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USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jared Jones sends LSU to the national title with a walk-off vs. Arkansas in CWS
Jared Jones sends LSU to the national title with a walk-off vs. Arkansas in CWS LSU and Arkansas were destined to meet again in Omaha. After LSU beat the Razorbacks on Saturday, the Hogs worked their way through the loser's bracket and earned another date with the Tigers. LSU needed just one win to earn a trip back to the College World Series Final, while Arkansas would have to beat LSU twice. The Tigers handles business as LSU came back from a 5-3 deficit to win 6-5 and advance to the final. Zac Cowan got the nod for the Tigers in this one. It was his first start since the Baton Rouge Regional, where he had a rough outing against Little Rock. If LSU wanted to save the pitching staff, they needed Cowan to have a good day. For the Razorbacks, Landon Beidelschies got the start on the mound, his first start since facing LSU on May 11th. On that day, he was chased from the mound after allowing three runs on four hits over two innings. This game would not have that same fate. Both pitchers were locked in as this game was scoreless through three innings. Part of that was due to exceptional defensive play. Steven Milam flashed his defensive prowess once again as he made a great play at the top of the first. In the top of the fourth, Arkansas broke the tie with a solo homer to take a 1-0 lead. That was the one mistake Cowan made all afternoon. He would stay in the game until the top of the sixth inning. After giving up a single, he was pulled for Jaden Noot in the top of the sixth. Noot would get the Tigers out of the inning unscathed. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Ethan Frey started LSU off with a double and a pitch hit Milam to put runners on first and second with no outs. Arkansas would then make an interesting decision as they called on Gabe Gaeckle out of the bullpen. If you are wondering, yes, this was the same pitcher who threw a no-hitter against Murray State earlier this week. Luis Hernandez would hit a sacrifice bunt to move Milam to second base and put runners on second and third with one out. Jared Jones struck out for out number two. Josh Pearson was intentionally walked to bring up Jake Brown, who was pinch-hitting for Chris Stanfield. Brown then hit a two-RBI double to left-center field to give LSU their first lead of the ball game. Brown would then get in a rundown between first and second base while the Tigers sent Pearson home. Brown was tagged before Pearson scored, and the inning ended with LSU leading 2-1. Noot retired the first hitter he faced to start the seventh inning and was then pulled from the game in favor of Chase Shores. Shores came in and struck out back-to-back hitters to send us to the bottom of the seventh inning. Dickinson would lead off the inning with a double to put a Tiger in scoring position with no outs. Braswell was then asked to lay a bunt down to get Dickinson to third, but he popped the bunt up for out number one. Curiel struck out for out number two. Frey struck out for out number three. The Hogs would start the inning with a single and then a fielder's choice to put a runner at first with one out. Another single would then put runners on second and third with one out. Shores hit the next batter to load the bases as the Tigers were clinging to a 2-1 lead. A high chopper to Braswell at third would get an out at second, but Jones could not hold onto the ball at first, and the ball would get away from him, and another run would score to make it 3-2 Razorbacks. A groundout would result in out number three, and the Tigers would trail 3-2 heading to the bottom of the eighth inning. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Jared Jones would step into the batter's box with two outs, and he would hit a BOMB to right-center field to tie the game 3-3. Pearson would hit a single, and Brown would walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Dickinson would strike out to end the inning. Shores remained in the game for the ninth inning. He got a groundout for out number one, but a single put the second runner on with one out. A double would then put runners at second and third with only one out. Jacob Mayers would then enter to pitch. He would be greeted by a two-RBI single to give Arkansas a 5-3 lead. The next hitter would strike out for out number two, but the runner would go from first to third as the throw from Hernandez got away from Milam. A strikeout would get the third out and send us to the bottom of the ninth with the Tigers trailing 5-3. John Pearson would pinch-hit for Braswell to start the bottom of the ninth. He worked a full count before striking out. Curiel would then single and advance to second on an errant throw. Frey would walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Milam would then ground into a fielder's choice for out number two. Hernandez would then step into the batter's box. Hernandez would hit a ball to left field that was misplayed, and once again, we were tied. The Hogs would go to the bullpen as LSU had the winning run on second with two outs and Jared Jones due up. Jones would hit a linedrive to the second baseman, and it caram'd off of his glove, and Hernandez came around to score, and the Tigers won the game. LSU now advances to play Coastal Carolina for the National Title. The series will begin Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT.
