Stony Brook’s miraculous season reached a new high point yesterday against six-time national champion LSU.
Facing elimination after dropping the opener of the best-of-three NCAA Super Regional series, 5-4 in 12 innings, the Seawolves moved to within one game of the College Baseball World Series as ace Tyler Johnson tossed a three-hit shutout in a 3-1 victory over the favored Tigers in Baton Rouge, La. It was the first loss for LSU in 10 NCAA Tournament games at new Alex Box Stadium.
Game 3 is set for today at 1 p.m. It will be televised live on ESPN2.
Johnson outdueled LSU ace Kevin Gausman, the fourth overall pick in last week’s MLB First-Year Player Draft. Pounding the strike zone with a devastating sinker, Johnson gave up just one unearned run, struck out one and walked four over nine innings for his third postseason victory.
“When you’re on the mound you focus on one thing, throwing strikes and getting people out,” said Johnson, a 34th-round pick of the Athletics. “He’s the No. 4 pick for a reason. I knew I had to be at my best.”
LSU struck for an unearned run in the sixth and had the tying runs aboard, but Johnson got Jordy Snikeris to hit into an inning-ending double play. He retired eight in a row from that point on until Snikeris reached on an error in the ninth.
Johnson got just enough run support. Sal Intagliata and Willie Carmona had RBI singles in the third inning and Kevin Courtney had three hits and a solo home run in the sixth for Stony Brook (51-13), the nation’s win leader. The Seawolves are one win away from becoming just the second fourth seed to reach the College Baseball World Series.
“We’ve been battling back from adversity all year. Omaha has been our goal,” Johnson said. “We still have to play our best baseball [today].”