Gorilla ball is officially back!

LSU beat UC Irvine 21-7 in the final game of the super regional in Baton Rouge to secure a spot among the eight-team College World Series field.

The massacre - as The Times-Picayune called the game on its Web site - took place in front of 8,173 fans, the largest crowd ever in Alex Box Stadium. It was a fitting farewell to the 70-year-old venue, which is being replaced with a new stadium next year.

The Tigers are headed to Omaha for the first time since 2004 and will be looking to win their sixth national championship.

Meanwhile, the men's and women's track and field teams are both ranked No. 1 heading into the national championship tournament, which starts Wednesday.

Combined with the football team's national championship and a trip to the Final Four by the women's basketball team, 2008 is shaping up to be a remarkable year for LSU sports - perhaps the best ever.