Da Boot Sports
7/3/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


​   BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU outfielder Derek Curiel was named Wednesday the 2025 D1Baseball.com National Freshman of the Year.
 
   Curiel, also a Second-Team All-America, First-Team Freshman All-America and Second-Team All-SEC selection this season, hit a team-high .345 with 20 doubles, two triples, seven homers, 55 RBI and 67 runs, as he helped lead LSU to the NCAA College World Series National Championship.
 
   The product of West Covina, Calif., was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team after collecting six hits, three RBI and three runs in the CWS. Curiel hit a team-high .571 in the Tigers’ NCAA Super Regional sweep of West Virginia with one double, one homer, five RBI and six runs.
 
   He was voted to the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional All-Tournament Team, batting .400 (6-for-15) with two doubles, two RBI and four runs.
 
   Curiel finished the season No. 1 in the SEC in doubles (20), No. 3 in the league in walks (53), No. 4 in hits (89), No. 4 in on-base percentage (.470), No. 6 in runs scored (67) and No. 10 in batting average (.345).
 
   Kendall Rogers writes of Curiel in a feature story posted to D1Baseball.com:
 
   Curiel didn’t waste much time making his presence known for the Tigers during fall workouts. The way (Jay) Johnson talks about Curiel’s immediate impact in the fall reminds me a lot of the same feeling I got when I saw Dylan Crews for the first time in the fall in Baton Rouge. At first glance, Crews did not look like someone who belonged in college as a whole — the hit tool, the power potential and the maturity from a physical standpoint. All elite for Crews. Curiel showed a great aura in the fall, and he showed an extremely advanced approach and hit tool. He did not show the same power as Crews in his first fall, but the feeling overall was the same — this guy was born to be a superstar in college baseball, and probably in pro ball as well.
 
   Curiel began his LSU career this season by posting a 43-game reached base safely streak, marking the fifth-longest on record in the annals of LSU Baseball.
 
   He was named SEC Freshman of the Week on April 28 after leading LSU to a series win over Tennessee, batting .417 (5-for-12) in the series with two doubles, one homer, three runs and six RBI. He enjoyed a remarkable day at the plate in the April 27 series-clinching victory, going 4-for-4 with one homer, two doubles and a career-high five RBI.
 
   Curiel’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning in the April 25 Game 1 versus Tennessee tied the contest at 3-3 and set the stage for first baseman Jared Jones to follow with a walk-off homer that lifted the Tigers to victory.
 
   He was voted SEC Co-Freshman of the Week on March 17, as he hit .571 (8-for-14) in four games – including a three-game SEC sweep of Missouri - with two doubles, one triple, four RBI and six runs.
 
   Curiel becomes the eighth LSU player to earn National Freshman of the Year recognition, joining second baseman Todd Walker (1992), right-handed pitcher Brett Laxton (1993), second baseman Mike Fontenot (2000), left-handed pitcher Lane Mestepey (2001), shortstop Alex Bregman (2013), right-handed pitcher Alex Lange (2015) and outfielder Dylan Crews (2021).
 

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/25/2025
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - The LSU Baseball team commemorated their 2025 National Championship on Wednesday night at Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field at 8pm.  In other news, LSU head coach Jay Johnson was named American Baseball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year.   GEAUX TIGERS!!!
​

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

Photos Below By: Jonathan Mailhes

Da Boot Sports
6/24/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU Baseball team will commemorate its 2025 National Championship on Wednesday, June 25, with a celebration at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
   

   Gates will open at 7 p.m. Prior to the celebration, fans can enjoy a musical performance by Rising Country Star and current LSU Tiger Timothy Wayne. The team celebration will begin at 8 p.m. and is expected to last for approximately one hour.

   The celebration will include the presentation of the national championship trophy, along with remarks from several dignitaries. Head Coach Jay Johnson will address the crowd along with members of the baseball team. The celebration will conclude with a fireworks show.

   Admission is free and will be general admission for all non-premium areas. Food and beverages will be available for purchase inside the stadium. Alex Box Suites, Field Level Loges, Terraces and Champions Club will be reserved and ticketed.

   In addition, LSU’s National Championship gear and merchandise will be available for purchase at Alex Box Stadium.

   Fans may enter Alex Box Stadium through gates 0-3. Field level seating will be reserved for guests of LSU Baseball and the University. LSU Athletics’ Geaux Safe clear bag policy will be in place for the event. No outside food or drinks will be permitted.

   Free parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Bullpen, Hall of Fame, Old Front Nine, Gourrier South, Levee South and Hayfield Lots.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/22/2025
By: Jason Watson Jr.


   OMAHA, NE- The LSU Tigers are once more National Champions of Men’s College Baseball. They beat the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers two games to none in the final series behind the arms of their stud pitchers. Anthony Eyanson versus Jacob Morrison was the story of the day, and this one was exciting from the get-go. 
   
