Jay Johnson explains decision to start Nate Ackenhausen against Tennessee

Jay Johnson made the big decision to start Nate Ackenhausen against Tennessee. It paid off as LSU punched its ticket to the College World Series semifinals.

Ackenhausen went six innings strong, gave up just four hits, zero runs and struck out seven. Riley Cooper finished the final three innings, but it was a standout performance for Ackenhausen.

Johnson detailed why he opted for Ackenhausen as the starter in a win or go home game.

“Trust in the competitor,” Johnson said postgame. “This is a big deal, if you haven’t been here before. I think our team’s handled it great, honestly. And I knew he would handle it well. I knew he would throw strikes. 

“Saw some things in the matchup that I liked. Saw some things in previous games here just throughout the tournament that I liked that I thought he could be effective. The thought really was three innings, 60 pitches, my initial target was 12 hitters. And he obviously accomplished a lot more than that.”

Initially, Johnson said Ackenhausen would go roughly three innings and 60 pitches, whichever came first. That changed on the fly.

“I wanted to check on him in terms of the fatigue level and heartbeat level,” Johnson said. “As you can see he doesn’t get too wound up or rattled over anything. And just felt like he could make a pitch to, I believe, Ensley was up at that time. And he got him off of the barrel with a fly ball to right field. And just trust, trust level. Felt like he had enough in the tank. He was throwing well.

“And another big thing, he went out and got another full inning after that. And that really shortened the game which when you’re in this side of the bracket you need that. And if you’re going to have a chance to do something, you need a performance like Nate gave us tonight. Really proud of him.”

Ackenhausen did his job and set up LSU for a rematch with Wake Forest in the semifinals. LSU previously lost to the Demon Deacons.

“They’re legit,” Johnson said. “Going to have to go back and look at it again. When I saw this side of the bracket, like — and all eight teams here are amazing; I said that before the tournament. The three times I’ve been here, this is the best field. There’s the most good players and good pitchers of the times I’ve been in the College World Series.

“They’re certainly part of that. I thought Hartle threw an outstanding game. I thought their pen was good. They have more guys that they can go to. Offense, they have their way. And they do their thing really, really well. So wouldn’t want to be playing anybody else. I’d feel like the four best teams in the country are the four best teams still playing in Omaha right now.”