Curtis Leskanic and Russ Springer pitched effectively as the second and third starters. Freshmen pitchers Chad Ogea and Paul Byrd finished out one of the best pitching staffs in LSU history, as each of the five later pitched in the Majors. The staff came through in the first game against the Aggies, winning 13-5. In the top of the 11th in the final game, Bertman called on Pat Garrity, used mostly as a defensive replacement at third, to pinch hit with a runner on second and two outs. He hit a curve ball that nailed the right-field wall to send Craig Cala and the Tigers to Omaha.
Good kids come through.
The following year provided the same outcome as 89, as the Tigers lost in its fourth CWS appearance. The 1990 team did begin a new stage of the Bertman Era, though. The team hosted its second South I Regional and unleashed an offensive explosion that year to compliment another dazzling season of pitching. Though LSU had failed to win a national championship in its first four attempts, something big was forming in Baton Rouge. Something, which had only been seen through the eyes of Southern Cal and Arizona St., would overcome the hearts of the Tiger faithful.