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 team was coached by Paul Mainieri who was in his third season at LSU. During his first year at LSU, Mainieri's team posted a 29–26–1 record, but failed to make the SEC tournament or the NCAA tournament. The team improved during his second year posting a 49–19–1 record, while claiming the SEC Western Division Title, SEC Tournament championship, and earned the No. 7 National Seed for the 2008 NCAA tournament. They advanced to the 2009 College World Series where they would win the national title, their first since 2000, and 6th overall.
Previous season Paul Mainieri completed his second season as head coach at LSU in 2008. The Tigers won the SEC West division title which earned them the No. 2 seed in the 2008 SEC baseball tournament. The Tigers would go on to the win the tournament and secure a spot in the NCAA post-season.
After winning the SEC Tournament, 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, LSU was awarded the No. 7 national seed in the tournament, guaranteeing them home field advantage throughout the Super Regionals as long as they won the Regional round. LSU was able to sweep the Baton Rouge regional to secure a spot in the Super Regional round.
UC-Irvine won the Lincoln, NE regional and moved on to the Super Regional to face LSU. After losing the first game, LSU's hopes of a national title were slim going 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 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.
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, 2008, but was delayed by weather and completed on June 20, 2008. 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 2008 squad compiled and overall record of 49–19–1, which included a 23-game win streak.
Pre-season
Coaching changes On June 12, 2008 Terry Rooney was named Head Baseball Coach at the University of Central Florida.
On June 23, 2008, it was announced that Cliff Godwin would join Rooney at Central Florida as an assistant coach.
On June 26, 2008, Paul Mainieri announced the hiring of David Grewe as associate head coach. Grewe previously coached under Mainieri at Notre Dame before leaving in 2005 to become the Head Coach at Michigan State.
It was also announced that Javi Sanchez and Will Davis were promoted. Sanchez was promoted from volunteer assistant to a full-time assistant. He replaced Godwin as the Tigers hitting coach and supervisor of base running. Davis was promoted from Director of Baseball Operations to volunteer assistant.
The final change to Mainieri's staff that was announced on June 26 was the appointment of Kyle Beerbohm. Beerbohm was appointed as an undergraduate student assistant coach, and is a former Tiger pitcher.Mainieri Announces Changes to Coaching Staff
On August 20, 2008, it was announced that Ross Brezovsky was hired as the Coordinator of Baseball Operation.Brezovsky Named Coordinator of Baseball Operations
2008 Recruiting Class 2008 Recruits Name Hometown School Height Weight Bats ThrowsValparaiso, FlNiceville, HS/Chipola College6–2195RRDrafted: 105th overall in Round 3 by the AngelsSt. Amant, LASt. Amant High School5–11211LRTacoma, WABellarmine High School6–2200LRDrafted: 1194th overall in Round 40 by the PiratesMorgan City, LAMorgan City High School5–10173LRKernersville, NCEast Forsyth High School5–6163RRLafayette, LASt. Thomas More High School6–1195RRDrafted: 1168th overall in Round 39 by the MarlinsBoynton Beach, FLPark Vista High School6–5215LRDrafted: 1397th overall in Round 47 by the RaysBaton Rouge, LACatholic High School5–11192RRDrafted: 1445th overall in Round 48 by the RockiesMetarie, LAHoly Cross High School6–1180RRValdosta, GALowndes High School/Florida Community College6–1195RRDrafted: 157th overall in Round 5 by the DodgersSlidell, LASlidell High School6–5243RRShreveport, LACalvary Baptist High School6–0160LL
Key Losses Michael Hollander Jared Bradford Matt Clark
Ranked #1 On December 22, 2008, the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper released their NCAA Div. 1 Pre-Season Poll with LSU ranked #1. LSU reached a No. 2 ranking in 2008, but had not been ranked No. 1 in quite some time.Back to the Top: Baseball Ranked No. 1 in Preseason Poll
On January 22, 2009, LSU was also ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN baseball pre-season poll. They narrowly beat out North Carolina for the top spot.
