Back to Omaha
What appeared to be an early celebration for LSU’s 20th trip to the College World Series was delayed in the middle innings of its super-regional game against West Virginia on Sunday night.
A six-run Tigers lead was all but gone by the end of the fifth inning. Then, two unlikely heroes stepped forward for LSU.
First, freshman pitcher Cooper Williams replaced a tiring starter Anthony Eyanson in the bottom of the sixth inning and protected a two-run advantage. Second, Chris Stanfield delivered a two-run single in the top of the seventh to start a game-clinching outburst.
The work from Williams and Stanfield stopped the Mountaineers rally and propelled the Tigers to a 12-5 victory at The Box. LSU swept the super-regional series from West Virginia and will move on to the CWS in Omaha where its first-round opponent will be Arkansas.
The Tigers jumped on Mountaineers starter Jack Kartsonas for six runs in the first two innings – five in the second. Derek Curiel’s leadoff double led to the first-inning run.
In the second, Kartsonas walked the bases loaded after two outs. Steven Milam cleared the bases with a double into the rightfield corner. Jake Brown singled home Milam, who moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Jared Jones single.
It certainly appeared that Eyanson would cruise to a victory with the big offensive support. However, the Mountaineers went to work in the middle innings against Eyanson. Sam White hit a solo home run and Ben Lumsden hit a two-run homer in the fourth.
Then, Eyanson gave up a run-scoring single with one out in the fifth leaving West Virginia behind 6-4. Coach Jay Johnson stuck with Eyanson who got a force out and a pop up to end the fifth.
When Eyanson hit Jace Rinehart to start the sixth, Johnson went to Williams. Six days earlier, freshman Casan Evans came out of the bullpen to change the momentum of the regional final game against Little Rock. Williams did the same Sunday.
Williams made short work of the first three batters he faced – ground out, pop out and strikeout. After the Tigers extended their lead in the top of the seventh, Williams had another one-two-three inning.
Williams gave up a solo home run to Jace Rinehart in the eighth. After a walk, Williams was replaced by Shores, who got the final four outs.
West Virginia set up LSU’s big seventh inning as an error, a walk and a hit batter filled the bases with no outs. Stanfield released the pressure on the Tigers with a two-run single.
The Mountaineers made two more errors in the inning. LSU made them pay for the miscues with a RBI double by Milam and a two-run homer by Brown. The Tigers had a 12-4 lead and their CWS second appearance in three seasons under Johnson was a forgone conclusion.
LSU STARTERS
Derek Curiel: 1-for-4, 3 runs scored
Ethan Frey: 0-for-5, 2 runs scored
Steven Milam: 2-for-4, 4 RBIs, 2 runs scored
Jake Brown: 2-for-4, 4 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 1 HR
Jared Jones: 3-for-4, 1 RBI
Daniel Dickinson: 0-for-5, 1 run scored
Tanner Reaves: 0-for-2, 1 run scored
Luis Hernandez: 1-for-4
Chris Stanfield: 1-for-3, 2 RBIs, 1 run scored
LSU PITCHERS
Anthony Eyanson: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Cooper Williams: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Chase Shores: 1.1 IP, 3 K
LSU Nike 2025 CWS Dugout Cotton Tee
from: Alumni Hall 
LSU 2025 CWS Geauxmaha Dad Hat
from: Alumni Hall