​   Tempers flared early in this one as Coastal Carolina’s head coach Kevin Schnall and first base coach Matt Schilling were ejected for what seemed to be arguing calls behind the plate in just the bottom of the first inning. The tosses came just after Sebastian Alexander stole second base. 

   CCU was able to settle down the emotions in the bullpen and proceeded to take a 1-0 lead in the next inning. Coastal’s Dean Mihos scored on a solo home run that just barely scraped over the LF wall. 

   In the top of the second, LSU responded. Off the arm of Jacob Morrison, Daniel Dickinson led off with a single, but advanced ninety feet off a sacrifice bunt from Michael Braswell.  After a fly out from Derek Curiel, Ethan Frey delivered an RBI-double with two outs to tie the ballgame at one apiece. 

   After a quiet third inning, LSU loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth. Jake Brown reached on a leadoff walk, Jared Jones earned a base hit that advanced Brown to third, and then Morrison hit Luis Hernandez for another free pass. 

   With no outs, Chris Stanfield laced a two-RBI single into left field to score Brown and Jones while giving LSU a 3-1 lead. Daniel Dickinson followed it up with a SAC bunt to advance the baserunners to second and third. 

   After a pop-out from Braswell, Curiel delivered a two-RBI single of his own to extend the Tiger lead to four runs. The barrage of hits and runs forced CCU to pull their ace out of the game after just 3.2 innings of work. Hayden Johnson came in relief for the Chanticleers. 

   Ethan Frey extended the fourth inning with a base hit that sent Curiel to third before Steven Milam flew out, ending the Tigers’ onslaught. 

   There was not a lot of activity from either side until the seventh inning when Coastal’s Wells Sykes drove a two-run home run into the left field bleachers to cut the deficit to just two runs. After a phenomenal performance that saw Anthony Eyanson go 6.1 IP, nine strikeouts, and just one walk on 99 pitches, Jay Johnson called for Chase Shores in relief, who wasted no time getting the Tigers out of the frame. 

   Shores hit over 100mph multiple times as he mowed down the Chanticleers in the eighth inning, and continued to do so in the bottom of the ninth.

   Leading 5-3 entering the final half frame, LSU gave up a leadoff single to bring the tying run to the plate. Shores responded with his fourth strikeout of his outing. With a runner on first, Sykes grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, sending the Tigers out of the dugout and into the dogpile near the pitcher's mound. 

   Game over. Tigers win 5-3. They swept the Chanticleers and picked up trophy number eight for LSU. The win also marked their second ring in three years after the 2023 title. Until next baseball season… Geaux Tigers! Be sure to stay tuned to Da Boot Sports for continued coverage of all major Louisiana State University athletics throughout the year! 


   Thanks for reading! Follow @JWatsonJr__ on X for more!

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

Photos below By: Jonathan Mailhes

LSU Post Game Press Conference

Da Boot Sports
6/21/2025
By: Terrill J. Weil


   OMAHA, NE - LSU took game one of the national championship series in Omaha with a hard fought 1-0 pitcher’s duel victory over Coastal Carolina.

   Kade Anderson (12-1) pitched a masterful gem and the LSU defense made the plays to help earn the win. Anderson pitched a complete game shut out, giving up no runs on only three hits. He struck out ten and walked five while hitting two batters. What an amazing job by Kade Anderson.

   The Tigers got on the scoreboard early. Derek Curiel started the bottom of the first with a leadoff walk. Steven Milam then hit a one out single to bring Curiel home. The one run would be all the Tigers needed for the huge victory.

   The Tigers snapped the Rooster’s 26 game winning streak.

   LSU is now only one win away from their 8th national championship. Game two is Sunday, June 22, at 1:30pm CST. The game will be televised on ABC or ESPN Plus.

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

Photos Below By: Jonathan Mailhes

Post game Press Conference Below

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/18/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   OMAHA, Neb. – First baseman Jared Jones’ RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday night lifted LSU to a 6-5 win over Arkansas, propelling the Tigers into the College World Series Finals at Charles Schwab Field.
 
   Jones’ walk-off hit capped a wild three-run rally that erased a 5-3 Arkansas lead and gave LSU its ninth berth in a CWS
championship round.
 
   LSU will meet Coastal Carolina in the best-of-three series to determine the 2025 National Champion. First pitch of Game 1 of the series is set for 6 p.m. CT Saturday, and it will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and televised by ESPN.
 
   “I would coach this team forever,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I've been telling them that probably since March or April. And it's because of their character.”
 
   LSU will seek its eighth National Championship and its second in the past three seasons. The Tigers have claimed CWS titles in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009 and 2023.
 
   Jones’ single marked the sixth walk-off hit for LSU in its College World Series history and its first since 2023, when Tommy White launched a walk-off homer to defeat Wake Forest and earn a berth in the CWS Finals.
 
   “Jared came back (to LSU instead of entering the MLB Draft) with the sole intent of doing what we're doing right now,” Johnson said. “He’s out in front of that not just as a player who's driving in runs, but as a leader. He's been tremendous in that regard; he’s set the way for the team.”
 