Roster
Coaches
Paul MainieriPaul Mainieri Bio @ LSUSports.netHead coach2007Florida International University (1980)David GreweDavid Grewe Bio @ LSUSports.netAssociate head coach2009University of Dayton (1998)Javi SanchezJavi Sanchez Bio @ LSUSports.netAssistant coach2008University of Notre Dame (2004)Will DavisWill Davis Bio @ LSUSports.netVolunteer Assistant Coach2008Louisiana State University (2007)Kyle BeerbohmKyle Beerbohms bio @ LSUSports.netUndergraduate Student Asst. Coach2009 Louisiana State University (2009)Baseball Holds Special Graduation CeremonyRoss BrezovskyRoss Brezovsky Bio @ LSUSports.netCoordinator of Baseball Operations2009University of Notre Dame (2008)
2009 Players Baseball – 2009 Roster & Bios Pitchers Ben Alsup Paul Bertuccini Daniel Bradshaw Jordan Brown^ Holden Moles Nolan Cain Louis Coleman Spencer Mathews Chris Matulis Jordan Nicholson Matty Ott Anthony Ranaudo Shane Riedie Austin Ross Randy Zeigler Catchers Kevin Farnsworth Micah Gibbs Sean Ochinko Infielders Wet Delatte Beau Didier Grant Dozar Tyler Hanover Buzzy Haydel Derek Helenihi DJ LeMahieu Chris McGhee Austin Nola Ryan Schimpf Outfielders Blake Dean Johnny Dishon Chad Jones Leon Landry Mikie Mahtook Jared Mitchell Nicholas Pontiff •Ryan Byrd ^ Jordan Brown decided to end his baseball career before the season due to injuries.Injuries End Career for Baseball's Brown
Schedule 2009 LSU Tigers baseball Game Log Regular season February # Date Opponent Score Site/stadium Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SECRecord 1 February 20 Villanova 12–3 Alex Box Stadium Coleman (1–0) Pack (0–1) 9,054 1–0 2Home Runs Lift Baseball to Clinch Series, 11–1 February 21 Villanova 11–1 Alex Box Stadium Ranaudo (1–0) Streilein (0–1) Bradshaw (1) 6,214 2–0 3No. 1 Baseball Completes Sweep of Villanova, 6–3 February 22 Villanova 6–3 Alex Box Stadium Ross (1–0) Helisek (0–1) Bertuccini (1) 5,994 3–0 4No. 1 Baseball Rolls Past Southern, 11–5 February 25 Southern 11–5 Alex Box Stadium Matulis (1–0) Richard (0–1) 5,828 4–0 5LeMahieu Powers No. 1 Baseball Past UCF, 13–4 February 27 Central Florida 13–4 Alex Box Stadium Ranaudo (2–0) Sweat (1–1) 7,419 5–0 6Ochinko, No. 1 Baseball Clinch UCF Series, 11–2 February 28 Central Florida 11–2 Alex Box Stadium Ott (1–0) Hudson (0–1) Riedie (1) 5,550 6–0 March # Date Opponent Score Site/stadium Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SEC record 7No. 1 Baseball Bombards UCF, 16–0 March 1 Central Florida 16–0 Alex Box Stadium Ross (2–0) Hicks (0–1) 4,303 7–0 8No. 1 Baseball Resumes Early-Season Assault, 19–3 March 3 New Orleans 19–3 Maestri Field Matulis (2–0) McGonigle (0–2) Matthews (1) 2,190 8–0 