by Chris Macaluso
LSUsports.net/AP
BATON ROUGE — LSU left fielder Todd Linden and designated hitter Zeph Zinsman each blasted two home runs to lead the first-seeded Tigers to the championship of the NCAA Regional at Alex Box Stadium with a 14-9 win over second-seeded Virginia Commonwealth Sunday.
LSU (43-29-1) advances to the NCAA Super Regional round against intra-state rival Tulane at a site to be determined by the NCAA Monday at 2 p.m.
Virginia Commonwealth finished the season with a 41-19 record.
LSU starting pitcher Lane Mestepey gave up six runs in 6 1/3 innings, pitching on just two days rest to earn the win and improve his record to 11-3.
VCU starter Danny Lopaze took the loss, giving up 4 runs in just two innings in his first decision of the season.
LSU freshman reliever Brian Wilson worked the final 2 2/3 innings to earn his third save of the year.
Lindens second home run, his 20th of the season was a three-run shot that traveled 450-plus feet in the top of the ninth with LSU holding on to a tenuous 11-8 lead.
Second baseman Mike Fontenot and first baseman Bryan Moore scored ahead of Linden to give LSU a 14-8 advantage.
Zinsmans first home run, a two-run shot, was part of a four-run top of the second that staked LSU to an early 4-0 lead.
The Tigers added to that lead in the top of the fourth scoring six runs on just two hits, solo home runs by both Zinsman and left fielder Todd Linden.
Zinsmans two homers ran his season total to 16.
Two errors, two wild pitches and one hit batsmen by VCU all contributed to the Tiger six-run fourth.
VCU fought back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on three hits and two costly Tiger errors.
The Rams struck again in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs on three hits, a walk and a hit batsmen to cut the LSU lead to 10-8.
The two teams met twice in Sundays championship round with VCU winning the first game 10-7.
The win was the 13th and final regional title for legendary Tiger Head Coach Skip Bertman who will retire at the end of this season after 18 seasons at LSU.
2001 NCAA Baseball Regional
All-Tournament Team
Baton Rouge, La. * May 25-27
First Base Bryan Moore, LSU
Second Base Mike Fontenot, LSU
Shortstop Josh Arteaga, VCU (unanimous)
Third Base Wally Pontiff, LSU
Catcher Cory Bauswell, VCU
Outfield Rob Meyer, California
Outfield Kevin Elrod, VCU
Outfield Jose Pabon, VCU
Designated Hitter Zeph Zinsman, LSU (unanimous)
Pitcher Marc Fisher, VCU
Pitcher Lane Mestepey, LSU
Most Outstanding Player
Josh Arteaga, VCU
VCU Tops Tigers, 14-9, to Force Second Game
by Chris Macaluso
LSUsports.net/AP
BATON ROUGE — Virginia Commonwealth shortstop Joshua Arteaga went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs as the second-seeded Rams beat first-seeded LSU to force a second game in the championship round of the NCAA Regional at Alex Box Stadium Sunday.
VCU relief pitcher Davy Martin earned the win improving his record to 7-2.
LSU’s Jason Scobie was the losing pitcher lowering his record to 4-2.
Chad Baumann earned his fourth save of the season for the Rams.
LSU (42-20-1) took a 1-0 on a RBI single by second baseman Mike Fontenot following a one-out double by third baseman Wally Pontiff in the top of the first inning.
VCU (41-18) wasted no time in scoring some runs of their own in the bottom of the first on Arteaga’s first home run of the game.
The two-run shot to left field was Arteaga’s eighth on the season and gave the Rams a 2-0 lead.
VCU piled on five more runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 7-1 thanks to two walks and seven hits including a two-run homer by first-baseman Danny Lopaze, his third of the year.
But LSU cut that lead to 7-5 in the top of the fourth on five hits including a two-run homer by designated hitter Zeph Zinsman, his 14th home run of the season.
LSU tied the score 7-7 in the sixth on a two-run home run by Tiger right fielder Ray Wright.
But a solo homer by Arteaga in the bottom of the sixth and solo shots by Bryan Gillespie and Nick Jones in the bottom of the eighth put the Rams ahead for good.
The loss was just LSU’s second in NCAA championship round play dropping the Tigers’ record to 20-2.
The championship game is scheduled to begin at 5:15 Central Time. The winner will advance to the NCAA Super Regional round beginning next Friday.