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.
