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LSU baseball earned a slim 1-0 victory over Coastal Carolina on Saturday to open the best-of-three College World Series finals on Saturday night.
Inside Omaha’s Charles Schwab Stadium, left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson led the Tigers to victory with his second complete game shutout of 2025. Using 130 pitches, he racked up 10 strikeouts.
The game’s lone run game in the bottom of the first inning. Steven Milam roped an RBI single to center field with one out to score Derek Curiel. It was one of six hits for LSU, but pitching from both dugouts dominated the rest of the way.
Coastal Carolina got runners on base often early but couldn’t take advantage of three hits and five free passes issued by Anderson. The southpaw remained strong throughout his final game for the Tigers, sticking with his breaking pitches when his fastball couldn’t find the strike zone.
LSU baseball will return to action in Game 2 on Sunday, looking to clinch the national title.
Here are three takeaways from LSU’s win over Coastal Carolina in game one of the College World Series finals.
Bullpen gets much-needed rest day
Anderson’s complete game shutout kept the entire bullpen available for Sunday’s contest. Relievers such as Chase Shores, Cooper Williams, and Jacob Mayers will have another day of rest heading into what could be the final game of the season.
Top relief arms Casan Evans and Zac Cowan also get another day of rest after getting starter-level work in the College World Series. Outside of Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, Evans and Cowan are LSU’s best arms. Getting another full day of rest was key for both and puts LSU in a great position for Game 2, and if needed, a Game 3.
LSU could use Evans or Cowan out of the pen on Saturday and still have one left to start Game 3 if needed.
Milam’s clutch-hitting continues
Milam racked up 13 RBI throughout the 2025 NCAA Tournament, including the lone run of Saturday’s contest. The shortstop also batted in four runs apiece in each game of the Baton Rouge Super Regional against West Virginia.
Much of LSU’s lineup has been inconsistent this postseason, but Milam continues to deliver quality at-bats, come through in the clutch, and be the glue that holds this group together.
The sophomore has peaked at the best time possible and will look to replicate that success on Sunday.
Defense plays large role
In a game decided by the thinnest margin, LSU made no errors while dealing with nine ground balls off the bats of Chanticleers’ hitters. On a windy evening in Omaha, the Tigers caught seven fly balls.
Michael Braswell flashed the leather multiple times at the hot corner, firing across the diamond to Jared Jones at first base. Daniel Dickinson made tough grabs at second base as well.
There was also this key moment in the top of the third. With two runners on, Coastal Sebastian Alexander tried to steal third. He beat the throw, but Braswell kept the glove on and nailed Alexander off the bag to end the inning and the CCU rally.
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