LSU Athletic Communications and Staff Reports
Behind a complete-game shutout by pitcher Kade Anderson, the LSU Tigers defeated the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 1-0 in Game 1 of the best-of-3 College World Series Championship Series Saturday night in Omaha, Neb.
Anderson (12-1) pitched a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts and five walks. He threw 130 pitches.
“I was just really focusing on the next pitch throughout the night,” Anderson said. “It wasn’t pretty, but got the job done. Just putting the team in a situation to win was my goal. Sometimes with the staff we have, all you need is one run. And Coach (Jay) Johnson prepares us to be one-run ready.”
It was LSU’s second CWS complete-game shutout, Anderson joined freshman Brett Laxton pitched the first one against Wichita State in the 1993 National Championship game.
LSU improved to 52-15, while Coastal Carolina had its 26-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 56-12 overall.
“A great performance tonight by our team, especially Kade,” Johnson said. “A special performance. Not taking it for granted; that’s what we’ve seen all year. He’s the best pitcher in the country, and he showed it again tonight.
“That’s been on the regular, every Game 1 of the entire season. So I’m glad he did that tonight, so everybody got to see what we’ve seen and known for an entire season.”
The Tigers will be back at Charles Schwab Field Omaha for Game 2 on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. A victory will give the Tigers their eighth national championship.
If Coastal Carolina wins, Game 3 will be Monday at 6:30.
LSU scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the first. Leadoff batter Derek Curiel walked, advanced to second on Ethan Frey’s groundout and scored on a two-out single up the middle by Steven Milam.
Milam had two of the Tigers’ six hits.
Despite Anderson’s performance, the Chanticleers had their chances.
Coastal Carolina left two runners on base in the first and one in the second.
In the third, the Chanticleers put runners at first and second with no outs. Caden Bodine was hit by a pitch and Sebastian Alexander singled.
A bunt attempt resulted in a force out at third. Anderson then struck out Walker Mitchell and Alexander was caught stealing third after he overran the base.
In the fourth, Coastal Carolina got a leadoff double by Blagen Pado. Anderson struck out the next three batters.
The Chanticleers got a runner to second in the seventh with one out, but Anderson induced two groundouts to end the threat.
Coastal Carolina starter Cameron Flukey allowed four hits in six innings. He struck out nine and walked two.
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