Tommy White explains embracing Wake Forest players after win

LSU third baseman Tommy White delivered one of the most thrilling moments of the College World Series to date on Thursday. His walk-off two-run blast against Wake Forest in extra innings sent the Tigers to the championship series for a showdown with Florida.

But after White rounded the bases and basked in the euphoria of being mobbed at home plate, he was seen consoling a few Demon Deacons players, Camden Minacci and Bennett Lee. Minacci delivered the pitch that White hit for the game-winning home run. After the game, White explained his gesture.

“I’ve known Camden and Bennett Lee for quite some time. We’re all from Tampa. I played with him, against him growing up my whole life. And he’s one of my closest friends. So I didn’t want him to feel anything. I just wanted to make sure he was all right,” White said.

It was no surprise that the losers of Thursday’s epic bout would be disconsolate, worn out from hours of scoreless tension only to be thrown off an emotional cliff. And after nearly 11 innings of scoreless baseless, it was Wake Forest on the wrong side of that emotional whiplash. While the Tigers celebrated, TV cameras captured several Demon Deacons looking almost shellshocked by the end of the game.

And White, despite causing the anguish, wanted his friends to know he’s in their corner.

“Their season is over. It’s a very hard time. They had had high expectations coming into this. And they played great,” White said.

White was not swinging a hot bat in Omaha prior to his heroics, but he was confident nonetheless

White was 4-for-17 at the College World Series through his first four games but was still confident as he stepped to the plate in the 11th inning.

“I’m always confident in the box. That’s just how I play the game,” White said. “I don’t think I was struggling. I thought I was doing all right.”

LSU coach Jay Johnson agreed.

“You’re not,” Johnson said of the idea of White struggling, jumping in on the discussion.

Whether he was struggling or not can be debated. After entering the CWS with 97 RBIs, he had only one in five games in Omaha prior to his at bat in the 11th inning. But what can’t be debated is that White was confident and ready as he stepped into the box in the 11th inning.

“I was super confident. Just doing my deal. That’s about it,” White said.