A's ninth-round Draft pick Jared Poche tossed eight strong innings to help keep No. 4 LSU's College World Series dreams alive Wednesday, leading the Tigers to a 7-4 elimination bracket final win over Florida State.
Spotted a four-run lead in the second, Poche cruised for most of the afternoon before tiring late. In the process, the senior lefty earned his school-record 39th career win. Poche allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits over eight-plus innings to give the Tigers their second win over FSU this College World Series.
The Tigers came back in dramatic fashion to beat the Seminoles, 5-4, on Saturday to send FSU to the elimination bracket. On Wednesday, they eliminated the Noles.
The Tigers scored five runs in the second off FSU starter Cole Sands to take a commanding 5-1 lead. Josh Smith singled home a run and Beau Jordan drove in another with a squeeze bunt before Jake Slaughter hit a three-run homer to break the inning open and chase Sands.
Cubs 34th-round pick Andrew Karp mopped up with 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for FSU before Tigers 32nd-rounder Drew Carlton allowed two runs in the ninth.
Two of the Seminoles' four runs off Poche came in the bottom of the ninth, when Cal Raleigh and Phillies 26th-round pick Quincy Nieporte hit back-to-back homers to end Poche's night. Zack Hess struck out three in relief to set up LSU's rematch with No. 1 Oregon State on Friday.
What's next:
LSU now has to beat Oregon State twice to extend its season and reach the CWS final. Oregon State just has to beat LSU once to advance. Whichever team comes out of this bracket will face Florida, Louisville or TCU in the tournament final. Oregon State beat LSU, 13-1, on Monday.

As for Thursday's action, No. 7 Louisville and No. 6 TCU match up in an elimination game at 8 p.m. ET. The winner earns the right to play No. 3 Florida in the bracket final, where it will have to beat the Gators twice.
Louisville could conceivably turn to No. 4 overall Draft pick and Dick Howser Trophy winner Brendan McKay with its season on the line. McKay, who started the Cardinals' first game on Sunday, would be on three days' rest. It is unclear if he will start.