LSU Dominates as Kade Anderson Throws Stunning Shutout Against Coastal Carolina in CWS Game 1…Read More…
On a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field, the College World Series kicked off in electrifying fashion as LSU’s Kade Anderson delivered a masterclass performance, shutting out Coastal Carolina in Game 1 of their opening CWS matchup. Behind Anderson’s brilliance on the mound and an aggressive Tigers offense, LSU cruised to a convincing 6-0 victory, taking an early step toward another shot at national glory.
In a game where every pitch carried postseason weight, Anderson stood tall from the first inning to his final delivery, etching his name into the storied legacy of LSU postseason greats. The sophomore left-hander was nearly untouchable, tossing eight scoreless innings, striking out 11, and allowing just three hits. He faced the minimum through the first four frames, frustrating a Chanticleers lineup that came in hot after slugging its way through the regionals and super regionals.
“Every kid dreams of pitching in Omaha,” Anderson said after the game, surrounded by cameras and cheering fans. “Today, I just wanted to stay in the moment, trust my defense, and attack the zone. The energy was electric.”
Lights-Out Pitching from Anderson
From the first pitch, it was clear Anderson was dialed in. Using a precise mix of his fastball and devastating slider, he mowed through Coastal Carolina’s batting order with veteran-like poise. His fastball, sitting at 93–95 mph, had late life, but it was his off-speed control that truly made the difference. Anderson induced 14 swings-and-misses and recorded 7 of his 11 strikeouts via his slider, which consistently darted out of the zone at the last moment.
“He commanded the strike zone and had us off balance all game,” said Coastal Carolina head coach Gary Gilmore. “We’ve seen good arms, but today was something different. Credit to that young man—he was fantastic.”
It wasn’t just the strikeouts that impressed. Anderson worked efficiently, throwing 102 pitches in eight innings, with only two walks. Perhaps most critically, he stranded two runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings—the only real threats Coastal posed all game. In both situations, Anderson calmly worked his way out of the jam, striking out the side in the fifth and forcing a crucial groundout to end the sixth.
Tigers’ Offense Strikes Early and Often
While Anderson’s dominance was the story of the game, LSU’s offense made sure to back him up. The Tigers came out swinging, scoring two runs in the first inning off Coastal’s starter, Luke Fluharty, who entered the CWS with a 2.97 ERA. But against LSU, Fluharty struggled to command the zone and was tagged for four runs over 4.1 innings before being pulled in the fifth.
The spark came early, as LSU leadoff man Tre’ Morgan singled and quickly stole second. A sharp liner by Dylan Crews brought him home, followed by a double from Tommy White that plated Crews for the 2-0 lead. LSU never looked back.
“We wanted to be aggressive from the start,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said. “We know what it takes to win here, and putting pressure on their pitcher early gave us momentum. And when Kade’s pitching like that, two runs feel like ten.”
White added another RBI single in the fifth, extending LSU’s lead to 4-0. Freshman catcher Brady Neal delivered the knockout blow in the seventh with a towering two-run homer over the right-field wall, putting LSU ahead 6-0 and sending the Tigers’ dugout into a frenzy.
Defensive Precision Seals the Shutout
Just as impressive as LSU’s pitching and hitting was their airtight defense. The Tigers turned two crucial double plays—one in the third and another in the seventh—to snuff out any flickers of a Coastal rally. Neal also threw out a would-be base stealer in the second, showing off his rocket arm and calm under pressure.
“We pride ourselves on being complete,” shortstop Jordan Thompson said. “Defense, offense, pitching—we’re firing on all cylinders right now. But we know this is just one game. We’ve got more work to do.”
Looking Ahead
With the win, LSU takes a 1-0 lead in their CWS bracket and awaits the winner of the Virginia vs. Arkansas matchup. For Coastal Carolina, the loss sends them to the elimination bracket, where their margin for error is now razor-thin.
Still, Coach Gilmore believes his team can bounce back.
“This group has grit,” he said. “We’ve been counted out before and answered the call. We tip our cap to LSU tonight, but we’re not done.”
As for LSU, the victory puts them in a familiar position—one step closer to Omaha immortality. Their last national championship came just two years ago, and if Anderson’s performance is any indication, they have all the tools to make another deep run.
The Tigers will likely hand the ball to ace Thatcher Hurd or sophomore stud Ty Floyd in Game 2, while Coastal will regroup and look to stay alive in the double-elimination format.
Final Box Score:
- LSU – 6 runs, 9 hits, 0 errors
- Coastal Carolina – 0 runs, 3 hits, 1 error
Notables:
- Kade Anderson: 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 11 K, 2 BB
- Tommy White: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
- Brady Neal: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
- Tre’ Morgan: 2-for-4, 1 SB, 2 R
Quote of the Night: “We came here to win the whole thing. One game at a time, and today was just the beginning.” – LSU’s Kade Anderson
If Game 1 was any indication, the LSU Tigers are hungry, dangerous, and ready to paint Omaha purple and gold once again.
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