Jay Johnson says Tre' Morgan is a 'special competitor'

After beating Wake Forest to advance to the College World Series Final, LSU head coach Jay Johnson praised Tre’ Morgan, saying that he’s a special competitor.

It hasn’t always been easy for Morgan this season. He has dealt with injuries and had to play the outfield instead of first base because of those injuries. Despite this, he still competed and has been incredibly important to LSU this season. He proved that against Wake Forest with a fantastic defensive play.

“He’s a special competitor,” Jay Johnson said. “He’s meant so much to our team these last couple of years. And when it matters the most, that’s when you get the best.”

Since getting to Omaha, Tre’ Morgan has six hits at the plate and has three RBIs in that time. He’s also played well defensively, not making any errors in the College World Series. He hasn’t made any errors at all since April.

“We’ve seen that the whole NCAA Tournament, Regional, Super Regional for sure and here in Omaha. The situation is never bigger than his plan. His competitive nature is spectacular. You add that with elite hand-eye, bat-the-ball skills, defensive versatility to play first base, athleticism to go to the outfield,” Johnson said.

“There’s not many guys that have all that skill set. And there will be a professional team when this is all said and done that will have a talent that’s also a winner that can do pretty much anything.”

Tre’ Morgan’s defensive play came in the eighth inning. Runners were on the corners and Wake Forest ran a squeeze play, bunting up the line to try and score the run. Morgan crashed down, fielded quickly, and got the ball home for the tag. With LSU not scoring until extra innings, he saved the Tigers’ season.

Jay Johnson on LSU’s walk-off win

It took a walk-off in the 11th inning for LSU to survive Wake Forest and advance to the College World Series Final. For head coach Jay Johnson, it was one of the greatest moments that he’s had in his coaching career.

“I lost a heartbreaker two one-run games in the finals,” Johnson said. “I’d like to try this thing through the winner’s bracket one time. But that’s pretty special. It was not over-exaggerating. That is one of the greatest moments in my entire life, what happened on the field tonight.”