LSU baseball, Paul Skenes dominates in College World Series 2023 win over Tennessee

OMAHA, Neb. — Is there anything Paul Skenes can't do?

That's the question LSU baseball, Tennessee and millions of college baseball fans around the country are probably asking themselves following Skenes' masterful outing in LSU's first game at the 2023 College World Series.

Skenes allowed just two runs in 7⅔ innings pitched, struck out 12 batters and surrendered five hits in the Tigers' 6-3 win over Tennessee (43-21) at Charles Schwab Field.

He didn't surrender a run until he was pulled in the eighth inning for Gavin Guidry.

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead, LSU (49-15) put up two runs in the sixth inning on a Brayden Jobert triple that scored Hayden Travinski, while Jordan Thompson followed that up with an RBI single that plated Jobert. The Tigers added one more run in the seventh inning on a sacrifice flyout.

It didn't seem like LSU needed the insurance runs, but they came in handy after Guidry surrendered a two-run home run in the eighth inning that cut the Tigers' lead from four to two at 5-3.

But Riley Cooper came into the game and stopped the fire in the eighth, allowing Jobert to send a solo home run — his third extra-base hit of the night — into the right field bleachers to boost the Tigers' lead back to three.

The Tigers' next matchup will be against Wake Forest in the winner's bracket at 6 p.m. CST Monday with the game broadcast on ESPN.

LSU baseball: Paul Skenes is chasing history

After striking out 12 Vols on Saturday, Skenes is only three strikeouts away from breaking Ben McDonald's program record for strikeouts in a season at 202.

The Tigers will need to make the College World Series final for Skenes to break the record. But his performance on Saturday will go a long way in potentially getting LSU there.

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LSU Tigers baseball: Gavin Dugas continues his success vs. Vols

There's just something about that Volunteer Orange for Gavin Dugas.

The last time LSU faced Tennessee, Dugas went 4-for-12 with two home runs in the three-game series in Baton Rouge. And he didn't waste any time continuing that hot streak in Omaha.

Dugas blasted a solo home run in his first at-bat at the College World Series, shooting it over the LSU bullpen in left field to hand the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Koki Riley covers LSU sports for The Daily Advertiser. Email him at kriley@theadvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter at @KokiRiley

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU baseball: Paul Skenes takes down Tennessee, College World Series