Jay Johnson: LSU atmosphere has 'surpassed' the hype during postseason

Alex Box Stadium is known as one of the hardest places for opponents to play in the country. The home of the LSU baseball team regularly hosts raucous crowds, and this postseason the noise level was taken up a notch.

LSU hadn’t hosted a regional since 2019 prior to this postseason, and fans made up for it by creating an intimidating environment the past two weekends. The Tigers went 5-0 during the regionals and super regionals, while earning a berth in the College World Series.

LSU coach Jay Johnson recently appeared on Mik’d up with Mikie Mahtook and discussed what the crowd was like this postseason and if it lived up to the hype.

“You know, I think it surpassed it in two ways. I think that the two moments that you really felt it were before Game 1, after the long day and starting at 9:06 p.m., when our team took the field, I got some chills going up my spine,” Johnson said. “I was like, ‘Man, I hope Paul can keep it together in his first inning and not try to overdo it.’”

After a day full of tailgating, Tigers fans were fired up for Game 1 against Kentucky.

It’s safe to say ace Paul Skenes was just fine, pitching 7 2/3 scoreless innings as the Tigers earned a 14-0 win.

“Then when Dylan doubled [Sunday] night in the ninth inning, that was like, ‘OK, this is happening, and these people know it’s happening.’ Pretty awesome,” Johnson said. “Big time shoutout to the fans. They were unbelievable this postseason.”

LSU was leading 6-3 in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the super regional when star hitter Dylan Crews doubled and drove in a pair of run to push the lead to 8-3. The Tigers went on to win by that margin and clinched a spot in the College World Series.

Dylan Crews reveals what it has been like playing alongside Paul Skenes at LSU

Speaking of Crews and Skenes, it’s no doubt that those two are a big part of why LSU is back in the CWS.

Whether it was at the plate or on the mound, Crews and Skenes stepped up big for the Tigers in both the regular season and in postseason play.

Skenes transferred to LSU this offseason after spending two seasons at Air Force, and recently revealed that Crews was one of the reasons he decided to make the move. And following their series-winning Game 2 Super Regional win Crews reacted to the statement and spoke about what playing with Skenes has been like this season.

“He’s the best pitcher I’ve ever seen in my life,” Crews admitted. “To see what he’s been doing at LSU, it’s been remarkable. I don’t think that kid should be here, I think he should be pitching for a major league team right now.”