When the LSU Tigers took the field at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on June 22, 2025, they carried not just the weight of a season’s play, but the aspirations of a storied baseball program chasing its next chapter of excellence. What unfolded that Sunday afternoon was a testament to perseverance, strategic brilliance, and raw talent, culminating in LSU’s 53rd overall team national championship—a title earned by outlasting a fiery Coastal Carolina squad and reaffirming the program’s place atop collegiate baseball.
The Tigers closed out Coastal Carolina 5–3, but it was far from a walk in the park. Entering the bottom of the seventh tied—or perhaps even trailing—the Tigers turned to a hero making a triumphant return. Redshirt sophomore Chase Shores, who had missed all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery, suited up with a mission: to finish what he began during LSU’s championship run in 2023. Standing an imposing 6-foot-8 and hurling 99‑101 mph heat, he struck out four over 2⅔ innings, allowed just one hit, and slammed the door shut on the Chanticleers, sealing LSU’s championship victory .
It was a fitting ending to a narrative built on comeback and redemption. Shores had been among Coach Jay Johnson’s earliest recruits in 2021, and after losing nearly 18 months to injury and rehabbing intensely, he returned stronger than ever. Johnson, visibly moved, said there was no one better to “finish the game for this second national championship” .
But Shores was just the exclamation point on a championship performance defined by relentless pitching and opportunistic offense.
The foundation was laid throughout the series by Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, whose performances carved the path to Omaha’s championship mound.
The Tigers started with Anderson, who delivered a masterful complete-game shutout in Game 1—allowing no runs over nine innings in a tense 1–0 victory. Anderson surrendered five walks and hit two batters, yet held Coastal Carolina hitless with runners in scoring position—a testament to his nerve and precision . His 16 innings pitched and unbelievable 0.56 ERA through the tournament earned him the CWS Most Outstanding Player honor
Game 2 belonged to Eyanson, who logged 6.1 strong innings, surrendering just three hits and two walks while striking out seven, setting the stage for Shores to close it out .
By the time the deciding game arrived, the Tigers’ arms had rooted deep into their bullpen, ready for any strain. Alongside Shores, Riley Cooper and Gavin Guidry were primed to finish strong—Cooper earning saves in earlier games and Guidry ready when the moment came (d1).
LSU didn’t just lean on its arms. In Game 3, the Tigers found their swing, unleashing a four‑run fourth inning that shattered the momentum. Early chants of Coastal Carolina dominance were hushed by key hits from Chris Stanfield and Derek Curiel, who drove in runs and shifted the narrative of the contest .
Even after Coastal Carolina sliced the lead with a two-run homer from Wells Sykes, LSU’s bullpen held firm. A game-ending double play in the ninth turned contention into celebration .
LSU’s balanced offense—featuring small-ball precision and timely power—was the flip side of its pitching excellence. The program’s bats cracked open games when needed, producing runs where it counted.
The path to glory was far from smooth. LSU dodged elimination early in the series, clawing back from deficits and stumbling through tough moments to qualify for the finals .
Semifinal play against Arkansas was a nail-biter. With LSU trailing 5–3 in the bottom of the ninth, Arkansas’ outfielder Charles Davalan misjudged a two-out line drive by Luis Hernandez—sending the ball off his body and into the bleachers. Two runs scored, tying the game, and Jared Jones followed with a walk-off single, sending LSU to the finals .
Game 2 was still tightly contested until the Tigers turned to small rallies and stout pitching. Jackson Trout’s solo homer and opportunistic small-ball produced key runs. Each tight battle tested LSU’s resolve but also underscored their championship DNA: resilience under fire .
Behind every great team stands a visionary leader, and for LSU, that man is Jay Johnson. In his fourth year, Johnson has sculpted a program rooted in accountability, adaptability, and excellence. He became the first coach to win a College World Series in his second season—and now he’s built a dynasty out of it.
Johnson’s approach was clear: nurture arms like Shores and Anderson, blend them with aggressive offensive strategy, and cultivate mental toughness. Whether managing pitcher workloads, recalibrating after elimination scares, or maintaining discipline under the Omaha sun, Johnson has anchored LSU’s championship mettle.
After the last out, Johnson praised Shores’s renaissance and the maturity of his roster. LSU’s pitching staff—young but seasoned—responded when it mattered most, with Johnson crediting the talent and collective buy-in of his players .
This title marks LSU’s eighth College World Series championship—a figure second only to legendary USC. It’s the Tigers’ second crown in three years and their 53rd overall among team national championships—a staggering testament to the program’s pedigree .
Echoes of past feats reverberated through Omaha. LSU has made 11 CWS appearances under Skip Bertman alone and tallied previous titles in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009, and 2023 . Now, with Jay Johnson at the helm, they add another chapter to a legacy that stretches back decades.
Up next for this powerhouse: the MLB draft. Shores, Anderson, Eyanson, and standout hitters like Chris Stanfield and Derek Curiel are drawing scout attention. Shores’s dominant closer’s role, fastball heat, and recovery arc could translate into a high-round pick. Anderson put himself on the map with a complete-game shutout. Eyanson’s consistent outings and Stanley’s offensive emergence only amplify their professional potential .
Recruitment, however, doesn’t sleep on championships. With a top-ranked recruiting class in 2024, and a roster brimming with SEC-caliber talent and transfers, LSU is positioned to remain a national threat for years. The program’s attendance records—over 400,000 fans per season—reinforce LSU’s role as a cornerstone of college baseball culture .
Baseball’s greatest stage belongs to Omaha, and once more, LSU seized the spotlight. Scenes of celebration—mounds rushes, champagne showers, fans swaying to the LSU fight song—filled Schwab Field. For players, coaches, and fans, it wasn’t just a title—it was vindication, purpose, and pride.
Shores captured the moment best: “It’s a dream come true,” he said, acknowledging his teammates and coaches. After such recovery and effort, getting the final outs in Omaha was more than a game—it was redemption
Fifty-three team national championships. Eight College World Series titles. A program that towers in the halls of NCAA baseball history. LSU continues to capture hearts and respect—as a national brand, a competitive juggernaut, and a launchpad for future MLB stars.
But beyond accolades, this title means more: it’s atonement for past stumbles, validation of strategy, and fuel for future campaigns.
When LSU fans chant “GEAUX TIGERS,” they aren’t just cheering for athletic excellence—they’re celebrating a tradition of triumph, resilience, and community. In Omaha this June, that tradition roared louder than ever.
This triumph belongs to the players, the coaches, the Tigers and Tiger fans everywhere—especially those who believe in the roar. LSU is more than a team; it’s a legacy renewed, a dynasty extended, and a statement to all challengers: there’s tiger blood in those Tigers, and they’ll be back for more.
