The roar that echoed through Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on that sunny Sunday afternoon in June will reverberate through the halls of Alex Box Stadium for years to come. When Chase Shores struck out the final batter and the double play was turned to end the game, LSU gold flooded onto the field as the Tigers had done what only the most elite programs dare dream—they had claimed their eighth national championship, sweeping Coastal Carolina 2-0 in a masterful display of championship baseball.
For a program that has become synonymous with excellence, this 2025 season represented something deeper than just another title. As head coach Jay Johnson reflected after the victory, “This is a completely different team” from the one that failed to repeat in 2024. With eight pitchers drafted from the previous squad—an SEC record—Johnson had to completely rebuild while maintaining championship expectations. This title was a testament to resilience, a celebration of legacy, and a declaration that purple and gold still rules supreme in college baseball.
The Weight of Expectation
The season began with LSU carrying the heavy burden of being former champions, having seen their 2024 repeat hopes die in the regionals. College baseball is a sport where dynasties are measured not in consecutive years but in sustained excellence over decades, and the Tigers entered 2025 with the team motto “tough and together”—words that would prove prophetic. Johnson’s squad finished with a remarkable 53-15 overall record and entered the postseason knowing that every opponent would bring their best shot.
What made this championship run remarkable wasn’t just the destination, but the journey itself. This was a team that had to prove itself game after game, series after series, never allowed the luxury of coasting on reputation alone.
Stars Emerge in Purple and Gold
At the heart of LSU’s championship run stood players who elevated their games when the lights burned brightest. None more so than Kade Anderson, whose historic College World Series performance earned him the Most Outstanding Player award and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest pitchers in LSU history.
Anderson’s journey to championship glory was the culmination of steady development. After an outstanding freshman season in 2024, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.99 ERA across 18 appearances, he entered 2025 as LSU’s ace. His season was highlighted by a complete-game shutout against Oklahoma—LSU’s first since 2018—that featured 14 strikeouts and announced his arrival as a dominant force.
Alongside Anderson, the championship cast featured heroes at every turn. Jared Jones emerged as a clutch performer, delivering key hits throughout the championship run, including loading the bases in the crucial fourth inning of the decisive Game 2. Chris Stanfield became the hero of that same inning, driving in two runs with a clutch single that gave LSU the lead they would never relinquish. “I knew if I came through, it would put us on top,” Stanfield said. “It was just getting a good pitch and putting a good swing on it, like all year.”
Daniel Dickinson and Ethan Frey provided the early spark in Game 2, with Dickinson’s leadoff single setting the table and Frey delivering the game-tying RBI double that brought the crowd to its feet. These weren’t just individual moments of brilliance—they were the building blocks of championship baseball.
Anderson’s partnership with Anthony Eyanson created what many considered the best one-two pitching punch in college baseball. While Anderson dominated Game 1 with his shutout masterpiece, Eyanson answered the call in Game 2, providing the steady presence that championship teams require. Together, they embodied the collective excellence that separates good teams from great ones.
The Road to Omaha
LSU’s path to Omaha showcased a team that embodied Johnson’s vision of being “tough and together.” The Tigers arrived in Nebraska with an eight-game winning streak, playing with the confidence of a team that had learned from previous disappointments.
What made this team special wasn’t just their talent, but their mental toughness. “I’ve never seen a team more mentally tough and consistent,” Johnson said. This was evident in how they went undefeated in Omaha, playing five games without a single loss on college baseball’s biggest stage.
Championship Perfection
The championship series against Coastal Carolina showcased everything that makes LSU special, beginning with a Game 1 pitching masterpiece that will be remembered as one of the greatest performances in College World Series history. Kade Anderson, the Slidell, Louisiana native who would ultimately be named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, delivered a complete-game shutout that left no doubt about his status as college baseball’s premier pitcher.
Anderson’s eight-inning gem—yielding just three hits while striking out 10 batters on 130 pitches—marked the first shutout in the College World Series finals since 2018. “Kade is the best pitcher on the planet,” head coach Jay Johnson declared, and Anderson’s performance validated every word. His dominance set the stage for what many believe will make him the No. 1 pick in the upcoming MLB draft.