   The LSU rally began with one out and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth inning when leftfielder Derek Curiel reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Designated hitter Ethan Frey followed with a walk, but Curiel was forced out a third base on a ground ball by shortstop Steven Milam.
 
   Catcher Luis Hernandez then ripped a two-run double into left field, and he scored the winning run when Jones lifted a single just over the outstretched glove of Arkansas second baseman Cam Kozeal.
 
   LSU reliever Jacob Mayers (2-0) was credited with the win after striking out the final two Arkansas hitters in the ninth inning.
 
   Arkansas reliever Cole Gibler (3-2) suffered the loss, as he was charged with three runs on two hits in 0.2 inning with one walk and one strikeout.
 
   Both starting pitchers posting excellent outings, as LSU right-hander Zac Cowan worked 5.1 innings and limited the Razorbacks to one run on four hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Arkansas left-hander Landon Beidelschies pitched 5.0 innings and allowed two runs on three hits with one walks and nine strikeouts.
 
   “We’re excited to prepare for a couple more days and enjoy being together and go compete for a championship, because I get to coach guys like this,” Johnson said. “They're all across our team.”
 
   Arkansas opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning when catcher Ryder Helfrick led off with a home run, his 15th of the season.
 
   The Tigers plated two runs in the sixth when pinch hitter Jake Brown delivered a two-run single, but Arkansas regained the lead in the eighth when Helfrick provided an RBI groundout and a second run scored on an LSU infield error.
 
   Jones blasted a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at 3-3, but Razorback centerfielder Justin Thomas Jr. smacked a two-run single in the top of the ninth to give Arkansas a two-run advantage.
 

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/17/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   OMAHA, Neb. – First baseman Jared Jones drove in four runs and right-hander Casan Evans pitched 4.1 superb relief innings to lead LSU to a 9-5 win over UCLA in the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field.
 
   The game, which began on Monday night, was resumed at 10 a.m. CT Tuesday after inclement weather forced the contest to be suspended.
 
   LSU improved to 50-15 on the season, while UCLA dropped to 48-17. The Tigers have won 50 games in a season for the 15th time in their history, and for the second time in three seasons.
 
   LSU erased an early 3-0 deficit to defeat UCLA, marking the ninth time in the Tigers’ CWS history they have won a game after trailing by three or more runs.
 
   “I’m really proud of our players – the mindset piece, the disruption of the game last night because of weather,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I thought the response in the first inning, after giving up three runs, to come back and score four was very much in character for our team.
 
   “And that's what this tournament is at times. Had delays here, night games that ended up being day games the next day. I'm just really proud the way the team handled all that.”
 
   The Tigers will return to action at 6 p.m. CT Wednesday in the Bracket 2 final round versus either Arkansas or UCLA. If the Tigers win Wednesday’s game, they advance to the CWS Championship Series.
 
   If either Arkansas or UCLA win Wednesday’s game, LSU would have to play again on Thursday in order to earn its way into the championship series.
 
   The Tigers’ 6 p.m. CT game on Wednesday will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and televised on ESPN.
 
   LSU is 2-0 in the College World Series since 2009, when it went on to win its sixth of seven national championships.
 
   The LSU-UCLA game was halted Monday night at 7:20 p.m. CT due to inclement weather with the Tigers holding a 5-3 lead, and approximately three hours later, the NCAA announced the game would resume at 10 a.m. CT Tuesday.
 
   Evans (5-1) took the mound for LSU when the game resumed Tuesday at the top of the fourth inning. He fired 4.1 innings, limiting the Bruins in two runs on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts, firing 68 pitches.
 
   “I love the tempo that Casan set today,” Johnson said. “I thought he was outstanding, as he always is.”
 
   Right-hander Chase Shores picked up his first save of the season for LSU, as he worked the final 1.1 innings and retired all four batters he faced.
 
   UCLA starting pitcher Landon Stump (6-2) was charged with the loss, as he surrendered five runs on four hits in 2.0 innings with two walks and no strikeouts.
 
   LSU starting pitcher Anthony Eyanson pitched 3.0 innings on Monday night before the game was suspended, and he was charged with three runs on four hits with no walks and one strikeout.
 
   UCLA struck for three runs in the top of the first inning Monday night as third baseman Roman Martin lined an RBI double, rightfielder AJ Salgado provided an run-scoring single and centerfielder Payton Brennan added an RBI groundout.
 
   LSU responded with four runs in the bottom of the first as rightfielder Jake Brown smacked an RBI single, and Jones unloaded a three-run homer, his 21st dinger of the season.
 
   The Tigers extended the lead to 5-3 in the third when catcher Luis Hernandez delivered a two-out RBI single.
 
   LSU scored two run in the bottom of the fourth inning on Tuesday morning, as shortstop Steven Milam and rightfielder Jake Brown lined RBI singles.
 
   The Tigers added a run in the seventh on an RBI single by second baseman Daniel Dickinson, increasing LSU’s advantage to 8-3.
 