9Baseball Rallies Late from Early Deficit, 10–4 March 4 Mississippi Valley State 10–4 Alex Box Stadium Coleman (2–0) Reid (0–2) 8,650 9–0 10Ninth-Inning Homer Snaps Baseball's 25-Game Streak, 3–1 March 6 Illinois 1–3 Alex Box Stadium Corey (1–0) Coleman (2–1) Chmielewski (2) 10,246 9–1 11Trio of Slams Lead No. 1 Baseball to 22–10 Win March 7 Illinois 22–10 Alex Box Stadium Nicholson (1–0) Martin (1–1) 9,910 10–1 12Reeser Pitches Illini to Baseball Series Win, 6–2 March 8 Illinois 2–6 Alex Box Stadium Reeser (2–0) Ross (2–1) 9,344 10–2 13Matulis, Baseball Roll Past SLU, 16–5 March 10 Southeastern Louisiana 16–5 Alumni Field Matulis (3–0) Herring (0–2) 2,947 11–2 14Late Cajuns' HR Spoils Baseball Comeback, 10–9 March 11 Louisiana-Lafayette 9–10 Alex Box Stadium Wagley (1–1) Ott (1–1) Wascom (1) 9,883 11–3 15Hanover, Ranaudo Lead Baseball to 5–3 Win Over UK March 13 Kentucky 5–3 Alex Box Stadium Coleman (3–1) Tilford (1–2) 8,954 12–3 1–0 16Baseball Splits Sunday Twin Bill with Kentucky March 15 Kentucky 2–5(7) Alex Box Stadium Rusin (3–1) Ross (2–2) 8,988 12–4 1–1 17 March 15 Kentucky 3–1(7) Alex Box Stadium Coleman (4–1) Meyer (1–1) 9,185 13–4 2–1 18Gibbs Knocks in game Winner Over Demons, 2–1 March 17 Northwestern State 2–1 Alex Box Stadium Ott (2–1) Lott (0–1) 8,950 14–4 19Schimpf's 4 RBI Lead Baseball Past McNeese St., 6–3 March 18 McNeese State 6–3 Alex Box Stadium Bradshaw (1–0) Olson (0–2) Ott (1) 9,188 15–4 20Dyson, Homers Carry USC Past Baseball Tigers, 7–3 March 20 South Carolina 3–7 Carolina Stadium Dyson (3–1) Ranaudo (2–1) Farottoe (4) 7,047 15–5 2–2 21No. 5 Baseball Fights Back to Even Series, 10–3 March 21 South Carolina 10–3 Carolina Stadium Coleman (5–1) Westmoreland (2–1) None 7,995 16–5 3–2 22Big Innings Help No. 5 Baseball Win Series at USC March 22 South Carolina 11–3 Carolina Stadium Ross (3–2) Bangs (1–1) Ott (2) 7,436 17–5 4–2 23Hanover, No. 2 Baseball Battle Past Harvard, 4–3 March 24 Harvard 4–3 Alex Box Stadium Cain (1–0) Keuper (0–2) Ott (3) 8,778 18–5 24No. 2 Baseball Batters Harvard, 10–2 March 25 Harvard 10–2 Alex Box Stadium Matulis (4–0) Suter (2–2) 8,733 19–5 25Homers Lift No. 11 Ole Miss Past No. 2 Baseball, 7–4 March 27 #11 Ole Miss 4–7 Alex Box Stadium Pomeranz (2–0) Ranaudo (2–2) 9,257 19–6 4–3 26Coleman, Dean Lead No. 2 Baseball to 6–5 Win March 28 #11 Ole Miss 6–5 Alex Box Stadium Coleman (6–1) Irwin (4–1) Ott (4) 10,025 20–6 5–3 27Ross, Mitchell Give No. 2 Baseball Series, 2–1 March 29 #11 Ole Miss 2–1 Alex Box Stadium Ross (4–2) Morgan (2–1) Ott (5) 10,011 21–6 6–3 28Tulane Holds Off No. 2 Baseball, 8–7 March 31 Tulane 7–8 Turchin Stadium Loup (1–1) Matulis (4–1) Pepitone (4) 4,987 21–7