USA Today
a day ago
- Climate
- USA Today
When will LSU play its next College World Series game after defeating UCLA?
LSU baseball beat UCLA in Game 8 of the College World Series on Tuesday morning. The game began on Monday night, but only three innings were played before the weather forced a suspension. With the win, LSU avoided having to play Arkansas in a double-header on Tuesday night. Instead, UCLA will meet the Razorbacks in an elimination contest. When is LSU's next College World Series Game? LSU is scheduled to face the winner of Arkansas vs. UCLA on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN. Regardless, it will be a rematch for the Tigers. LSU opened the CWS with a 4-1 win vs. Arkansas on Saturday. As we saw on Monday, there's always a chance that weather forces a change. Rain is expected in Omaha on Tuesday, which could force UCLA and Arkansas to be finished on Wednesday. If that's the case, officials have to make a decision on when to play the Bracket 2 final. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle At 2-0, LSU is in a good spot. The Tigers are one win away from punching a ticket to the College World Series Final. LSU can afford to lose on Wednesday and get another crack at it on Thursday.
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Breaking down LSU baseball's path to the College World Series Final
Breaking down LSU baseball's path to the College World Series Final LSU baseball is on its way to Omaha and the College World Series for the 20th time in program history. The Tigers punched their ticket after sweeping West Virginia in the Baton Rouge Super Regional. For head coach Jay Johnson, this marks his second time leading LSU to Omaha. LSU won it all in Johnson's first go-round, beating Florida in the CWS Final. LSU is one of the top programs in the sport. It's won seven national titles and when the Tigers get to Omaha, they expect to win it. The standard is high in Baton Rouge. Johnson knows that. As of Tuesday, the only team with a better chance to win it all than LSU is Arkansas, according to BetMGM. While LSU is among the favorites, this is a tough field, and LSU didn't catch a favorable draw, meeting Arkansas in Game 1. Here's a look at what LSU baseball's path to the College World Series Final could be. College World Series Format The College World Series consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. Together, each bracket forms the eight-team field. The winner of each bracket will meet in the final, which is a best of three series. How could this play out for LSU? There are six distinct paths LSU baseball could take before reaching the CWS final or getting eliminated. Let's start with the simple ones. Tigers win three straight and secure spot in final If LSU goes 3-0 in its first three games, the Tigers are in the final. This requires beating Arkansas in Game 4 before beating the winner of UCLA vs. Murray State in Game 8. Then, LSU has to beat whoever fights their way out of the losers' bracket. In this scenario, there's a chance it's a rematch vs. Arkansas. LSU loses two straight and goes home This is the scenario Tiger fans don't want to think about, but the quickest path to LSU's season ending is back-to-back losses to open the CWS. This means LSU loses to Arkansas in its opener and loses again to the loser of UCLA vs. Murray State. LSU wins opener, but drops second game Let's say LSU beats Arkansas and UCLA beats Murray State, but then LSU drops one to UCLA in Game 8. Then, LSU would play the winner of Arkansas and Murray State in an elimination game. If LSU wins that elimination game... If LSU stays alive and wins the elimination game, the Tigers are back facing the team they lost to in Game 8. From there, LSU has to beat that team twice to secure a spot in the CWS final. LSU goes 2-0, but drops Game 12 If LSU starts 2-0, beating Arkansas and then beating the winner of UCLA vs. Murray State, the Tigers are in a prime position for the CWS final. But if LSU loses Game 12, it sets up a winner-takes-all game to advance to the final. This scenario could lead to LSU facing Arkansas three times. LSU beats Arkansas and UCLA/Murray State, then Arkansas battles out of the losers' bracket for a rematch with LSU. If the Razorbacks get the best of the Tigers in round two, they meet again with a trip to the CWS final on the line. Put simply, LSU's path to the CWS final likely involves beating Arkansas at least twice. Of course, there's a scenario where Arkansas goes 0-2, but I wouldn't bet on that. LSU loses first game and fights out of the losers' bracket If LSU loses to Arkansas in Game 4, the Tigers will be in a hole, but it's not insurmountable. A loss in Game 4 sends LSU to face UCLA/Murray State in the losers' bracket in Game 7. If LSU wins that, the Tigers move on to face Game 8's loser in Game 10.