   UCLA, however, scored two runs in the eighth on a fielder’s choice groundout by centerfielder Payton Brennan and an RBI single by designated hitter Blake Balsz, narrowing the gap to 8-5.
 
   Shores ended the Bruins rally with the bases loaded and two outs when he forced second baseman Phoenix Call to ground into a fielder’s choice.
 
   An RBI single by Jones in the bottom of the eighth gave the Tigers an insurance run, and Shores retired the side in order in the ninth to end the game.
 
   “I never look too far down the road in this tournament,” Johnson said. “I think you can get yourself in trouble with that. I think if you win the first two games with only maybe three guys unavailable for the next game, you've probably done a pretty good job.”
 

Post Game Press Conference

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/14/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   OMAHA, Neb. – LSU sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson delivered a brilliant effort on the mound Saturday night, lifting the Tigers to a 4-1 win over Arkansas in the opening round of the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field.
 
   LSU improved to 49-15 on the year with the win, while Arkansas dropped to 48-14.
 
   LSU returns to action at 6 p.m. CT Monday against UCLA in a winner’s bracket game. Monday’s game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and televised by ESPN.
 
   Arkansas will face Murray State at 1 p.m. CT Monday in an elimination game.
 
   “It was a great win for our team, an outstanding performance against a great team in Arkansas,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson.
 
  Anderson (11-1) worked 7.0 innings Saturday night and limited Arkansas to one run on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts, firing 100 pitches.
 
   “An outstanding performance by Kade,” Johnson said. It’s what we've been accustomed to on the opening night of every weekend this year. I thought he got stronger as the game went along. I thought he executed pitches at a really high level, which you have to do against that offense.
 
   “Kade has got tremendous stuff. It's four pitches for strikes. He's never boxed into having to throw a certain way, which as a hitting coach makes it tough to plan against him because he can always pivot. He's got a plan for any type of hitter, left, right, power, good bat-to-ball type guys, I thought he just executed. He's such a tremendous competitor.”
 
   Arkansas starter Zach Root (8-6) was charged with the loss, as he allowed three runs on two hits in 1.2 innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
   LSU right-hander Casan Evans earned his seventh save of the season, pitching around a lead-off single in the ninth to retire the final three Arkansas hitters.
 
   “Casan showed great poise in the ninth, especially after giving up the single to (Arkansas leftfielder Charles) Davalan,” Johnson said.
 
   The Tigers grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning as centerfielder Chris Stanfield lined an RBI single, third baseman Michael Braswell III was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and rightfielder Josh Pearson provided an RBI groundout.
 
   A solo homer in the sixth inning by Arkansas first baseman Reese Robinett – his third dinger of the season – narrowed the gap to 3-1, but LSU added an insurance run in the ninth when leftfielder Derek Curiel smacked a two-out, two-strike RBI single.
 
   Curiel’s hit scored shortstop Steven Milam, who had drilled a one-out double to spark the rally.
 
   “Offensively, we did just enough,” Johnson said. “Arkansas has a tremendous pitching staff; I’m very proud of my team for finding a way to win.”
 

Da Boot Sports
6/12/2025
By: Terrill J. Weil


   The Tigers have arrived in Omaha to compete for a national championship. Below is the LSU opening press conference. Head Coach Jay Johnson, Kade Anderson and Jared Jones answered questions. 

   The Tigers play their first game in the CWS on Saturday at 6:00pm CST against Arkansas. The game will be televised on ESPN.
​

Da Boot Sports
6/8/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – Shortstop Steven Milam and rightfielder Jake Brown each drove in four runs Sunday night to lead LSU to a 12-5 win over West Virginia in Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regional at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
   The victory secured a berth in the College World Series for LSU, which will participate in the CWS for the 20th time in its illustrious baseball history, and for the second time in three seasons. LSU has won seven College World Series championships, most recently claiming the title in 2023.
 
   The Tigers will face Arkansas in their opening CWS game on either Friday or Saturday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb. The NCAA will announce dates and game times for the CWS on Monday.
 
   LSU improved to 48-15 with Sunday’s victory, while West Virginia completed its season with a 44-16 mark.
“I told the team after the game, I'm super proud of them because the rewards of ‘tough and together’ were out there on the field tonight,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I can't wait to go chase a national championship with them.
“It's so fun and exciting and rewarding to see all the people so passionate about LSU Baseball, and I’m so thankful for the effort from everybody in this program. And it was an awesome night. I have a lot of gratitude, and I’m just very thankful.”
Milam was 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI, and Brown was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and four RBI to highlight LSU’s offensive output.
 
   LSU starting pitcher Anthony Eyanson (11-2) earned the win, as he worked 5.0 innings and limited the Mountaineers to four runs on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts, firing 104 pitches.
 
   West Virginia starter Jack Kartsonas (6-4) was charged with the loss, as he surrendered six runs on five hits in 2.0 innings with four walks and one strikeout.
 
   LSU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Brown delivered an RBI groundout, and the Tigers struck for five runs in the second to extend the margin to 6-0.
 
