LSU Faces Off Against Arkansas in Game 1 of College World Series

Omaha, NE - In the promise land of college baseball, the LSU Tigers have made a return to the world stage after just barely missing the cut last season. Since this year-long hiatus, the Tigers have become bigger, better and stronger than ever before, becoming a threat to all those that cross paths with the Tigers.

To start the Men's College World Series, LSU will take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second game of the day at 6 p.m. Central. The Tigers are no strangers to Arkansas, having seen this star-studded team earlier in the season, there is a sense of familiarity.

“I've probably seen in my time in college baseball in terms of starters, relievers, arm strength, out pitches, pitchability, the whole deal. I think they would probably say the same thing about us. I think it will make for a great game on Saturday night,” says Jay Johnson.

After a regular season series win, the LSU Tigers didn’t go without a bit of a struggle against the Razorbacks. After losing the third game in the series after run-ruling the Hogs the day prior, the pitching went through a questionable performance.

Since that series, the pitching has had an almost unstoppable one-two duo this season of ace pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kade Anderson. Once those first two days happen, and those arms are burned, there has been no set Sunday starter.

But in the game of baseball, head coach Jay Johnson is typically said to be playing the game of chess, not checkers. Has leaned into true freshman Casan Evans and transfer Zac Cowan to lead the Sunday charge.

LSU has found a workable stride that has hit the sweet spot in the postseason after Casan Evans had a legacy game, in game three of the Baton Rouge Regional, delivering six innings, one hit and a career high of 109 pitches.

The Razorback side hasn’t gone without some commotion after taking down the Tennessee Volunteers, the former World Series title holders, in the Super Regional rubber match, silencing the Tennessee fanbase.

The offensive power is something to take note of, with the starting nine batting over .275 with big-name hitters like Wehia Aloy, the home run leader, and Logan Maxwel, who is leading the team in batting average.

On the mound for the Razorbacks is standout ace pitcher Zach Root, coming in with a 3.59 ERA and 92.2 innings pitched. After his arm burns out on the mound, the next up is Gabe Gaeckle, whose stats aren’t as impressive, but still able to choke up the batters to keep the runs low.

This game will come down to two things on Saturday night: will the pitching for the Razorbacks be able to hold off the hot bats of the LSU Tigers that have been on the mark recently through the regional and super regional?

And will Ace pitchers Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson be able to keep the runs low and silence the criticism from the haters that have been trying to deem Arkansas as the superior team?

The stage is set for Game 1 of LSU and Arkansas for Saturday at 6 p.m., a prime time game. As the well-seasoned National Champions from 2023 have a new team with some veterans, whoever wins this game has the chance to win it all here in Omaha.