournament, guaranteeing them home field advantage throughout the Super Regionals as long as they won the Regional round. It was the third time LSU earned a national seed since the advent of them in 1999. In 2000 the Tigers were the #2 national seed and went on to win the College World Series. In 2003, LSU again earned the #2 national seed. They made the College World Series that year but went 0–2 and were eliminated quickly.
In the Baton Rouge Regional, LSU was designated the #1 seed, Southern Mississippi earned the #2 seed, the University of New Orleans, who beat LSU two out of three times during the regular season, earned the #3 seed and Texas Southern earned the #4 seed.
LSU opened the Regional against Texas Southern in an afternoon game on Friday, May 30. LSU grabbed a quick lead in the 1st inning and cruised to a 12–1 victory. The Tigers then awaited the results of the night game between New Orleans and Southern Mississippi to find out who their next opponent would be.
Southern Mississippi beat New Orleans and moved on to face LSU in the night game on Saturday. The Tigers defeated the Golden Eagles by a score of 13–4 to advance to the championship round of the Regional.
Southern Mississippi climbed back through the losers bracket to make the championship round and face LSU again. But the Tigers again put the Golden Eagles away by winning 11–4 and moving on to the Super Regionals. The win brought LSU's winning streak to 23 consecutive games and set a new SEC record. The previous record was 22 games set by South Carolina in 2000.
NCAA tournament: Super Regionals
UC-Irvine won the Lincoln, NE regional and moved on to the Super Regional to face LSU in Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. UC-Irvine won the first game 11–5 based on a strong performance by their ace pitcher, Scott Gorgen. The Anteaters looked to be on their way to a second straight trip to the College World Series as they took a lead into the 9th inning of game 2, however the Tigers fought back and won the game in comeback fashion by a score of 9–7. LSU wasted no time in game 3 cruising to a 6–0 lead with three consecutive home runs in the 1st inning and eventually winning the game 21–7. The Tigers celebrated the school's 14th trip to the College World Series in what was the last game in the 70-year history of Alex Box Stadium.
NCAA tournament: College World Series
Prior to the start of the CWS, LSU's pitching coach, Terry Rooney, was named the new head coach of the University of Central Florida baseball team. Rooney stayed with LSU until the end of the CWS.[9]
LSU faced North Carolina in the first game of the 2008 College World Series. The Tar Heels defeated the Tigers by a score of 8–4, giving LSU its 5th consecutive CWS loss and sending them to the losers bracket. The Tigers faced the Rice Owls next and looked to be headed home with an 0–2 CWS record again after trailing by a score of 5–0, however, in typical Tiger fashion, LSU rallied in the bottom of the 9th inning and won the game on a 3-run double by All-American Blake Dean.
The Tigers then had to face North Carolina again, who had lost to Fresno State. The game started on June 19 but was delayed by weather and completed on June 20. The game went into the top of the 9th inning tied 3–3 but a grand slam home run, the first in the College World Series since 2001, gave North Carolina a 7–3 lead. LSU was unable to rally in the bottom of the 9th, and their season was ended.
^ The NCBWA ranked 35 teams in their preseason poll but only 30 teams during the season.
Awards and honors
Player
Award/Honor
Jared Bradford
SEC Pitcher of the Week (April 28 – May 5)[138] LSWA Pitcher of the Week (April 28 – May 5)[139] SEC All-Defensive Team[140]
Matt Clark
LSWA Player of the Week (February 26 – March 3)[141] LSWA Player of the Week (May 12 – May 19)[142] SEC All-Tournament Team – 1B[143]
Blake Dean
LSWA Player of the Week (April 21 – April 28)[144] SEC All-Tournament Team – DH & MVP[143] Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week (May 20 – May 26)[115] Baseball America First-Team All-American[145]
Micah Gibbs
SEC All-Freshman Team[140] Baseball America First Team Freshman All-American[146]
Paul Mainieri is an American former baseball coach and second baseman. He played college baseball at LSU, Miami-Dade CC and New Orleans before pursuing a professional baseball career. He then served as the head coach of the St. Thomas Bobcats (1983–1988), the Air Force Falcons (1989–1994), the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1995–2006) and the LSU Tigers (2007–2021). Mainieri coached LSU to the 2009 College World Series Championship.
The LSU Tigers baseball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers play home games on LSU's campus at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field, and they are currently coached by Jay Johnson.
