Game 2 preview: Will the Race to Eight be Over For the Tigers

The atmosphere around Charles Schwab Field is an energy never seen this week; the Tiger faithful have fully ascended upon Omaha. While the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers have been in Omaha the whole time, bringing Teal Nation to the north, with game one out of the way and the Tigers walking away victorious.

Both teams are meeting again for the first time since 2016, while LSU is on the hunt for an eighth national title, and Coastal is chasing its second title, last won in 2016, the year it all came together.

There is a big contrast here between what happened in 2016, the players, the staff and the attitude coming into the Championship final. It’s been made very clear by the Chants that this isn’t a Cinderella story on the appearance here.

While the Tigers are here to redeem themselves after just falling short of an Omaha appearance in 2024, after claiming a national title in 2023 with head coach Jay Johnson.

The stage is set for this early summer matchup, with winds blowing at 42 mph from left center field, and temperatures well into the triple digits are something these players will have to fight hard to knock balls out of the park.

Coastal Carolina

This team has found its stride in the last 26 games, all of which have been undefeated. With a coach who has been changing the way people view this mid-major program, with a deep pitching staff and aggressive bats.

Starting on the mound, the Chanticleers have a talented lineup of pitchers, with the top three all being under a 3.30 ERA through a combined 289.2 innings between the three.

On the mound in game one for the Chants is Cam Flukey, coming in with an 8-1 record, 95.2 innings pitched and 109 strikeouts. When he is on the mound, he can keep batters at a .211 batting average, but it is worth noting that the type of opponents in the Coastal lineup are of a different caliber.

The only time Coastal has seen an SEC team is during the Auburn Super Regional, winning both games with a combined score of 11 runs. Through the starting nine hitters this will be a true test of whether hits can keep coming when facing off against an SEC team.

Leading the team in batting is Caden Bodine with a .326 batting average, five home runs and 42 RBI. On the Chanticleers team the leading number in home runs is 12, which means this team is used to playing small ball.

Players are racking up RBIs and stolen bases wherever the chance arises; the LSU offence will have to be on the mark with every bat swung to ensure bases are continuously empty.

LSU

Known as the powerhouse of college baseball, this team is coming in with big bats and strong pitching. Having arguably one of the most potent 1-2 pitching punch in the country, with sophomore Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson.

Kade Anderson is leading the NCAA in strikeouts with 170 over his 110 innings pitched. For this Coastal Carolina team, it will be challenging to get a good swing off of him, given his .218 batting average against his opponents.

Delivering a complete game shutout against the Chanticleers, with only three hits, Anderson made history for his last ever appearance in the purple and gold.

Following his performances in Game 2, Eyanson will step onto the mound today hoping to deliver the same level of performance. Tonight, the race to eight for the Tigers could come to an end with the trophy held high above the LSU players.

If the Tigers are able to bring the bats alive in this game two, the chances of winning grow by the minute. With the pitching staff that LSU has put together, the Chanticleers will have to fight hard for every hit and run through all nine innings.