The LSU Tigers defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 6-5 on Wednesday night at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha at the College World Series. The win clinches LSU’s spot in the Best-of-Three Finals of the tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After much speculation about who would get the ball, LSU () went with Zac Cowan on the mound. He was able to get the Tigers off to a good start, posting an opening zero in the first.
Arkansas () countered with Landon Beidelschies. The left-hander worked around a leadoff double to post a matching zero in his half of the first.
Each starter was able to settle in right away, and this became a pitcher’s duel in the early stages. Scoreless through three, it was the Razorbacks who finally started the scoring.
In the top half of the fourth, Ryder Helfrick was the catalyst. His solo home run gave Arkansas a 1-0 lead, on a rare day where the wind was blowing out at Charles Schwab Field.
The score would stay that way until the sixth inning, when the first two would reach for LSU. That prompted Arkansas to go to Gabe Gaeckle, and Jake Brown delivered for the Tigers. A two-run single gave them a 2-1 lead.
In the top half of the eighth, the Razorbacks answered off of Chase Shores. A would-be inning-ending double play was not secured by Jared Jones, and two runs scored to give Arkansas the 3-2 lead.
Jones would make up for his blunder in the very next frame. He hit a mammoth solo home run to tie the game at three in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, Arkansas got two runners in scoring position with just one out. Jay Johnson opted to go to Jacob Mayers out of the bullpen. Justin Thomas Jr was waiting at the plate, and he delivered the go-ahead two-run single. That made it 5-3 Arkansas heading to the bottom half.
In the bottom half of the ninth, Derek Curiel reached on an infield single, followed by an Ethan Frey walk. A fielder’s choice got the second out on a ball that could have been a double-play. Then, a misplay in left field led to a Luis Hernandez double to tie the game 5-5.
With the game tied, Jones stepped up again. He delivered the game-winning RBI single over the outstretched glove of the second basemen. LSU moved on with a 6-5 win.
BIG NUMBER: 2
With the win, LSU is now two wins away from the National Championship. They will need those wins to come against Coastal Carolina.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jared Jones
Jones came through not once, but twice. First, he tied the game with his solo home run. Then, he delivered the walk-off single to send LSU back to the CWS Finals.
UP NEXT: LSU and Coastal will begin the College World Series Championship Series on Saturday, June 21st at 6:00 PM. You can listen to the game on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette 104.1 Lake Charles.