What are Arkansas baseball's pitching options entering College World Series rematch with LSU?

When Arkansas dropped their opener to LSU, the Razorbacks found themselves in the losers’ bracket—a path requiring exceptional pitching depth. Thankfully for Dave Van Horn’s club, this is precisely where their strengths lie.

Used, But Not Broken:
Through three CWS outings, Arkansas deployed eight pitchers, yet five still remain viable for the rematch with LSU sbnation.com+12arizonasportsfans.com+12tigerrag.com+12. That depth gives them a critical edge at a moment when steady arms are worth their weight in gold.

Pitched Out: Root, Wood & Jimenez

Zach Root (LHP, junior) — Arkansas’ Friday ace and first-team All-SEC, he logged just 38 pitches in the opener before being pulled. After rebounding Tuesday with a strong outing, he’s considered unavailable due to pitch count .
Gage Wood (RHP, junior) — His historic 119-pitch, 19‑K no-hitter on Monday—first in CWS since 1960—exhausted him from consideration arizonasportsfans.com+4si.com+4sbnation.com+4.
Aiden Jimenez (RHP) — Pitched 41 on Tuesday; likely sidelined due to workload en.wikipedia.org+8arizonasportsfans.com+8tigerrag.com+8.

Starter Options: Beidelschies & Bybee

With the aces sidelined, Arkansas will turn to their seasoned mid‑tier starters:

Landon Beidelschies (RHP, 4.92 ERA) — The team’s usual No. 3 starter, logged 15 starts this year en.wikipedia.org+8arizonasportsfans.com+8sbnation.com+8. His experience—and ability to provide multiple innings—makes him a strong candidate.
Ben Bybee (RHP, 4.38 ERA) — Transitioned from midweek starter to weekend depth. He may be trusted for 3–4 innings arizonasportsfans.com.

Likely Scenario: Arkansas goes with either Beidelschies or Bybee on the mound, while others provide short-burst relief to steady the ship.

Bullpen Firepower: Key Relievers Ready

Arkansas’ relievers are unexpectedly fresh, thanks in part to strategic early exits and the grit shown in elimination games:

Parker Coil (RHP, 1.27 ERA) – Yet to pitch in Omaha; has been dominant all year tigerdroppings.com+8arizonasportsfans.com+8tigerrag.com+8.
Dylan Carter (RHP, 2.18 ERA) – Also unused in the CWS so far arizonasportsfans.com.
Cole Gibler (LHP, 3.14 ERA) – Allowed just one hit in 2⅓ innings vs. LSU this season; only threw 29 pitches total across the opener si.com+2arizonasportsfans.com+2tigerrag.com+2.
Christian Foutch (LHP, 4.09 ERA) – Similarly unused in recent CWS games arizonasportsfans.com.
Gabe Gaeckle (RHP, 4.48 ERA) – Delivered 6 shutout innings in opener with 10 strikeouts. Though he threw 90 pitches, he’s expected to be available unless the staff opts to save him andthevalleyshook.com+2arizonasportsfans.com+2tigerrag.com+2.

LSU’s Strategic Hurdles

LSU enters the rematch with its own complex planning puzzle. Their key arms include:

Kade Anderson (LHP, 11‑1, 3.44 ERA) — LSU’s ace, tossed seven innings of one-run ball in their win over Arkansas, logging ~100 pitches. He’s likely being saved for the championship series arizonasportsfans.comsbnation.com+5andthevalleyshook.com+5tigerrag.com+5.
Anthony Eyanson (LHP, 11‑2, 2.92 ERA) — Combined starter and closer; recently threw 44 pitches statesman.com+15tigerrag.com+15sbnation.com+15.
Casan Evans (RHP, 5‑1, 2.05 ERA, 7 saves) — Tallying 81 pitches over two appearances tigerrag.com+1tigerdroppings.com+1.
Chase Shores (RHP, 5‑3, 5.03 ERA) — Redshirt sophomore with big-league heat (up to 101 mph), making a strong case to start Wednesday after a 10-pitch save Tuesday andthevalleyshook.com+2mrt.com+2tigerrag.com+2.

