If there’s a feeling that LSU and/or the SEC always win the college baseball national championship, it’s because they seemingly always do. On Sunday, LSU rode the strong right arm of Anthony Eyanson and a four-run fourth inning to a 5-3 win over Coastal Carolina in game two of the College World Series “Championship Series.” The victory helped the Tigers sweep the best-of-three matchup with the Chanticleers and claim the school’s eighth baseball national championship. It’s also LSU’s second title in the last three years and the SEC’s sixth straight triumph in Omaha. The last non-SEC school to win the championship was Oregon State in 2018.
And while the superb pitching of the LSU staff would normally be the storyline from the CWS, that group may have to share the spotlight with the umpiring crew.
In the first inning, Coastal head coach Kevin Schnall and first base coach Matt Schilling were each ejected for arguing with the umpires. A decision that sparked much social media outrage aimed at home plate umpire Angel Campos.
During the game, the NCAA released a statement explaining the decision and the subsequent punishment for Schnall and Schilling. “In the bottom of the first inning, Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall and first base coach Matt Schilling were ejected from the game for continued arguing about balls and strikes after being warned initially by the umpire crew. NCAA Playing Rule 3-6-f-Note 1 states that balls, strikes, half swings, or decisions about hit-by-pitch situations are not to be argued. After a warning, any player or coach who continues to argue balls, strikes, half swings, or a hit-by-pitch situation shall be ejected from the game.”
The NCAA also ruled that Coach Schnall will be suspended for the next two games, which will come at the beginning of the 2026 season, while Schilling will miss the first three games of next year.
As far as the action on the field was concerned, LSU roughed up CCU ace Jacob Morrison, knocking him out of the game with a four-run fourth inning. That frame gave the Tigers all the cushion they needed, as Coastal’s bullpen was able to hold LSU at bay for the remainder of the game. The trio of Hayden Johnson, Darin Horn, and Ryan Lynch combined to throw 5 & 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Giving up four hits while striking out seven.
But the story was Eyanson. A night after Kade Anderson struck out ten in his complete-game shutout of the Chanticleers, Eyanson rolled up 9 K’s in 6 & 1/3 IP. CCU did get to him for two home runs. A solo shot by Dean Mihos in the second and a two-run blast by Wells Sykes in the 7th. However, LSU reliever Chase Shores recorded the final eight outs, four via strikeout, to close out the game.
To add another layer to the remarkable season for LSU, head coach Jay Johnson becomes the first Division I coach to win two titles in his first four years at a school. No other coach had accomplished that feat in fewer than eight seasons.
CCU wraps up the year at 56-13, claiming the Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles, along with a regional and super regional championship.
Box Score
CCU HC Kevin Schnall, C Caden Bodine, DH Dean Mihos, CF Wells Sykes — CWS Presser
LSU HC Jay Johnson, P Anthony Eyanson, P Chase Shores, CF Chris Stanfield — CWS Presser
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