   The second-inning rally featured a three-run double by Milam, and RBI singles by Brown and first baseman Jared Jones.
 
   The Mountaineers narrowed the gap to 6-3 in the fourth as designated hitter Sam White launched a solo homer and first baseman Ben Lumsden unloaded a two-run dinger.
 
   West Virginia added another run in the fifth when White provided an RBI single.
 
   LSU, however, erupted for six runs in the seventh inning as centerfielder Chris Stanfield slapped a two-run single, Milam lined an RBI double, and Brown smashed a two-run homer – his eighth dinger of the season – to highlight the outburst.
 
   The Tigers received outstanding relief pitching behind Eyanson from left-hander Cooper Williams and right-hander Chase Shores. Williams worked 2.2 innings and allowed just one run on one hit with one strikeout, and Shores worked 1.1 perfect innings with three strikeouts to close the game.
 

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

Photos Below By: Corey Perrillioux

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/7/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   ​BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU blasted three home runs Saturday, including two grand slams, as the Tigers posted a 16-9 win over West Virginia in Game 1 of the NCAA Super Regional in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
   LSU improved to 47-15 on the season, while West Virginia dropped to 44-15.
 
  The teams will meet in Game 2 of the series at 5 p.m. CT Sunday in a contest that will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and televised on ESPN2.
 
   If LSU wins Sunday’s game, the Tigers will advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., for the 20th time in school history. If West Virginia wins Sunday’s game, the teams will play again on Monday at a time to be announced in order to determine which squad earns the CWS berth.
 
   LSU leftfielder Derek Curiel was 3-for-3 at the plate on Saturday with a three-run homer and five RBI. Shortstop Steven Milam and rightfielder Josh Pearson each launched grand slams to power the Tigers’ offense.
 
   “A great win for our team today against a really good team, really good pitcher,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “Tough conditions; it was very hot today. But our guys came ready to play, and it was a good performance.
 
   “Great performance by Derek. Great performance by Josh. Really good job by our entire lineup throughout the game today. And now we get ready for tomorrow.”
 
   LSU hit two grand slams in a game for the first time since May 22, 2024, when Jared Jones and Tommy White each smashed grand slams versus Kentucky in the SEC Tournament.
 
   Left-hander Kade Anderson (10-1) earned the win Saturday on the mound for LSU, working 7.0 innings and allowing seven runs – six earned – on nine hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Anderson fired 113 pitches on a sweltering afternoon with the index soaring above 100 degrees.
 
   “Proud of Kade for gutting through that; that was not easy,” Johnson said. “I think everybody that was watching the game can attest that watching the game wasn't easy. So giving everything he had on every pitch was awesome.”
 
   WVU starter Griffin Kirn (5-3) was charged with the loss, as he surrendered four runs on two hits in 4.0 innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
 
  The Mountaineers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when rightfielder Jace Rinehart provided an run-scoring groundout, but Curiel’s three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth – his seventh dinger of the year – erased the deficit.
 
   The Tigers struck for seven runs in the fifth inning in an outburst highlighted by Milam’s grand slam, the first of the sophomore’s LSU career. The blast was Milam’s 11 homer of the season and increased the Tigers’ lead to 7-1.
 
   LSU’s seven-run fifth tied for the second-most runs the Tigers have scored in an inning in a Super Regional game. LSU also scored seven runs in a single Super Regional inning versus UC Irvine in 2008, and the Tigers plated 11 runs in an inning in the 2003 Super Regional versus Baylor.
 
   LSU added three more runs in the fifth on Curiel’s RBI single, and a two-run single by centerfielder Chris Stanfield.
 
   West Virginia responded with four runs in the top of the sixth in rally highlighted by centerfielder Skylar King’s two-run single.
 
   However, the Tigers pushed their advantage to 16-5 with six runs in the bottom of the sixth, as Curiel and pinch hitter Ashton Larson each drew bases-loaded walks, and Pearson unloaded a grand slam, his seventh dinger of the season.
 

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

Photos Below By: Corey Perrillioux

Photos Below By: Jonathan Mailhes

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/6/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   ​NCAA Baton Rouge Super Regional
West Virginia Mountaineers (44-14) vs. LSU Tigers (46-15)
DATES/TIMES

• Saturday, June 7 @ 1 p.m. CT (ESPN)
• Sunday, June 8 @ 5 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
• Monday, June 9 (TBD, if necessary)

STADIUM

• Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field in Baton Rouge, La. (10,718)

RANKINGS

• LSU – No. 6 NCAA Tournament National Seed, No. 10 NCAA RPI
• WVU – No. 28 NCAA RPI

RADIO
·        LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates
·        Live audio at www.LSUsports.net/live; Live stats at www.LSUstats.com 
TV/ONLINE

• Saturday’s game will be televised on ESPN; Sunday’s game will be televised on ESPN2

 
LSU HISTORY IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
• LSU is in the NCAA Tournament for the 13th straight season and for the 37th time overall .... LSU has won seven baseball national championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2023), the second-most in NCAA history ... the Tigers were an NCAA Tournament Top 8 National Seed for an NCAA-record six straight seasons (2012-17) and the Tigers’ No. 6 National Seed this season is their second Top 8 seed in the past three seasons and their 12th Top 8 seed overall ...  LSU was the No. 5 National Seed in 2023 and claimed the school's seventh CWS title ... LSU has the second-highest all-time NCAA Tournament winning percentage (.706, 180-75).
 