The University of Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and is coached by Dave Van Horn. The program started in 1897, and is in its 100th season of play in 2022. Arkansas is one of only four schools in the SEC to turn a profit from its baseball program in recent years, along with SEC Western division rivals LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
The 2009 LSU Tigers baseball team represented Louisiana State University in the NCAA Division I baseball season of 2009. This was the first year for the team in the new Alex Box Stadium.
The 2009 Clemson Tigers baseball team represented Clemson University in the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball season. The team played their home games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, SC.
The 2009 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team represented the University of Arkansas in baseball at the Division I level in the NCAA for the 2009 season. Dave van Horn, a former Razorback player, is the coach in his fifth year. The team clinched a berth in the 2009 College World Series with a defeat of the Florida State Seminoles on June 6. The Razorbacks' run in Omaha ended on June 19 when they were defeated by the LSU Tigers, finishing tied for third nationally with the Arizona State Sun Devils.
The 2010 LSU Tigers baseball team represented Louisiana State University in the NCAA Division I baseball season of 2010. The Tigers played their home games in the new Alex Box Stadium which opened in 2009.
The 2010 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team represented the University of Arkansas in baseball at the Division I level in the NCAA for the 2010 season. Dave van Horn, a former Razorback player, was the coach in his sixth year at his alma mater. The 2010 club hosted and won the Fayetteville Regional, but fell in the Tempe Super Regional to the top-seeded Arizona State Sun Devils. The team was led by two All-Americans, Brett Eibner and Zack Cox.
The 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2011 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Gamecocks played their home games in Carolina Stadium. The team was coached by Ray Tanner, who was in his fifteenth season at Carolina. The Gamecocks won the 2011 College World Series to become the sixth school in the history of the College World Series to win consecutive national titles.
The following polls make up the 2008 NCAA Division I baseball rankings. USA Today and ESPN began publishing the Coaches' Poll of 31 active coaches ranking the top 25 teams in the nation in 1992. Each coach is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association. Baseball America began publishing its poll of the top 20 teams in college baseball in 1981. Beginning with the 1985 season, it expanded to the top 25. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper published its first human poll of the top 20 teams in college baseball in 1957, and expanded to rank the top 30 teams in 1961.
The 2012 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team represented Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I baseball season of 2012. The team was coached by John Cohen, in his 13th year as a collegiate head coach, and his 4th at Mississippi State.
The 2015 LSU Tigers baseball team represent Louisiana State University during the 2015 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers play their home games at Alex Box Stadium as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They are led by head coach Paul Mainieri, in his 9th season at LSU.
The 2017 LSU Tigers baseball team represents Louisiana State University (LSU) during the 2017 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers play their home games at Alex Box Stadium as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They are led by head coach Paul Mainieri, in his 11th season at LSU. The Tigers would host both the Baton Rouge Regional and Super Regional, before advancing to the 2017 College World Series. The Tigers would eventually lose to Florida in the series.
The 2018 LSU Tigers baseball team represents Louisiana State University (LSU) during the 2018 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers play their home games at Alex Box Stadium as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They are led by head coach Paul Mainieri, in his 12th season at LSU.
The 2019 LSU Tigers baseball team represents Louisiana State University in the 2019 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers play their home games at Alex Box Stadium. They, along with McNeese State and Southern, were the only three teams in the state to make the tournament.
The 2020 LSU Tigers baseball team will represent Louisiana State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers played their home games at Alex Box Stadium.
The 2021 LSU Tigers baseball team will represent Louisiana State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers played their home games at Alex Box Stadium.
The 2022 LSU Tigers baseball team represented Louisiana State University in the 2022 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers played their home games at Alex Box Stadium.
The 2023 Clemson Tigers baseball team were the varsity intercollegiate baseball team that represented Clemson University during the 2023 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tigers competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and were led by first-year head coach Erik Bakich. Clemson played its home games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
The 2023 Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball during the 2023 college baseball season. Florida competes in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games will be played at Condron Ballpark on the university's Gainesville, Florida, campus, in the third season at the ballpark. The team is coached by Kevin O'Sullivan in his sixteenth season as Florida's head coach. The Gators enter the season looking to return to the College World Series after a home regional final loss in the 2022 NCAA tournament.
National Championships in underline; College World Series appearances in italics
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