LSU is aiming to preserve Anderson, Eyanson, and Evans for the possible finals—so Horses, Cowan, Noot, and Ware could be options now, though they’ve had spotty results tigerrag.com+1tigerdroppings.com+1.

The Match-Up: Who’s on the Mound?

Arkansas is expected to roll with Beidelschies or Bybee as starter, backed by fresh arms Coil, Carter, Gibler, Foutch, and maybe Gaeckle.

LSU may elect to go with Chase Shores on short rest or reload their bullpen rather than stretch Anderson/Eyanson/Evans prematurely.

Pitching depth is key, and both teams are positioning pieces strategically in what will feel like a chess match.

Tournament Strategy: Balancing Risk Vs. Reward

Arkansas’ Standpoint

Demanding Workload: Facing four elimination games, Arkansas has been careful with usage. Their relievers’ freshness could prove decisive.
Momentum Surge: After the no-hitter and the UFC‑style comeback win over UCLA, confidence in bullpen contributions is high washingtonpost.com+3si.com+3arizonasportsfans.com+3.
Flexible Plan: The staff allows Van Horn to pivot based on game flow—either go deep with starters or ride hot relievers.

LSU’s Calculus

Conserving Top Arms: Jay Johnson will likely shield Anderson/Eyanson/Evans for the finals.
Spot-Starter Shuffle: Shores is favored to plug the opening gap, while others fill middle innings en.wikipedia.org+4arizonasportsfans.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4tigerrag.com+1tigerdroppings.com+1.
Relief Support: Cowan, Noot, Rizy, and others ready to absorb innings—but with mixed results.

Key Influence Players in the Game

Arkansas

Landon Beidelschies / Ben Bybee – Quality starts could keep the game manageable and set the tone—either name earns credit for stabilizing the staff.
Parker Coil / Dylan Carter – Fresh arms with high upside; late leads could fall to them.
Gabe Gaeckle – If available, he’s a two-way weapon who can eat innings and rack strikeouts.

LSU

Chase Shores – If he starts, it’s do-or-die: a solid outing keeps LSU alive in the bracket, while failure forces Anderson/Evans/Eyanson out earlier than intended.
Casan Evans – Deep in the bullpen, could provide multi-inning relief if challenged.
Anthony Eyanson – Ready for short bursts or a multi-day rotation depending on outcome Thursday.

Scouting Summary Table

Team	Likely Starter	Primary Relievers
Arkansas	Beidelschies or Bybee	Coil, Carter, Gibler, Foutch, Gaeckle (if needed)
LSU	Chase Shores	Evans, Cowan, Eyanson, Noot, Rizy

A Battle of Depth, Control & Momentum

This rematch isn’t just a replay of the opener—it’s an endurance test for arms, nerves, and adaptation. Arkansas’ bullpen reserves versus LSU’s strategic preservation of top arms sets up an intriguing contrast. With LSU’s elite trio resting for later games and Arkansas riding momentum, both teams are laying groundwork for not just tonight…but possibly the finals.

What to Watch on the Mound Tonight

Starter Longevity – Can Arkansas go 4–5 innings with Beidelschies/Bybee? Will Shores deliver quality for LSU?
Bullpen Execution – Expect outstanding performances from Arkansas relievers unused thus far versus LSU’s strategic bullpen sequencing.
Managerial Moves – When will Van Horn turn to Coil/Carter/Gaeckle? Will Johnson resist or summon Evans/Eyanson early?
Pitch Quality in Later Innings – Both staffs have worked hard to spare their best; late-game form may decide this matchup.

Looking Ahead: What the Outcome Means

Arkansas Win → Forces a full rematch Thursday, relying again on depth and momentum.
LSU Win → LSU punches ticket to lowest line of the CWS Final with Anderson/Evans/Eyanson well-rested.
Loss for LSU → Might disrupt their finals rotation plan and force Anderson to come back on short rest.

Arkansas’ strength lies in pitching volume and fresh arms, while LSU brings star power with high-caliber top pitchers. Both teams’ strategies depend on their ability to manage arm availability tonight—and how confident they are in their second-tier options.

This gamble on depth versus ace preservation could be decisive—and whichever team outlasts the other in this matchup shifts momentum toward Omaha’s finals.