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USA Today
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Five takeaways from LSU baseball's Baton Rouge Regional championship
Five takeaways from LSU baseball's Baton Rouge Regional championship LSU baseball advanced to a super regional after completing a game-seven comeback to beat Little Rock on Monday night. Ethan Frey gave LSU a 1-0 lead with a first-inning home run, but Little Rock erased that lead in the third with a five-run inning. That's when Jay Johnson turned to Casan Evans out of the pen, who was dynamite. Evans stabilized LSU, striking out 12 over six innings, allowing just one earned run. Evans, just a true freshman, threw 109 pitches, a career high. With Evans cruising on the mound, the offense went to work. LSU scored three runs in the fourth before tying the game in the sixth. The Tigers added five more runs over the final three innings to win 10-6. Ethan Frey and Luis Hernandez were the heroes at the plate, combining for three homers and seven RBI. Now, LSU turns its attention to West Virginia as the Tigers sit two wins away from a trip to the College World Series. Here are five takeaways from LSU's Baton Rouge Regional title. Eyanson and Anderson is the best pitching duo in America You'll have a hard time finding a better one-two pitching punch than LSU's Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson. On Friday, Eyanson pitched 7.2 shutout innings vs. Little Rock to kick the regional off with a win. He struck out seven and walked one. On Saturday, Anderson was equally impressive. Anderson struck out 11 over seven shutout innings. And on Monday, when LSU needed the final outs to win the regional, Johnson tabbed Eyanson out of the pen. Eyanson finished the game with 1.2 shutout innings. LSU's duo of aces has risen to the occasion time and time again this year. Even when the lineup has struggled, Anderson and Eyanson have done enough to get LSU wins. On the year, Eyanson owns a 2.50 ERA in 93.2 innings. That's one of the best marks in the country. Anderson has 156 strikeouts in 96 innings and is on his way to being a top-five pick in the upcoming MLB Draft. Ethan Frey delivers in the clutch Ethan Frey is arguably LSU's most valuable hitter. His .359 batting average and 1.151 OPS both are team highs. For much of the year, attention at the top of the lineup centered around Derek Curiel, Jared Jones, and Daniel Dickinson, but it was Frey who came up clutch in the regional. On Monday, Frey's first-inning home run put LSU on the board. Then, with LSU down four runs with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Frey cleared the bases with a double and cut the deficit to one. Frey finished LSU's regional clinching win with four hits, reaching base six times. Johnson bumped Frey into the No. 2 hole, and it paid off. Frey came up big on Saturday, too, notching two hits and scoring three times in the win vs. Dallas Baptist. If Frey continues to slug like this, there shouldn't be many concerns about the LSU offense. Casan Evans is a budding star Casan Evans entered 2025 ranked No. 26 on Perfect Game's Top 75 College Freshmen list. Expectations were high, but Evans managed to exceed them. LSU opted to roll with Zac Cowan as the starter on Monday, but Cowan faltered early and Evans entered in the second inning. From there, all Evans did was dominate. At one point, Evans struck out nine straight Little Rock hitter. It was a sight for sore eyes after LSU struggled to throw strikes on Sunday and early on Monday. After the game, LSU pitching coach Nate Yeskie said being around Kade Anderson has been big for Evans. "I think that a guy like Anderson has really rubbed off on Evans because Evans. He loiters down in that other end of the dugout during games to try to get every advantage that he possibly can. And I think that you see that investment and just understanding the game better pays dividends in nights like tonight," Yeskie said. Evans worked out of the pen for most of 2025 before earning starts late in the year. As a starter, Evans' results were mixed, but he's the third-best pitcher on LSU's staff right now, especially with Cowan struggling. Questions about the rest of the pitching staff Outside of Eyanson, Anderson, and Evans, there are major questions about the LSU pitching staff. Zac Cowan was the SEC's best reliever for most of the year. But in Cowan's last 6.2 innings, his ERA is 14.85. LSU needs Cowan to turn it around. You can't count on Eyanson and Anderson to deliver seven shutout innings every time out. And even if they do, the regional proved you need more than just a couple of arms. It's easy to remember the stars on LSU's 2023 title squad, but LSU also had relievers step up in the postseason. Think back to Nate Ackenhausen pitching six shutout innings vs. Tennessee. LSU needs that type of emergence this June. LSU felt good about starting Jaden Noot on Sunday after Noot pitched four innings of one-run baseball