The Tigers celebrated the school's 14th trip to the College World Series in what was the last game in the 70-year history of Alex Box Stadium.
The Tar Heels defeated the Tigers by a score of 8–4, giving LSU its 5th consecutive CWS loss and sending them to the losers bracket.
The game went into the top of the 9th inning tied 3–3 but a grand slam home run, the first in the College World Series since 2001, gave North Carolina a 7–3 lead.
Terry Rooney left LSU after the 2008 season to become head coach at UCF and brought former Tiger assistant Cliff Godwin with him.
Both coaches were an integral part in LSU's magical run to Omaha during the 2008 season, but UCF had a large hill to climb.
With Arkansas only a half game back of LSU for the SEC West lead, the weekend series was pivotal for both teams.
The Bulldogs would hold on to that lead entering the seventh inning, but the LSU offense erupted for 3 runs to tie the game at 4.
LSU received a gutsy performance by starting pitcher Anthony Ranaudo who pitched 7.1 innings before turning the ball over to freshman closer Matty Ott.
However, in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Bulldogs were able to take advantage of an error to load the bases before Cody Freeman delivered a game-winning single.
The Tigers were led by sophomore outfielder Leon Landry who blasted three home runs in the contest, finishing a 5 for 6 day at the plate with 7 RBIs.
After 3 scoreless innings for both teams, Vanderbilt catcher Andrew Giobbi hit a solo home run in the top of the 4th to give the Commodores the lead.
Vanderbilt starter Mike Minor threw a complete game to help the Commordores advance in the winner's bracket.
After beating Alabama in their first game of the tournament, South Carolina lost by a run after Vanderbilt scored in the top of the 9th inning.
Byrd was able to hold the Commodores offense in check through the first 3 innings, allowing 2 hits, while Christiani settled in as well after Landry's double.
Mahtook scored as well after a stolen base, infield single, and sac fly to give the Tigers a 3–0 lead after 3.5 innings.
Southern received an excellent outing from starting pitcher Chase Richard who went 6.2 innings giving up 7 hits and allowing 3 runs, 2 earned.
The host sites were Austin, Baton Rouge, Chapel Hill, Fullerton, Gainesville, Oxford, Tallahassee, and Tempe.
After setting an Alex Box record the night before for actual attendance with 9,375, LSU fans once again poured into the stadium to see their Tigers.
LSU would jump out to an early 1–0 lead in the top of the 1st inning, as Ryan Schimpf crushed a home run over the left-center field fence.
Texas would fight right back in the bottom half of the inning with another solo home run and a wild pitch to retake the lead 5–3.
After the single, Texas would make a pitching change to bring in freshman Taylor Jungmann to face senior third baseman Derek Helenihi.
Freshman Tyler Hanover was brought in to pinch hit, but after getting up 2–0 in the count, Auggie Garrido once again made a pitching change.
LeMahieu wasted no time, crushing the first pitch into the left field corner for a 2 RBI double that tied the game.
After Ryan Schimpf was intentionally walked, Workman was able to get Blake Dean to fly out to end the top half of the inning.
Freshman Mikie Mahtook came to the plate having struck out 3 times earlier in the game, but delivered the game-winning hit.
With LSU looking to claim their 6th national title and Texas facing elimination, the Longhorns sent freshman Taylor Jungmann to the mound.
After singles by Jared Mitchell and Leon Landry, Derek Helenihi hit a ball up the middle that was misplayed by shortstop Brandon Loy.
The win forced a rubber match the next for, with the winner of the pivotal game 3 being crowned 2009 NCAA Baseball National Champions.
In the bottom half of the inning, Ranaudo pitched around 2 singles and a walk to get out of a bases loaded jam with no damage done.
LSU starter Anthony Ranaudo pitched 5.1 innings, giving up 8 hits, 4 runs, and 5 walks, but still got the win to improve his record to 12–3 on the season.