OMAHA, Neb. — As LSU’s 2025 College World Series run continues, head coach Jay Johnson sat down to address key topics following LSU’s 9–5 win over UCLA on June 17, 2025. Johnson covered everything from freshman standout Casan Evans to his evolving pitching strategy and the Tigers’ advancing mindset. That win puts LSU at a strong 2–0 in the bracket, and Johnson’s confident tone reflects a team prepared for much more.
Johnson couldn’t hide his pride in Casan Evans, who has emerged as one of LSU’s most reliable arms.
Evans started Game 2 against UCLA after Mother Nature postponed Tuesday’s action. Stepping in at the top of the fourth inning, the freshman delivered 4.1 innings, allowing just two runs on four hits, with five strikeouts and no walks andthevalleyshook.com+8lsusports.net+8youtube.com+8. Johnson said, “I love the tempo that Casan set today. I thought he was outstanding, as he always is,” adding that he wasn’t shocked by Evans’ polished performance lsusports.net.
Reflecting on the rain delay selection, Johnson recalled confirming to Evans during the delay that he would pitch after Anthony Eyanson’s night ended early en.wikipedia.org+3tigerrag.com+3lsusports.net+3. The decision paid off. Evans handled himself like a seasoned veteran. As Johnson noted, “Freshmen don’t transition to the SEC or the highest level of college baseball like him very often,” then paused, adding, “that’s the least surprising thing of the season, actually” tigerrag.com.
So where do the Tigers use Evans next? Johnson hinted that opportunities abound: middle relief, long relief, closing, and possibly starting in the championship series. Evans’ flexibility is a huge asset: he’s “clearly LSU’s third‑best pitcher behind [Kade] Anderson and Eyanson” lsusports.net+3tigerrag.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3. Right now, with a 1.86 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 48⅓ innings before UCLA, Evans both starts (four times) and saves (seven) .
LSU is now 50–15 on the season and 2–0 at the CWS—its best start since 2009 when they eventually won the national title 247sports.com+8lsusports.net+8youtube.com+8. Johnson’s message? Keep it one day at a time, one game at a time—and don’t look too far ahead.
He said, “I never look too far down the road in this tournament … if you win the first two games with only maybe three guys unavailable … you’ve probably done a pretty good job” local.newsbreak.comlsusports.net.
Maintaining rhythm here isn’t just about games—it’s about adjusting to interruptions, schedules, and the “tournament inside of a tournament.” The Tigers’ resilience—for instance, bouncing from a rain-delayed finish Monday night straight into today’s baseball—suggests they can handle anything Omaha throws at them .
LSU’s staff headed into CWS with undeniable talent—and a lot of decisions. Johnson emphasized flexibility.
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Weekend Rotation: Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson are clearly the Friday/Saturday anchors tigerrag.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3lsusports.net+3. Anderson dominated Arkanssas (7 innings, 1 run) in Game 1; Eyanson did well Monday night before the delay .
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Long Relief & Middle Relief: That’s Evans’ domain. With 66 innings under his belt, he can both start and close. Johnson wants Evans available in key high-leverage situations.
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High-Leverage Closing: Chase Shores has also emerged late. Johnson used him to close the UCLA game after Evans got the win, and Shores converted his first save of the season tigerrag.comandthevalleyshook.com+4lsusports.net+4mrt.com+4. That shows increasing confidence in his 102‑mph fastball and strikeout punch.
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Left/Right Matchups: Traditionally, matchups are a drill: LHP vs lefty-heavy opponents. But Johnson says his staff will go with whoever gives the team the best chance—lefty or righty youtube.com+11tigerrag.com+11secsports.com+11.
In short, Johnson is building a dynamic, multi-faceted pitching approach that maximizes LSU’s depth. There’s no single closer; there’s a flexible, adaptive bullpen with multiple weapons ready for big-game moments.
LSU’s offense, defense, and small-ball strategy are complementing the pitching. In Arkansas’s opener, they manufactured three second-inning runs with walks and bunts—Jeffrey small-ball tactics paying dividends andthevalleyshook.com. Johnson also praised the team’s ability to stay composed: even after giving up three early runs to UCLA, the Tigers responded with explosive offense, including Jared Jones’ first-inning three-run homer and later extra insurance—Hallmark traits of postseason teams .
Johnson also pointed to composure: inclement weather delays, lineup disruptions, and in-game momentum swings. LSU adjusted all of it with poise and focus
With two straight wins, LSU now faces SEC rival Arkansas again in the Bracket 2 final. A win would punch their ticket to the Championship Series; a loss would set up a do-or-die rematch.
Johnson is handling Arkansas with caution and respect. He’s carefully gauging who’s available from his arsenal—who’s fresh, who’s hot, and what each matchup demands. But the overall message is loud and clear: “Stay in the moment. One pitch, one inning at a time.”
