What a comeback

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 22, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:15 a.m.

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HOOVER, Ala. — Ryan Schimpf confessed he was at a loss for words. Matt Clark hitched his emotions on one word. Blake Dean used a different technique, repeating the same word as much as he could.

Different methods to arrive at the same bottom line — fitting since the LSU baseball team unearthed another way to win Wednesday in the opening game of the SEC tournament at Regions Park.

The Tigers had one cleat in the losers bracket after eight innings against South Carolina, trailing by four runs with only two hits and very little offensive spark to lean on at that point.

But the same magic that has become LSU’s constant companion since April 22 bubbled to the surface just in time as the Tigers staggered the Gamecocks with four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and another in the 10th on Dean’s dramatic solo home run in a 5-4 triumph.

With a 17th consecutive victory — perhaps the least likely of them all — LSU (40-16-1) moved into a second-round game against Vanderbilt (38-18) at 5 p.m. today. The Commodores topped Florida 7-3 in the opening round.

“We finished the game,” Dean said. “We battled and got a few breaks. We battled, battled and battled until the final out.”

Added Clark, “Unbelievable is the only way I can describe it.”

Besides Dean’s final game-winning salvo, the biggest blows came from Clark and Schimpf — albeit in different packaging.

With LSU trailing 4-0, Clark uncorked a three-run, no-doubt home run with one out in the ninth after USC reliever Will Atwood walked Dean and Gibbs to start the frame.

Then when Gamecocks closer Brandon Todd entered the game, he walked DJ LeMahieu but struck out Nicholas Pontiff for the second out. Unfazed, Schimpf poked an opposite-field bloop double to left field that chomped through a stiff wind and landed six inches from the foul line.

“I was trying to find a way to get on base any way possible,” Schimpf said. “It started foul and the baseball gods pushed it back in. It happens sometimes.”

Said LSU coach Paul Mainieri, “We got a little help from the wind to keep Schimpf’s ball in play.”

LeMahieu didn’t need too much help. He bolted from first base on the pitch and never slowed down, streaking around with the tying run and carrying a helmet full of momentum with him.