Super Regional G2: LSU Baseball vs West Virginia
The atmosphere at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field, in Baton Rouge was electric as LSU and West Virginia clashed in Game 2 of the Baton Rouge Super Regional on Sunday night. With a College World Series berth hanging in the balance, the Tigers were determined to close the series and punch their ticket to Omaha. First pitch came at 7:56 p.m. CT, and the stage was set(si.com).
Anthony Eyanson, LSU’s blazing right‑hander, took the mound with poise. Already a national strikeout leader and semifinalist for top pitcher honors, Alabama’s own was carrying statistical dominance: 135 K’s, a 12.97 strikeouts per nine innings rate, and a 2.50 ERA—all ranking him near the top of SEC leaderboards(si.com).
West Virginia countered with Jack Kartsonas, a reliable force for the Mountaineers. The Tigers wasted no time. In the top of the first, Derek Curiel opened with a double, and following a walk and fielder’s choice, Curiel slid home—LSU up 1‑0. Eyanson silenced WVU in the bottom of the inning with back‑to‑back strikeouts to Guzman, Sauve, and West(si.com).
The fireworks came in the second. LSU tallied five runs: Milam’s three‑RBI double, Brown’s single, and Jones’ RBI single widened the lead to 6‑0. WVU’s Kartsonas found himself overwhelmed(reuters.com).
Eyanson responded with signature strikeout artistry, picking off Guzman and striking out hitters in successive innings. But WVU struck back late in the fourth, when Sam White—who hammered a pinch-hit home run previously—connected again for a solo homer. Ben Lumsden quickly followed with a two‑run blast to make it 6‑3(si.com).
Still in control, LSU held firm. In the fifth, a White RBI single brought WVU to within two, 6‑4, before Eyanson closed the inning and set the stage for LSU’s breakout seventh inning(lsusports.net).
It was in the top of the seventh that Louisiana State unleashed its power. With two outs against reliever Reese Bassinger, Chris Stanfield, Steven Milam, and Jake Brown delivered a sequence of clutch hits — Stanfield with a two‑run single, Milam with an RBI double, and Brown with a two‑run homer that soared over the scoreboard—to push the score to 12‑4. Their bats came alive when it mattered most(si.com).
Down the stretch, WVU’s only counter came from Jace Rinehart, who hit a solo homer in the eighth to bring his side within 12‑5. But that would be as close as they came. LSU’s relievers—Cooper Williams and then Chase Shores—sealed the deal. Shores, a hero in relief, struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning to shut down the Mountaineers once and for all(mrt.com).
Steven Milam finished 2‑for‑4 with two doubles and four RBI. Jake Brown mirrored that same stat line, including his homer, boosting LSU’s early runs. Eyanson earned the victory, posting 5 innings, 7 strikeouts, and just 4 runs allowed on 104 pitches(lsusports.net). Williams delivered 2.2 innings of one‑run relief, and Shores struck out the final three batters on 15 pitches at triple digits.
The final score: LSU 12, West Virginia 5. With the win, LSU completed the Super Regional sweep, moving on to the 2025 College World Series. The Tigers enter Omaha as one of 8 teams vying for baseball immortality, with a date against SEC rival Arkansas to be announced(mrt.com).
Head coach Jay Johnson was effusive in his praise, calling WVU “a championship‑level team” and commending LSU for playing “in character” under pressure(si.com). His words rang true as the Tigers asserted their dominance in clutch moments.
Behind the plate, Drew Hernandez managed key situations, while the offense was led by Milam, Brown, and Jones. The bullpen, resurrected in high-gear after Eyanson’s exit, delivered precision and control. Chase Shores capped the night with 101 mph heat, a return to form after missing postseason action due to Tommy John surgery, and showcased the depth of LSU’s pitching corps(mrt.com).
This victory marks LSU’s 20th appearance in the College World Series, further solidifying their status as a collegiate baseball powerhouse. They will face Arkansas—the SEC Tournament champion—in their first game in Omaha.
Overall, this Game 2 was defined by LSU’s early offensive explosion, strategic pitching transitions, and standout individual performances. They seized control early, maintained momentum through timely bats and precision arms, and celebrated a triumphant victory in front of over 12,000 fans.
Now, their sights are set on Omaha. With one of the deepest rosters in the nation, led by Coach Johnson and a mix of explosive hitters and shutdown pitching, LSU heads into the College World Series as a favorite—yet a hungry one. Arkansas looms next, and that’s exactly the SEC showdown LSU wants on the road to another national title.
Stay tuned—the journey continues in Omaha.
