"This game shows you how tough the Southeastern Conference really is, from top to bottom," LSU coach Smoke Laval said.

In the eighth, it looked like Alabama's Kent Matthes couldn't have picked a better time for his first career home run -- he came in to pinch hit for shortstop Greg Paiml with the Tide down by 3 and desperate -- LSU pitcher Clay Dirks had retired 15 straight batters before 'Bama's Ryan Rhoden got on base with a single. Matthes stepped up to the plate and cracked one over the left field wall, pulling Alabama within one. The crowd roared, finally settling into a thunderous round of "Roll! Tide! Roll! Tide!"

Dirks was shaken enough to give up his first walk -- putting SEC steals leader Emeel Saleem on first, and Smoke Laval moved third baseman Will Harris to the mound. Saleem did what he does best (in addition to batting over .360) and stole second, but Harris struck out Alex Avila to end the eighth with LSU ahead 3-2.

But just when the Tide fans were starting to feel a little more comfortable, Haydel took the first pitch of the 9th inning for a solo homer, the third of his career, to widen the LSU margin. Tide right-hander David Robertson came in to close, and found himeself with a man on first and third, two outs, facing lead-off hitter Bruce Sprowl. 2-2 count, on a ball the crowd wanted called a strike -- Sprowl grounded out, leaving Alabama with a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth.

Alabama's Spencer Pennington found himself with two outs and a 2-2 count with Rhoden on first and the game on the line. He shot a grounder to second -- and defensive replacement Nicholas Pontiff let the ball race right through his legs into the outfield. Rhoden took third, Pennington got on base. LSU catcher Matt Liuzza lost track of the ball and suddenly, Rhoden stole home. 4-3 Tide. Haydel chased down a foul ball in the photographers area, which was ruled foul for being out of play. Finally, when it seemed the Tigers couldn't catch a break, 'Bama pinch hitter Matt Bentley grounded out to first and LSU held on for the 4-3 victory.

"We fought through adversity the whole year," Haydel said. "Why wouldn't be do it here?"

LSU has had far from its typical season, at 34-22 on the year an 13-17 in the SEC, their first losing conference record since 1983. The Tigers wouldn't have qualified for the last tournament slot at all if not for Mississippi State's two losses to Ole Miss a week ago. There are six SEC tournament banners hanging in Baton Rouge, but the last one went up in 2000, and this squad certainly didn't look like the one to do it.

Still, when you take down the top seed and never let them lead, one can dare to dream...

Cliches-Per-Quote Award: Haydel's opening statement on the game: "We played good. We fought hard. It was a good ball game all around."