LSU holds off Coastal Carolina in CWS Finals, wins national championship
By Andrew Olson
Published:
LSU is once again atop the college baseball world. The Tigers are 2025’s national champions after defeating Coastal Carolina 5-3 in Game 2 of the College World Series Finals, taking the best-of-3 championship series.
After needing just 1 pitcher (Kade Anderson) on Saturday, the Tigers used 2 on Sunday. Anthony Eyanson got the start and Chase Shores came on in relief. Shores allowed just 1 hit, but forced the game-ending double play to lock it up for LSU.
TIGERS WIN! TIGERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/fXKDhD2T5C
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 22, 2025
After a wild 1st inning that saw Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall and 1st base coach Matt Schilling ejected, the Chanticleers broke the scoring ice. Dean Mihos hit a solo home run, but Coastal Carolina’s lead did not last long.
The Tigers responded in the top of the 3rd inning, tying it up 1-1 off an Ethan Frey RBI double. LSU broke things open with a 4-run 4th inning to go up 5-1.
It all started with a leadoff walk. A single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Chris Stanfield then singled to plate 2, giving LSU the lead.
Just a doing things#MCWS x ABC / @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/HXKQ4OkrVO
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 22, 2025
The Chants then retired the next 2 on a sac bunt and a pop-up, but couldn’t get out of the inning. Curiel singled up the middle, extending the lead to 5-1.
Anderson delivered a historic complete game shutout in Game 1, carrying LSU to a 1-0 win. On Sunday, Jay Johnson turned to Eyanson.
Eyanson delivered a quality start. He was excellent through the first 6 innings, allowing only 1 run. He ran into some trouble in the 7th, hitting the leadoff man. The next batter, Wells Sykes, hit a 2-run homer to cut it to 5-3.
Johnson decided to pull Eyanson with 1 out in the 7th. Eyanson’s final line was 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K. He threw 99 pitches, with 69 for strikes. He was relieved by Shores.
LSU finished the 2025 season on an 8-game win streak. The Tigers last lost to Little Rock in the Baton Rouge Regional, knocking off West Virginia in the Baton Rouge Super Regional before 5 CWS wins over Arkansas, UCLA and Coastal Carolina.
The national championship is the 8th in LSU baseball history. The Tigers previously won in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000 and 2023. The 2023 title was the first under Johnson in his second season with the program
LSU’s title continues the SEC’s streak of 6 consecutive titles, including 2023. Vanderbilt (2019), Mississippi State (2021), Ole Miss (2022), and Tennessee (2024) are the other recent winners, with no tournament held in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
