And so it ends

It's hard to believe that one of the greatest athletic years in LSU history ends with a ninth-inning, elimination-game loss in the College World Series, but hey, stuff happens.

LSU fans can lament missed chances (bases loaded, one out in the eighth and not scoring would fit the bill) but no one should be down on this team.

They made LSU baseball relevant again. They even encouraged some to dream impossible dreams.

In a year when LSU won football and women's track national championships, LSU fans probably didn't expect a gut-wrenching loss to end the sports year. But any fan who takes a step back will see a year when LSU (minus men's basketball) had a phenomenal year.