Louisiana State University (LSU) has claimed the national championship in college baseball for the second time in three years after sweeping Coastal Carolina in the College World Series finals. LSU won Game 2 on Sunday with a 5-3 victory, clinching their eighth title in program history.
A Historic Victory for LSU
This win marks LSU’s eighth national title in college baseball, making them second only to the University of Southern California (USC), which has 12. The Tigers’ fans at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, celebrated their team’s victory as pitcher Chase Shores sealed the win with a game-ending double play.
LSU players quickly ran to the mound to join in a wild celebration that included a dogpile, a testament to the team’s unity and determination.
Kade Anderson’s Stellar Performance
LSU pitcher Kade Anderson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Anderson played a pivotal role in the Tigers’ success, maintaining a 2-0 record with a remarkable 0.56 ERA in two appearances at the College World Series.
Anderson, along with Game 2 starter Anthony Eyanson, spoke to ABC after the game, showing immense pride in their school’s achievements.
Anderson said, “LSU is used to this by now. It’s number eight, and I’m sure next year will be number nine, but just looking forward to celebrating this one with the boys.”
Coach Jay Johnson’s Milestone
LSU head coach Jay Johnson made history with his fast-paced success, becoming the fastest head coach in college baseball history to win two national titles at a school. Achieving this in only his fourth year at LSU, Johnson has proven to be a key part of the team’s success.
Coastal Carolina’s Strong Run
Coastal Carolina entered the championship series on a 26-game unbeaten streak and boasted a talented squad led by starting pitcher Jacob Morrison. However, the Chanticleers struggled in Game 2 after taking an early lead.
Morrison, who came into the championship series with a perfect 12-0 record, struggled to maintain his form. He pitched just 3.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits.
LSU capitalized on this, tying the game in the third inning with an RBI double by Ethan Frey and then taking a commanding 5-1 lead in the fourth inning. LSU starting pitcher Anthony Eyanson delivered a dominant performance, striking out nine batters and limiting Coastal Carolina to just three runs in 6.1 innings.
Game 2: A Fiery Start
The start of Game 2 was marked by an unexpected confrontation. Coastal Carolina’s first-year head coach Kevin Schnall and first base coach Matt Schilling were both ejected in the first inning after arguing with the home plate umpire over balls and strikes.
The NCAA later explained that Schnall was given a warning but was ejected when he did not leave the field immediately. Schilling was tossed for making further comments during the incident.
Associate head coach Chad Oxendine took over for the remainder of the game, and although the ejections disrupted the game, Schnall later expressed frustration over the umpiring, saying it was handled too quickly given the magnitude of the national championship.
“I’m sorry for how it ended,” Schnall said, expressing his displeasure with the quick ejection in such an important game.
LSU’s Dominance
Despite Coastal Carolina’s strong performance in the postseason and their national title win in 2016, LSU proved to be the stronger team in this championship series.
The Tigers’ combination of pitching and timely hitting, along with solid leadership from both the players and coaching staff, ensured that they secured the national championship.
This victory marks another chapter in LSU’s rich baseball history and sets the stage for another exciting season next year.
