He finished his LSU coaching career with an 870-330-3 record and national championships in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2000. Bertman went 29-13 in College World Series games and was a perfect 5-0 when a national championship was on the line.<\/p>\n
1991 \u2014 The first one<\/p>\n
Seven years after Bertman took over at LSU, the Tigers reached the top of college baseball.<\/p>\n
LSU went 55-18 and swept all four of its games at the College World Series.<\/p>\n
The Tigers beat Wichita State 6-3 on June 8, 1991, giving LSU its first baseball national championship. Chad Ogea earned the win as LSU completed an Omaha run in which it outscored four opponents 48-15.<\/p>\n
It was the championship that proved Bertman\u2019s vision could work.<\/p>\n
It would not be the last.<\/p>\n
1993 \u2014 Laxton dominates Wichita State<\/p>\n
LSU returned to the championship game two years later for a rematch with Wichita State.<\/p>\n
This time, there was little drama.<\/p>\n
Freshman pitcher Brett Laxton struck out 16 batters and allowed only three hits as LSU shut out Wichita State 8-0.<\/p>\n
Todd Walker hit a two-run home run in the first inning and was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. LSU finished 53-17-1 and claimed its second championship in three seasons.<\/p>\n
REMEMBERING SKIP BERTMAN<\/p>\n
1996 \u2014 One swing becomes immortal<\/p>\n
Of Bertman\u2019s five championships, none produced a moment more closely tied to LSU baseball history than the ending of the 1996 College World Series.<\/p>\n
LSU trailed Miami 8-7 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.<\/p>\n
Warren Morris came to the plate.<\/p>\n
Morris had missed much of the season after undergoing surgery for a broken bone in his hand. He had not hit a home run all year.<\/p>\n
He hit one when LSU needed it most.<\/p>\n
Morris launched a two-run homer into the right-field seats, giving LSU a 9-8 walk-off victory and its third national championship.<\/p>\n
![\"Louisiana](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ETCLIM5SNJAJ5EOFXUWW6MRYYQ.jpg\")
Louisiana State’s Warren Morris (4) starts to celebrate as he rounds first base in front of assistant coach Daniel Tomlin after hitting a two-run, bottom of the ninth inning home run to win the national championship against Miami at the College World Series, Saturday, June 8, 1996. LSU won 9-8. (AP Photo\/Rodney White)(RODNEY WHITE | ASSOCIATED PRESS)![\"**](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PGYNXK3FWZFDVEOIOIGZWGL3VQ.jpg\")
** ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS JUNE 23 – 26 ** FILE ** Louisiana State’s Warren Morris leaps for joy as he rounds first base after hitting a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in the College World Series championship game against Miami, in a Saturday, June 8, 1996 photo. Walking off the field is Miami’s T.R. Marcinczyk. LSU won 9-8. (AP Photo\/Rodney White, file)(RODNEY WHITE | ASSOCIATED PRESS)![\"Louisiana](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ASM5SWCD4FAHBB4IO3RPFCKEQI.jpg\")
Louisiana State players jump for joy as the team wins the national championship with a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against Miami at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, June 8, 1996. LSU’s Brad Wilson (10) came home from third base on the home run, which was hit by Warren Morris. (AP Photo\/John Gaps III)(JOHN GAPS III | Associated Press)<\/p>\n
It was the first national championship in College World Series history decided by a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.<\/p>\n
It was also Morris\u2019 only home run of the season.<\/p>\n
1997 \u2014 Back to back<\/p>\n
LSU did not wait long for another championship.<\/p>\n
The 1997 Tigers became an offensive juggernaut, setting an NCAA record with 188 home runs and finishing 57-13.<\/p>\n
LSU went 4-0 in Omaha and beat Alabama 13-6 in the championship game.<\/p>\n
The victory gave LSU consecutive national championships and made the Tigers the first program to repeat since Stanford in 1987 and 1988.<\/p>\n
Brandon Larson was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player.<\/p>\n
Four championships in seven seasons had established LSU as the dominant program of the decade.<\/p>\n
2000 \u2014 One last title for Bertman<\/p>\n
Bertman\u2019s fifth championship came after LSU had stumbled early.<\/p>\n
The Tigers began the season 6-5 and endured a five-game losing streak, the longest of Bertman\u2019s LSU career.<\/p>\n
They responded by going 46-12 the rest of the way.<\/p>\n
LSU entered the College World Series on a roll and beat Texas, Southern California and Florida State to reach the championship game against Stanford.<\/p>\n
Trailing late, LSU erased a four-run deficit.<\/p>\n
With the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, Brad Cresse singled home Ryan Theriot, giving LSU a 6-5 victory and Bertman his fifth national championship.<\/p>\n
The Tigers finished the postseason 13-0.<\/p>\n
Bertman coached one more season before retiring from the dugout in 2001.<\/p>\n
He left with five championships in 10 seasons.<\/p>\n
LSU has since added national titles in 2009, 2023 and 2025.<\/p>\n
But the dynasty began with Bertman.<\/p>\n
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