• LSU is participating in its 17th NCAA Super Regional, including its 13th Super Regional at home ... LSU has won nine Super Regional titles - 2000, '03, '04, '08, '09, '13, '15, '17, '23; all of its Super Regional titles have been won at home ... the Tigers have a 20-16 (.555) Super Regional overall record, including a 19-9 mark (.679) in home Super Regional games ... LSU's Super Regional series wins at home have come over UCLA (2000), Baylor (2003), Texas A&M (2004), UC Irvine (2008), Rice (2009), Oklahoma (2013), UL Lafayette (2015), Mississippi State (2017) and Kentucky (2023) ... LSU's Super Regional series losses at home have come to Stony Brook (2012), Coastal Carolina (2016) and Florida State (2019) ... LSU's home record in NCAA Tournament games (Regionals and Super Regionals combined) is 111-27 (.804).
 
• Last weekend, LSU captured its 27th NCAA Regional title by winning the Baton Rouge Regional ... LSU has a 114-30 (.792) all-time record in NCAA Regional games, including an 92-18 (.836) mark in home regional games and a 22-12 (.647) record in regional games on the road ... the Tigers have a total of 27 NCAA Regional titles, and LSU has won its home regional on 24 occasions:  1986, '90, '91, '93, '94, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '08, '09, '12, '13, '15, '16, '17, '19, '23, '25 ... the Tigers have won road regionals three times - in 1987 (at New Orleans), in 1989 (at Texas A&M) and in 2021 (at Oregon).
 
LSU SERIES HISTORY VS. WEST VIRGINIA
• Saturday's game will mark the first contest on the diamond between LSU and West Virginia.
 
QUOTING COACH JAY JOHNSON
“West Virginia is a championship-level team with a lot of very talented and experienced players, and they will present a number of challenges for our team. Our players gained a lot of confidence from enjoying success in the high-stakes environment last week’s regional provided. They responded in an appropriate fashion last week when faced with adversity, and that should give them great confidence. The most important factor is how we play, and when we play in character, we can be very good.”
 
ABOUT THE TIGERS
• LSU is 46-15 overall and the Tigers are the No. 6 National Seed in the NCAA Tournament ... LSU is ranked No. 1 in the nation by Baseball America, and No. 3 by D1 Baseball and USA Today in their most recent polls ... the Tigers posted a 19-11 SEC regular-season record and finished in third place in the 2025 conference standings  … LSU won at least 19 league games for the 19th time in school history and for the second time in the past three seasons ... LSU is playing host to a Super Regional for the second time in three seasons and for the 13th time overall.
 
• The LSU pitching staff enters the NCAA Baton Rouge Super Regional ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in three major statistical categories – the Tigers are No. 2 in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (11.9), No. 6 in hits allowed per nine innings (7.28) and No. 7 in team ERA (3.73).
 
• LSU enters the NCAA Baton Rouge Super Regional No. 5 in the SEC in team batting average (.300), and the Tigers are No. 3 in the league in on-base percentage (.412), No. 5 in runs scored (483), No. 4 in hits (609) and No. 3 in doubles (125) … the LSU pitching staff is No. 2 in the SEC in team ERA (3.73), and the Tigers are No. 2 in the league with 691 strikeouts … LSU is No. 3 in opponent batting average (.220).
 
• LSU junior first baseman Jared Jones, a semifinalist for the 2025 Dick Howser Trophy, has moved into sole possession of third place on the LSU career homers list – he has 62 homers in three seasons, trailing only catcher Brad Cresse (78 HR, 1997-2000) and first baseman Eddy Furniss (80 HR, 1995-98).
 
• Sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson, a 2025 Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist, is No. 2 in the nation in strikeouts this season with 156. He is also No. 3 in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (14.63) and No. 12 in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.00).
 
• Kade Anderson's total of 156 Ks this season is No. 6 on the LSU single-season strikeouts list. He is No. 2 this season in the SEC in strikeouts, No. 1 in the league in innings pitched (96.0) and No. 9 in opponent batting average (.216).
 
• Junior right-hander Anthony Eyanson, a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Award, is No. 3 in the nation in strikeouts with 135, and he is No. 9 in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (12.97). He is No. 1 in the SEC in ERA (2.50) and wins (10), No. 3 in the league in strikeouts (135), No. 3 in innings pitched (93.2) and No. 7 in opponent batting average (.209).
 
