(photo by Craig Jackson, @leftfieldlounge)
In Omaha, Neb., Caleb Gilbert allowed two hits and one run over 7.1 innings, and Michael Papierski belted two home runs, one from each side of the plate, as No. 4 LSU downed top-seeded Oregon State 6-1 at TD Ameritrade Park to advance to the championship series of the College World Series.
Gilbert (7-1) was making his fifth start of the season. The sophomore walked one and fanned seven. Gilbert retired the first 11 batters he faced with five strikeouts. His previous longest outing was 5.2 innings of relief in Game 2 of the Super Regional against Mississippi State on June 11, allowing two hits, no runs, one walk and six strikeouts in earning the win.
The Tigers (52-18) scored in four of the first six innings. Papierski launched a three-run homer to right in the bottom of the second to give LSU a 3-0 lead. Antoine Duplantis had an RBI single in the third to extend the advantage to 4-0. Papierski went deep again in the fourth to make it a 5-0 contest. Beau Jordan (2 for4, 2 R) homered in the sixth to put the Tigers on top 6-0.
Michael Gretler homered with one away in the top of the eighth, putting the Beavers (56-6) on the board and ending the day for Gilbert. Freshman Zack Hess pitched the final 1.2 innings with one hit, one walk and two strikeouts to end the season for OSU.
Kramer Robertson went 3 for 3 with a walk and a run for LSU.