LSU vs. Coastal Carolina in the MCWS: 1 reason each team will win
The Southwest Times Record’s Jackson Fuller breaks down one reason LSU will win the Men’s College World Series and one reason Coastal Carolina will win.
Just like that, the College World Series is down to its final two teams between Coastal Carolina and LSU.
Powered by its pitching, Coastal Carolina, which has extended its win streak to 26 games since late April, is looking to continue its bid for a second national championship. But first, the 13th-ranked Chanticleers must get past the buzzsaw that is No. 6 LSU, which is looking for its second title in the last three years.
The first step to that national title starts at 7 p.m. ET when Coastal Carolina and LSU meet on the diamond in Game 1 of the CWS finals at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska on June 21.
Jared Jones played hero for LSU in its CWS semifinal vs. No. 3 Arkansas on June 18, as the first baseman completed the 6-5 come-from-behind win for the Tigers with a walk-off, single over the diving glove of Razorbacks second baseman Cam Kozeal.
The CWS championship series is a bit of a déjà vu moment for LSU coach Jay Johnson, as Johnson lost to the Chanticleers in the 2016 CWS championship series when he was then coach at Arizona. Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall was on that winning team in 2016 as an assistant coach, and now looks to become the first coach to win the CWS as a first-year coach since 1999.
USA TODAY Sports is providing live updates, scores and highlights of Game 1 of the CWS championship series between Coastal Carolina and LSU. Follow along below:
Coastal Carolina vs LSU baseball live score
This section will be updated throughout the game
| Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | F |
| CCU | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LSU | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Coastal Carolina vs LSU baseball live updates
This section will be updated closer to 7 p.m. ET first pitch
Pregame
Jake Brown returns to the LSU starting lineup with a right-hander on the mound, while Michael Braswell is in the No. 9 hole. Here’s the full starting lineup for LSU in Game 1 of the College World Series championship series on June 21:
- LF Derek Curiel
- DH Ethan Frey
- SS Steven Milam
- RF Jake Brown
- 1B Jared Jones
- C Luis Hernandez
- CF Chris Stanfield
- 2B Daniel Dickinson
- 3B Michael Braswell
Left-hander Kade Anderson is starting on the mound for the Tigers.
Here’s the starting lineup for Coastal Carolina in Game 1 of the College World Series championship series on June 21:
- C Caden Bodine
- LF Sebastian Alexander
- 2B Blake Barthol
- 3B Walker Mitchell
- RF Blagen Pado
- 1B Colby Thorndyke
- DH Dean Mihos
- SS Ty Dooley
- CF Wells Skyes
Right-hander Cameron Flukey is starting on the mound for the Chanticleers.
On the bump for Coastal Carolina in Game 1 of the College World Series championship series vs. LSU will be sophomore right-hander Cameron Flukey.
The native of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey hasn’t pitched in Omaha since the Chanticleers’ opening win vs. Arizona, when he threw four innings out of the bullpen. In that outing, Flukey struck out three while giving up two runs on two hits.
Flukey enters Game 1 with a 7-1 record and a 3.29 ERA.
LSU will hand the ball to its ace, junior left-hander Kade Anderson, for Game 1 of the College World Series championship series against Coastal Carolina.
Anderson is 11-1 on the season with a 3.44 ERA in 18 starts this season. He threw seven innings of one-run ball in LSU’s CWS opening win vs. Arkansas on June 14, striking out seven while allowing just three hits.
The Tigers’ southpaw is projected to be taken in the top five of the 2025 MLB Draft by several draft analysts. USA TODAY’s Gabe Lacques has Anderson going No. 5 overall to the St. Louis Cardinals.
While there is no rain in the forecast for Game 1 of the College World Series championship series, Mother Nature is still giving LSU and Coastal Carolina some challenging weather conditions to battle. As noted by AccuWeather, the temperature at first pitch is expected to be 98 degrees with a real feel of 96 degrees in Omaha. Additionally, wind gusts are expected to be at 44 mph.
The College World Series is a best-of-three championship series, meaning that LSU or Coastal Carolina has to win two games to be crowned the national champion.
If a team drops Game 1 of the CWS championship series, that team must win Game 2 to win a national championship in the “if necessary” Game 3. If a team wins Game 1 of the CWS championship series, the earliest that team can win a national championship is with a win in Game 2.
Noted by USA TODAY, Coastal Carolina University is located in Conway, South Carolina. Per the university’s website, the Chanticleers’ campus in Conway is located approximately nine miles from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Click here to read more about Coastal Carolina’s location and more.
Per the latest odds on BetMGM, LSU is favored to win the College World Series over Coastal Carolina. Entering Game 1 of the CWS finals, LSU has -165 odds, compared to Coastal Carolina’s +140 odds.
What time does Coastal Carolina vs LSU baseball start?
- Date: June 21
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Where: Charles Schwab Field Omaha (Omaha, Neb.)
Coastal Carolina and LSU baseball are scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET first pitch at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska in Game 1 of the College World Series championship series on June 21.
What TV channel is Coastal Carolina vs LSU baseball on today?
ESPN will televise Game 1 of the CWS championship series between Coastal Carolina and LSU. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service. Another option is Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Watch Coastal Carolina vs. LSU baseball live with Fubo (free trial)
Coastal Carolina vs LSU baseball predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of June 19
- Spread: LSU -1.5
- Over/under: 8.5
- Moneyline: LSU (-165) | Coastal Carolina (+130)
Looking to attend the College World Series championship series in Omaha? We’ve got you covered.
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College World Series schedule
The eight-team, double-elimination College World Series began on June 13 at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. Both Coastal Carolina and LSU won their respective CWS semifinal games on June 18, meaning the “if necessary” CWS semifinal games on June 19 weren’t needed.
The best-of-three CWS championship series starts on June 21 and continues through either June 22 or June 23, depending on if the series advances to the “if necessary” Game 3 or not.
Here’s a full look at the 2025 CWS schedule:
Friday, June 13
Saturday, June 14
Sunday, June 15
Monday, June 16
Tuesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 18
CWS Finals
- Game 1 (June 21): (13) Coastal Carolina vs. (6) LSU | 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 2 (June 22): (6) LSU vs. (13) Coastal Carolina | 2:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
- Game 3 (June 23) (If Necessary): (13) Coastal Carolina vs. (6) LSU | 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
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