Opponents of Tigers had better beware
LSU has a knack of coming from behind so the other seven college baseball teams at the College World Series had better beware.
In order to beat the Tigers, opponents in Omaha, Nebraska, are going to have to BEAT the Tigers.
It's not good enough to get leads of 2-0 or 3-0 against LSU and expect to win. The Tigers have to be put away when given the opportunity.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs found that out in the Baton Rouge Super Regional a couple of weeks ago.
MSU had leads in both games of the super regional against LSU, but ended up losing the outings 4-3 and 14-4.
''The train is rolling," State baseball coach Andy Cannizaro said following the super regional. "I anticipate those guys are going to go to Omaha and win a national championship. They have the most dynamic lineup in the country. Everyone is playing at a high level right now.''
Florida State found out on Saturday night how difficult it was to put the Tigers away.
The Seminoles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning after a home run by Dylan Busby, but LSU came back to get a 5-4 victory to remain in the winner's bracket. That sets up a heavyweight battle tonight between the Tigers and the Oregon State Beavers that should be very interesting to watch.
Even if it loses to Oregon State, LSU has the pitching to get through such a gauntlet of a tournament such as the one the College World Series presents.
The Tigers may have used both veteran pitchers Alex Lange and Jared Poche' to secure a win in the first game in Omaha, but it still has impressive freshman Eric Walker to send out to the mound against the Beavers.
With the amount of rest a pitching staff can get in playing every other day at the CWS, LSU fans can get ready to see Lange and Poche' back in action for the Tigers before the week is out I'm sure.
There are eight solid squads in Omaha battling for the national championship and any one of them can come out on top. Other than the Tigers, Cal State Fullerton, Florida, Florida State, Louisville, TCU, Texas A&M and Oregon State are all great and can make a run at a title.
When it comes to who claims the trophy at the end, I have to agree with Cannizaro.
LSU will be the favorite in my mind to dog pile at the end because of its pitching staff and the ability to come from behind.
Danny P. Smith is sports editor and columnist for the Starkville Daily News. The opinions in this column are his and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Daily News or its staff.