LSU’s Yarnall Stops Florida to Put Tigers in Title Game

In the first pitching duel of the College World Series, Florida blinked first and Louisiana State now has a chance at winning its third championship since 1991.

LSU Coach Skip Bertman wasn’t ready to proclaim his program a dynasty after Thursday’s 2-1 victory over the Gators, however. Up next is Miami, which has scored 29 runs in the last two games to advance to Saturday’s final.

“We’ve never seen Miami, other than a little in the tournament here,” Bertman said. “I don’t know what their team batting average is, for example. I’m sure they’re very good.”

After averaging nearly 16 runs in the last three games, the Tigers scored only two against Florida’s John Kaufman. LSU’s Eddie Yarnall, however, was stingier.

“With all of the talk about aluminum bats and home runs, the truth is when pitchers locate, it’s tough to hit,” Bertman said. “Both of them pitched magnificently.”

Florida swept LSU, 4-0, during the regular season but lost twice to the Tigers in the series. The same thing happened in 1991 and LSU went on to win the championship.

Yarnall (11-1) struck out seven and gave up only seven hits to the Gators, who had averaged five runs in three previous series games.

“This was a big win,” Yarnall said. “I took it as a national championship game. It was big for us to save our pitchers. That will help us on Saturday.”

The winning run came on Justin Bowles’ RBI single in the sixth as the Tigers chased Kaufman (11-5) after 5 1/3 innings.

“We’re a big ball team, meaning that we don’t run much and don’t steal much,” Bertman said. “I think especially here in Omaha, you have to hit the ball to win.”