College World Series: LSU Tigers win national championship in College World Series


Chris Granger / The Times-Picayune
LSU pitcher Louis Coleman celebrates the Tigers' College World Series victory.OMAHA, NEB. -- The LSU Tigers blew open a tight game with five runs in the sixth inning and held on to defeat Texas 11-4, winning its first national championship since 2000 and its sixth overall.

Rosenblatt Stadium erupted with Tiger euphoria as the final out was recorded.

In the post-game trophy presentations, Jared Mitchell was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series. Most Tiger starters contributed to the dominating offensive show of force in Wednesday's game, and the season's ace starters, Anthony Ranaudo and Louis Coleman, bookended a pitching performance that kept the Longhorns off-balance most of the night.


A happy victory lap
Head coach Paul Mainieri held the NCAA national championship trophy aloft at 9:57 p.m., surrounded by the players who had just earned the trophy on the field with a best-of-three victory over the Texas Longhorns.


Moments later, the LSU baseballers -- already sporting "National Champions" T-shirts -- took a gratifying victory lap around Rosenblatt Stadium, high-fiving delirious Tiger fans.

A large purple and gold championship flag was firmly planted in left-center field, as a formal trophy presentation ceremony was readied.

The Tigers' championship dogpile and the subsequent celebratory speeches and trophy presentations had a decidedly Mardi Gras look, taking place on the green grass of the Rosenblatt Stadium infield adorned with brilliant mettalic purple and gold streamers.

LSU players and coaches and members of their families lingered on the field for more than half an hour, savoring the moment, which twice was punctuated by fireworks.