• Senior catcher Luis Hernandez batted a team-high .533 (8-for-15) in last weekend’s NCAA Baton Rouge Regional with one double, two homers, five RBI and four runs … sophomore shortstop Steven Milam batted .417 (5-for-12) in the regional with one double, three RBI and five runs … freshman leftfielder Derek Curiel hit .400 (6-for-15) last weekend with two doubles, two RBI and four runs, and junior designated hitter Ethan Frey batted .375 (6-for-16) with three doubles, one triple, one homer, six RBI and five runs … the Tigers hit seven home runs in last week’s regional, while limiting opponents to one homer in the tournament.
 
• Junior first baseman Jared Jones, a semifinalist for the 2025 Dick Howser Trophy, is No. 2 in the SEC this season in RBI (69), No. 4 in hits (80), No. 5 in total bases (154) and No. 5 in home runs (20)… freshman outfielder Derek Curiel is No. 2 in the SEC in doubles (18), No. 4 in the league in walks (47) and No. 8 in on-base percentage (.463) ... junior second baseman Daniel Dickinson is No. 5 in the SEC in on-base percentage (.469).
 
• LSU freshman right-hander Casan Evans has been named by the NCBWA as one of 13 finalists for the 2025 Stopper of the Year award. Evans and left-hander Dylan Volantis of Texas are the only freshmen among the 13 finalists … Evans, a product of Houston, Texas, is 4-1 on the year with a 1.90 ERA and six saves in 47.1 innings (17 appearances) … he has logged 19 walks and 65 strikeouts, and opponents are hitting just .225 against him.
 
• LSU junior centerfielder Chris Stanfield has been named one of three finalists for the inaugural Tony Gwynn Trophy, honoring NCAA baseball student-athletes who exemplify the Gwynn legacy of philanthropy … he launched his “Be The 1” campaign at LSU, where he donates $100 to the Miracle League in Baton Rouge for every game in which he produces an extra-base hit or stolen base … he is actively involved with the Miracle League, which gives children with any type of disability or special needs the opportunity to play baseball as part of a team.
 
ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA

• West Virginia won the 2025 Big 12 regular-season title with a 19-9 league record … the Mountaineers have a 24-5 record in road games this season … WVU swept three games last weekend in the NCAA Clemson Regional, defeating Kentucky, Clemson and Kentucky for a second time in the regional title game.
• The Mountaineers are hitting .299 as a team this season with 122 doubles, 11 triples, 55 home runs and 108 stolen bases in 141 attempts … utility player Sam White is hitting .352 on the year with 16 doubles, four homers and 44 RBI … outfielder Kyle West is batting .347 and he has 15 doubles, a team-high 10 homers and 36 RBI … outfielder Jace Rinehart is batting .317 and leads WVU in doubles (21) and RBI (51).
• WVU’s top pitcher this season has been left-hander Griffin Kern, who is 5-2 with a 3.13 ERA, and he has recorded 29 walks and 100 strikeouts in 95.0 innings … right-hander Jack Kartsonas is 6-3 with a 2.94 ERA, and he has logged 16 walks and 76 strikeouts in 64.1 innings … right-handers Reese Bassinger and Carson Estridge have posted five saves each for the Mountaineers.

 
 

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/2/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – Designated hitter Ethan Frey drove in four runs Monday night, and right-hander Casan Evans fired 6.0 brilliant relief innings as top-ranked LSU posted a 10-6 win over Little Rock to capture the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional title in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
   LSU improved to 45-16 on the season as the Tigers captured the 27th NCAA Regional title in school history. Little Rock completed its season with a 27-34 record.
 
   The Tigers advanced to the NCAA Super Regional round and will face West Virginia in a best two-of-three series beginning either Friday or Saturday in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The winner of the LSU-West Virginia series will earn a berth in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
 
   Game dates and times for all eight Super Regionals are scheduled to be announced by the NCAA at 9 a.m. CT Tuesday.
 
   Little Rock led, 5-1, through three innings, but the Tigers roared back to claim the regional championship.
 
   “I told the players tonight is one of the best wins of my entire career because of what they had to do to earn it,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson, who recorded his 500th career win in 13 seasons as a collegiate coach. “We obviously have great talent and great players, but also some of the best human beings on the planet.”
 
   Frey was 4-for-4 at the plate Monday night with a home run, two doubles, two walks, two runs and four RBI to lead LSU’s 11-hit output. Catcher Luis Hernandez blasted two solo homers and collected three RBI, and first baseman Jared Jones launched a two-run dinger, his 20th home run of the season.
 
   “You look at the offensive performance by Ethan,” Johnson said, “that's arguably the best game I've ever seen any one of my players ever play, considering the situation.”
 
   Evans (4-1) entered the game in the second inning and limited the Trojans to one run on four hits in 6.0 innings with three walks and a career-best 12 strikeouts. He threw a career-high 109 pitches, 71 for strikes.
 
   “This dude (Evans) is a superstar, and there haven't been very many better performances on that pitching mound in championship games than what you saw tonight from Casan.”
 
