The Athletic provides live coverage of the highly anticipated Coastal Carolina vs. LSU Game 2 from the 2025 Men’s College World Series in Omaha. This championship series has captivated fans and showcased some of the finest talent in college baseball.
OMAHA, Neb. — LSU is just one victory away from securing its eighth national championship in baseball following a narrow 1-0 victory against Coastal Carolina on Saturday night. The standout performance came from ace pitcher Kade Anderson, who is currently ranked No. 3 in Keith Law’s latest MLB mock draft. Anderson delivered a complete-game masterpiece, improving upon his previous outing at the College World Series before a vibrant crowd clad in purple and yellow.
The impressive left-handed pitcher, standing at 6-foot-2, allowed only three hits while striking out an impressive 10 batters over 130 pitches. With this victory, he improved his record to 12 wins and only one loss this season. Notably, Anderson’s performance also ended Coastal Carolina’s school-record 26-game winning streak.
LSU head coach Jay Johnson praised Anderson, saying, “His next pitch should be for some place in the Washington Nationals organization,” referring to the team that holds the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft on July 13. Johnson continued to emphasize Anderson's caliber, stating, “It’s not close. He’s the best player in the country. There’s nobody (in amateur baseball) closer to the major leagues than that.”
Both teams entered this championship series undefeated at the College World Series, with Coastal Carolina not having lost a game since April 22. The high-pressure game was played under sweltering conditions, with temperatures reaching 97 degrees and wind gusts of up to 40 mph, which influenced the play significantly.
In a head-to-head battle, Anderson outshined his counterpart, Cameron Flukey, who struck out nine batters during his six innings on the mound. Flukey's only setback came in the first inning, where Derek Curiel led off with a single and eventually scored on a one-out single from Steven Milam.
Anderson's previous outing in Omaha saw him pitch seven innings against Arkansas, allowing just one run on three hits. “I’m glad he did it again tonight,” Johnson remarked, “so everybody got to see what we’ve known for an entire season.” The Tigers are chasing their second title in four seasons, having defeated Florida in the 2023 championship series.
In a game of missed opportunities, Coastal Carolina finished 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position against Anderson. The Chanticleers made Anderson work hard, forcing him to throw 25 pitches in the first inning. However, the Tigers displayed impressive defense, nailing two Coastal Carolina players at third base in the third inning, which shifted the momentum firmly in LSU's favor.
Despite the setback, Coastal Carolina is not out of the fight yet. The team has strategically saved ace starter Jacob Morrison for Game 2, scheduled for Sunday. Morrison, a sophomore right-hander, boasts an impeccable record of 12-0 this season. The Chanticleers have excelled with a 16-1 record in games that Morrison has started, highlighting his critical role in their success.
Morrison leads the nation with an impressive 10 outings of six innings or longer, allowing zero or one run. This statistic places him second in a single season over the past five years, only behind former LSU star Paul Skenes in 2023.
As the championship series continues, all eyes will be on the remarkable talents of both Coastal Carolina and LSU as they vie for college baseball's ultimate prize.