But it was Game 2 that will live forever in Tigers lore. What began as drama—with Coastal Carolina’s head coach Kevin Schnall being ejected in the first inning for arguing balls and strikes—quickly became a showcase of LSU’s championship DNA.
After CCU took an early 1-0 lead on Dean Mihos’ home run, the Tigers fired back immediately. The second inning response set the tone: Dickinson’s leadoff single, Michael Braswell’s perfectly executed sacrifice bunt, and Frey’s clutch RBI double that evened the score. This was championship baseball at its finest—situational hitting, smart baserunning, and timely execution.
The fourth inning explosion that saw LSU score four runs and take a commanding 5-1 lead wasn’t just about offense—it was about a team that refused to let the moment become bigger than their preparation. Jake Brown, Jared Jones, and Luis Hernandez loading the bases with nobody out, Stanfield’s two-RBI single, and Curiel’s follow-up single that brought home two more runs after CCU’s outfield was slow to return the ball—these were the moments that championships are built on.
On the mound, Anthony Eyanson delivered a championship performance. Through 6.1 innings, he struck out nine batters and dominated the CCU lineup before giving way to Chase Shores, who would become the closer of LSU’s championship dreams. Shores’ 2.2 innings of relief were nothing short of masterful—four strikeouts, one hit allowed, and the poise of a seasoned veteran.
“Just to play a part in this run in Omaha was a dream come true,” Shores said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” His words captured the emotion of every player who contributed to this championship, from stars to role players who understood their part in something special.
The final moments epitomized championship baseball: CCU mounting one last threat in the ninth, Shores striking out the first batter, and then the dream-crushing double play that sent LSU gold flooding onto the field. The sweep wasn’t just efficient—it was dominant in its completeness.
A Legacy Cemented
This national title is the eighth in program history and provided the SEC with its fifth consecutive MCWS championship. But for LSU, this championship represents something even more significant—it marks their second title in three years, establishing them as the premier program in modern college baseball.
With LSU winning all of its eight titles since 1991, the Tigers are college baseball’s best program. This isn’t just about the quantity of championships; it’s about the sustained excellence that spans generations of players, coaches, and fans who have made LSU baseball synonymous with winning at the highest level.
The Emotional Weight of Victory
For the players who delivered when it mattered most, this championship represented the pinnacle of athletic achievement. Anderson, whose shutout performance and Most Outstanding Player award placed him among the elite in College World Series history, had realized every pitcher’s dream. For the seniors who had experienced the heartbreak of falling short, this championship represented redemption. For the underclassmen, it provided a glimpse of what’s possible when talent meets preparation and opportunity.
The scenes of celebration in Omaha—players embracing, coaches crying tears of joy, fans singing the LSU fight song under the Nebraska lights—captured the raw emotion of a dream realized. These moments don’t happen by accident; they’re the culmination of countless hours of work, sacrifice, and unwavering belief in something bigger than individual glory.
What Made the Difference
Championship teams are defined not by their talent alone but by their ability to perform when the stakes are highest. This LSU team possessed that rare combination of skill and mental toughness that separates good teams from historic ones. As Johnson put it in his post-game press conference, “They performed like national champions every single day of this.”
Their pitching staff, led by Eyanson’s dominant start and Shores’ clutch relief work, rose to the occasion when the lights were brightest. The offense found ways to manufacture runs through situational hitting and smart baserunning. The defense made the plays that championship teams must make.
But perhaps most importantly, this team played with the confidence that comes from knowing they belonged. “It took the best team in the country to beat them,” Johnson said. “LSU is the best team in the country this year, not just the national champion.” They weren’t hoping to win; they expected to win. That mindset, more than any individual statistic or highlight-reel play, defined their championship run.
A Program at Its Peak
As the confetti fell in Omaha and the championship trophy was hoisted high, one thing became crystal clear: LSU baseball has established itself as the gold standard in college baseball. Eight national championships since 1991 isn’t just impressive—it’s historically unprecedented in the modern era.
This 2025 championship team will be remembered not just for what they accomplished, but for how they accomplished it. They played with joy, competed with passion, and won with class. They embodied everything that makes college baseball special and reminded us why LSU remains the pinnacle of the sport.
The season is over, but the legacy lives on. In Baton Rouge and beyond, purple and gold forever means championship gold.