   Right-hander Anthony Eyanson earned his second save of the season for the Tigers, blanking Little Rock over the final 1.2 innings with one hit, no walks and three strikeouts.
 
   Little Rock reliever Jackson Wells (3-8) was charged with the loss, as he allowed three runs on four hits in 3.1 innings with no walks and four strikeouts.
 
   Frey gave LSU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with his 13th homer of the season, but Little Rock struck for five runs in the bottom of the second inning to establish a four-run advantage.
 
   Frey’s three-run double in the fourth inning reduced Little Rock’s lead to 5-4, and LSU tied the game in the sixth when Hernandez launched his first homer of the and eighth of the season.
 
   LSU took the lead in the seventh when Frey doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on shortstop Steven Milam’s groundout.
 
   Hernandez’s second homer of the night in the eighth extended the LSU lead to 7-5, but the Trojans responded with shortstop Alex Seguine’s RBI single in the bottom of the frame to narrow the margin to one run.
 
  In the top of the ninth, Jones unloaded a two-run homer and Hernandez lined a run-scoring single to give the Tigers a 10-6 advantage.
 
   “I’m super proud of these guys,” Johnson said, “and I couldn't be more excited to dive into Super Regional week and get ready for West Virginia.”
 
​

Photos Below By: Corey Perrillioux

Photos Below By: Jonathan Mailhes

Da Boot Sports
6/1/2025
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – First baseman Angel Cano drove in five runs Sunday night to lead Little Rock to a 10-4 win over LSU in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
   The teams will meet again at 8 p.m. CT Monday in the regional championship game, with the winner advancing to face West Virginia in an NCAA Super Regional beginning either Friday or Saturday.
 
   Little Rock improved to 27-33 on the season with Sunday night’s win, while LSU dropped to 45-15. The Trojans earlier on Sunday won an elimination game over Dallas Baptist, 8-6.
 
   “Great job by Little Rock today,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “Winning two games against two great teams, and you’ve got to tip your hat to them. They took a lot of good at-bats throughout the day. I watched their entire first game as it was transpiring and it was complete performance by them.
 
   “I think our game tonight kind of speaks for itself where it got away from us and we'll leave it here tonight, turn all our focus to tomorrow and find a way to play great.”
 
   Cano was 2-for-5 at the plate with a two-run homer and a three-run double, as Little Rock erased an early 3-0 LSU lead with six combined runs in the second and third innings.
 
   Brenden Katz (1-0), the second of four Little Rock pitchers, was credited with the win, as he worked 1.2 scoreless innings while allowing two hits with two walks and one strikeout.
 
   Reliever Malcolm Brown earned his first save of the season for the Trojans, limiting LSU to one run on three hits in 5.1 innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
 
   LSU reliever Chase Shores (5-3) was charged with the loss, as he allowed four runs on one hit in 1.0 inning with three walks and two strikeouts.
 
   LSU freshman left-hander Cooper Williams delivered an effective bullpen performance for the Tigers, firing 3.2 scoreless innings with three hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
 
   “Our players have done a good job this year of bouncing back after a tough game, both individually and collectively, and it gives me great confidence about what they can do tomorrow.”
 

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

Da Boot Sports
5/31/2025
By: David Penn


   BATON ROUGE, LA - LSU has opened the Baton Rouge regional with back to back shutouts. After defeating the Little Rock Cougars 7-0, The Tigers blanked the Patriots 12-0. “It was a good night for our team,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I thought we played outstanding baseball tonight. Obviously it starts and ends on the mound. And Kade, as Kade has been all year, was the best pitcher on the planet tonight. And executed at a high level. Defense continued to support him, another game of zero in the error column.”    
   Kade Anderson, projected to be the first pitcher off the board in the MLB draft, went 7 scoreless innings for LSU. Anderson struck out 11 Patriots and ran his total strikeouts on the year to 145, good for second in D1 baseball. Will Schmidt entered the game in the 9th inning and fanned  3 batters to ice the game.

   On offense, Ethan Frey kicked off the scoring in the home half of the first inning with a double to right field that scored Jake Brown and Daniel Dickinson. Chris Stanfield notched his first home run of the season in the second inning to increase the LSU lead to 3-0. Luis Hernandez laid down a sac bunt that scored Frey and Hernandez reached on error in the 3rd inning. Stanfield and Derek Curiel would each produce RBI singles in the 3rd to score Steven Milam and Hernandez, 6-0 Tigers. 

   The Tigers added a run in the 5th on a ground ball by Stanfield that scored Milam, Milam would add another run in the 6th inning when he stole home. Frey also scored in the 6th off a Hernandez single, Frey would then unload a triple in the 8th and race home when Nathan Humphreys failed to secure the ball before the throw, 10-0 LSU. Ashton Larson let loose a sac fly that brought home Milam, and the Tigers capped off the scoring when Cade Arrambide came home on a wild pitch.

   DBU and Little Rock will play an elimination game at 2pm CST on Sunday. LSU will play the winner at 8pm CST. 

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

Photos Below By: Corey Perrillioux

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.