in his SEC Tournament start, but Noot's night was done before the second inning ended. LSU has some things to figure out when it comes to pitching depth. LSU needs Jared Jones to get hot For most of the year, Jared Jones was one of LSU's top sluggers. He's one of the Tigers' most experienced hitters and has 61 career homers. But lately, it's been a struggle. Jones was just 5-20 in the Baton Rouge Regional, which included going 0-5 with three strikeouts vs. Dallas Baptist. Jones was in the No. 2 hole the first three games of the weekend, but Jay Johnson moved Jones to the No. 6 spot on Monday. Jones delivered a bounce-back performance, going 2-5 with a big two-run homer to put the game on ice in the top of the ninth. That's the Jared Jones LSU needs if the Tigers want to make a run at the title. LSU doesn't have game-breaking power throughout the lineup, but Jones can change a game with one swing.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What LSU pitcher Anthony Eyanson said after dominant outing in regional vs. Little Rock
What LSU pitcher Anthony Eyanson said after dominant outing in regional vs. Little Rock LSU baseball gave the ball to starter Anthony Eyanson in game one of the Baton Rouge Regional. The choice paid off with Eyanson pitching 7.2 shutout innings in a 7-0 win vs. Little Rock. Eyanson struck out seven and walked just one. In 92 innings this year, Eyanson owns a 2.54 ERA to go along with 132 strikeouts. Both of those are among the best marks in the country. "Just wanted to execute," Eyanson said after the start, "I'm going to say that probably every interview, but honestly, just wanted to execute, slow down in the moment. Just take it all in." LSU head coach Jay Johnson didn't reveal the Tigers' pitching plans until the lineup was released on Friday. Eyanson and LSU's No. 1 starter, Kade Anderson, both put up ace numbers in the regular season. It was hard for Johnson to go wrong. For Eyanson, the recipe has been simple. "First pitch strike and being early and ahead in the count, it's always going to help, you know, me on the field. The defense behind me, they've been great. I think they deserve even more credit than they get," Eyanson said. Eyanson's outing was ground out heavy, but the veteran pitcher was just focused on executing. "I mean, they hit the ball on the ground, hit the ball in the air, as long as they're out, I'm fine with that," Eyanson said. Eyanson didn't finish the game, getting pulled in the eigth, but he wasn't worried when the bullpen took over. "It's really cool seeing those guys progress, especially (Mavrick Rizy). He's insane, but it's really cool seeing him grow and just keep working. I see his work every day, just being at the field around him all the time and just giving the ball to him and DJ," Eyanson said. LSU will return to action on Saturday night, facing Dallas Baptist in the Baton Rouge Regional.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Recap: LSU baseball starts regional with a win over Little Rock
Recap: LSU baseball starts regional with a win over Little Rock LSU welcomed three teams into Baton Rouge this weekend for a regional at Alex Box Stadium. Dallas Baptist, Rhode Island, and Little Rock all entered the weekend with a shot to advance to a Super Regional. We had to wait after a lengthy weather delay, but LSU started its postseason off with a win over Little Rock. Anthony Eyanson was chosen to make the first start of the tournament instead of Kade Anderson. Eyanson and Anderson have been 1A and 1B all year for the Tigers, so either pitcher would be able to get the job done. The Tigers got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning as Jake Brown hit an RBI single to give LSU a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the second inning, Jared Jones hit an RBI single to extend the lead to 2-0. Eyason kept the Trojans off the board, and the lead remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning when Danny Dickinson hit a solo shot to left field to increase the lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers doubled their lead as Derek Curiel hit an RBI double and Dickinson hit a two-run homer to extend the lead to 6-0 for the Tigers. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Michael Braswell III hit an RBI double to increase the lead to 7-0. In the top of the eighth inning, Eyanson remained in the game. However, after retiring the first two hitters of the inning, he was pulled from the game as DJ Primeaux entered to pitch. Eyanson's day finished after 7.2 innings. He gave up zero runs on five hits, seven strikeouts, and one walk. Mavrick Rizy entered to pitch in the top of the ninth inning as he looked to close out the victory. Rizy got two strikeouts and a groundout to end the game. With the Tigers finishing the game before 10:34 PM, Dallas Baptist and Rhode Island will play their game on Friday night. LSU will face the winner of that game tomorrow at a time to be determined.
