Omaha, Nebraska – In a thrilling conclusion to the College World Series, LSU claimed their eighth national championship on Sunday, June 22, defeating Coastal Carolina 5-3. The Tigers completed the two-game sweep after showcasing outstanding performance over the weekend.
The championship solidifies LSU’s position as one of the elite programs in college baseball, now having only one other university, Southern California, ahead of them with twelve titles, although USC hasn’t won since 1998. Meanwhile, Coastal Carolina ends a season filled with excitement and significant achievement, having made it back to the finals for the second time since their championship win in 2016.
The game on Sunday was marked by turmoil as Coastal’s head coach, Kevin Schnall, and first-base coach, Matt Schilling, were ejected in the first inning after continuous arguing over calls. It was a tough pill to swallow for the Chanticleers, whose fairytale run ended with disappointment.
LSU took full advantage of Coastal’s shaky start, scoring one run in the third inning and four more in the fourth, highlighted by a pair of critical two-run singles. The Tigers utilized their athleticism and talent effectively, while Coastal Carolina, despite entering Omaha on a record-setting 26-game winning streak, struggled to keep pace.
Overall, the SEC has now secured five consecutive national championships in college baseball, beginning with Vanderbilt in 2019. This victory for LSU also serves to reinforce the SEC’s status as the top baseball conference in the nation, especially after a disappointing earlier tournament showing for the conference.
The tournament seen an impressive performance from Murray State, who made their College World Series debut and became one of the feel-good stories of the event. They fought against the odds to reach Omaha but ultimately could not advance further. Meanwhile, Arkansas faced yet another heartbreaking exit, as their journey also ended at the super regionals.
As the dust settles on this year’s competitive tournament, it is clear that LSU’s strength shone bright, dominating at critical moments while Coastal Carolina, despite an impressive streak, struggled when it counted. Moving forward, both teams will look to build on this year’s experiences as new seasons approach.