American Press
24-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
LSU uses dual aces to beat A&M in SEC tournament
FRIDAY'S GAME – LSU 4, Texas A&M 3 SATURDAY'S GAME — LSU vs. Ole Miss (Approximately 1:30 p.m. / SEC Network) LSU removed any doubt that the Tigers were taking its opening game of the Southeastern Conference tournament seriously. In the process the Tigers probably made finishing the job in the tournament harder. But LSU used both of its two starting co-aces on the mound anyway and needed all 16 strike outs between Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson to hold off Texas A&M 4-3. LSU (43-13) advances to play No. 7 seed Ole Miss, which beat No. 2 seed Arkansas 5-2. The threat of bad weather changed Saturday's start times, and LSU's game will be played 30 minutes following the 10 a.m. game between Vanderbilt and Tennessee. LSU coach Jay Johnson noted that 'The four teams left are four of the last five national champions. Let's get after it and see if we can be the champion of the champions.' The Tigers and Rebels did not play during this regular season for the first time in 50 years. LSU's Ethan Frey hit one home run and missed another by inches for an RBI double. He drove in three of the Tigers' four runs. But after Frey's two-run bomb on an 0-2 count put the Tigers up 4-0 in the third inning, LSU didn't have another base runner and finished with only four hits. Fortunately, they had Anderson and Eyanson. 'It took our best to win tonight,' LSU coach Jay Johnson said. 'And our best is these two guys (Anderson and Eyanson).' Anderson struck out eight of the first nine batters he faced and finished with 12 whiffs in just six innings of work. Eyanson had four strike outs in his first relief appearance of the season and saved the game with a masterful Houdini impression. Using dual aces did complicate things, however. 'I don't know who (Ole Miss) is going to pitch tomorrow,' Johnson said. 'I haven't decided who we're going to pitch tomorrow.' But Johnson said he decided a week ago that both Anderson and Eyanson would pitch in the Tigers' SEC tournament opener. 'We have two Friday starters,' Johnson said of why he used both. 'It gives us flexibility next week depending what the matchups look like.' By holding pitch counts down, he said, either could start the first game of next week's NCAA tournament regional. A quirky rule and a masterful escape job by Eyanson saved the game for LSU. Eyanson came on to start the seventh, which opened with centerfielder Chris Stanfield misplaying a line drive into a triple that put the tying run on third with no outs. A&M appeared to tie the game on Ben Royo's bunt — complicated when Michael Braswell's throw to first got past Jared Jones. But runners' interference was called —instead of a tie game and the go-ahead run on third with no outs, Royo was ruled out at first for the infraction and Kash was sent back to third. Eyanson then got out of the jam scoreless on a bunt back to the mound that kept the runner at the third and a strike out. 'He's the best pitcher in the country at wiggling his way out of trouble,' Johnson said of Eyanson. 'The odds of getting out of a runner on third, no-out situation with a run scoring, are very low. It takes a competitor, a special due like that. And he's the man.' Texas A&M, playing its third game in Hoover, finished its season as the Aggies needed to win the whole thing to reach the NCAA tournament. But the Aggies didn't go quietly. Jace LaViolette, a projected first-round draft pick, drove in two of the A&M runs with a sacrifice fly and RBI single — even though he broke his hand Thursday in a win over Auburn. 'It's one of the most unbelievable things I have ever seen,' Aggies coach Michael Early said. 'He had surgery yesterday at 7 p.m. and played in a game at 6:45 (Friday). I've never seen anything like that.' Johnson agreed. To get on the field tonight after this is special,' he said. 'Massive hat tip and massive respect to him.'
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LSU baseball beats Texas A&M to advance to SEC semifinal
LSU baseball beats Texas A&M to advance to SEC semifinal After waiting all week to play in the SEC Tournament, the Tigers finally got to play on Friday night as they took on Texas A&M, looking to enact some revenge after losing the series to them earlier in the season. The Tigers got that revenge with a 4-3 win to advance to the conference semifinals. LSU, as the higher seed, was the home team in this one, and the Tigers got on the board early as Ethan Frey hit an RBI double to right field that got lost in the sun and scored Derek Curiel and advanced Jared Jones to third. Luis Hernandez would then groundout to short but that out was productive as it scored Jones to make it 2-0 Tigers. The game remained 2-0 until the bottom of the third inning when Frey hit a two-run bomb to increase the LSU lead to 4-0. In the top of the fourth inning, Texas A&M started to mount a comeback as they scored two runs against Kade Anderson to cut the lead to 4-2. That was as close as the Aggies could get until the top of the sixth inning when a sacrifice fly trimmed the lead to 4-3. That is when the craziness set in. In the top of the seventh inning, Jay Johnson went to the bullpen and Anthony Eyanson came out. Eyanson is the Tigers' Saturday starter, so why would he be pitching in this one? It's because Johnson wanted to secure the win. The first hitter he faced roped a triple to center field as Chris Stanfield made a diving attempt to catch it but came up short. The Aggies then laid a bunt down, and the run would score, and after the ball got away on the throw to first, the batter went all the way to third. We were tied 4-4 with the go-ahead run on third for the Aggies. Coach Johnson would then challenge runner interference at first base, claiming that the runner was still in the baseline as he ran to first instead of being out of the baseline and allowing Jones to make a play. With the newly implemented double base at first, many people thought this would no longer be an issue. We were wrong. After review, it was called interference, and the run did not count. LSU kept a 4-3 lead, and the runner had to go back to third. Eyanson then got the Tigers out of the inning unscathed. We have not even talked about how great Anderson played in this one. He finished the night after six innings, and he gave up three runs on four hits, 12 strikeouts, and a walk. LSU was unable to score in the bottom of the seventh or eighth innings, and we headed to the top of the ninth with the Tigers clinging to a one-run lead. Eyanson struck out the first two hitters he faced before walking the next guy to put the tying run on first. A single then put the tying run on third base and the go-ahead run at first with two outs. A groundout to Steven Milam would end the game as the Tigers advanced to the semi-final Saturday with a 4-3 win. LSU will play against Ole Miss tomorrow. That game will start 30 minutes after the Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt game ends.
