Play by play: LSU baseball gets walk-off win vs. Arkansas to earn trip to CWS final
LSU baseball is on its way to the College World Series Final.
Neither team had their ace on the mound, but we got a pitchers' duel anyway. LSU gave the ball to Zac Cowan to start, and Cowan delivered. In 5.1 innings, Cowan allowed just one run, struck out six, and didn't walk a single hitter. For much of the year, Cowan was among the best pitchers in the SEC, but he's struggled in the last month. Wednesday marked a return to form. Arkansas went with Landon Beidelschies, who pitched five innings, striking out nine and allowing just two runs.
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Cowan and Beidelschies then gave way to the pens.
LSU carried a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning, but Arkansas loaded the bases vs. LSU reliever Chase Shores. A chopper gave LSU the chance to get out of the inning. LSU got the out at second, but the ball got past Jared Jones, and two runs scored on the play to give Arkansas a 3-2 lead.
Jones made up for the error in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game with a solo homer.
We entered the ninth inning tied at 3-3. Arkansas kicked off a rally with a Reese Robinett single and followed it up with a Brent Iredale double. Justin Thomas took the lead back with a two-run single and made it 5-3 Razorbacks.
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Then the LSU magic arrived.
Down two in the bottom of the ninth, Luis Hernandez lined a ball to left field. Arkansas LF Charles Davalan got a bad read, and the ball went all the way to the wall. Two runs scored.
Moments later, Jared Jones came through with a walk off single.
Below is our live blog coverage from the contest.
LSU walks it off
Jared Jones delivers, and the Tigers get the walk-off win and earn a trip back to the College World Series Final.
Questionable Arkansas defense puts LSU right back in it
Arkansas' defense has offered LSU some help this inning. With a chance to end the game on a double play, shortstop Wehiwa Aloy opted to get the lead runner at third, passing up the two outs.
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Then, LF Charles Davalan had a chance to end the game with a catch in left field but got a bad read. It was too late to recover. Davalan made a diving attempt and the ball rolled to the corner.
LSU ties the game
Luis Hernandez hit a liner to left field, and the ball got past left fielder Charles Davalan. Ethan Frey and Steven Milam scored.
LSU ties the game 5-5.
Two-run single puts Razorbacks back in front
On Jacob Mayers' first pitch, a single to left scored both Arkansas runners and it's 5-3 Razorbacks.
LSU makes pitching change
Jacob Mayers enters the game for LSU. The hard-throwing righty will look to get LSU out of a jam and preserve the tie.
Arkansas has a rally going
With one out in the 9th, Robinett singled and Brent Iredale doubled. The Razorbacks have runners on second and third with one out. We're tied 3-3.
Due up for LSU in the 9th
Michael Braswell
Derek Curiel
Ethan Frey
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Depending on the matchup, Jay Johnson could use John Pearson or Ashton Larson as a pinch hitter for Braswell.
Tied after the 8th
The Jared Jones home run was all LSU got in the eighth, but it was a big one. The game is tied at three as we head to the ninth inning.
Jared Jones homers. Tie Game.
A big swing from Jared Jones makes it 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth. It was Jones' 22nd homer of the year and second in as many games.
LSU ends the inning
After Arkansas took the lead, LSU didn't allow anything else. It's still 3-2 Razorbacks.
We head to the bottom of the eighth. LSU has two innings to capture the lead again.
Arkansas takes the lead
LSU came within inches of an inning-ending double-play, but the Tigers couldn't get the second out, and the ball got past Jared Jones. Two runs scored, and Arkansas leads 3-2 in the top of the eighth.
Arkansas loads the bases
In the top of the eighth, Arkansas has loaded the bases. Jay Johnson made a visit to the mound, but Chase Shores is remaining in the game with the tying run 90-feet away from scoring.
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LSU leads 2-1.
Chase Shores. Electric.
Shores enters the game and shows why MLB teams can't wait to get their hands on him. Back-to-back strikeouts to end the top half of the seventh.
LSU leads 2-1.
Chase Shores enters the game
Jay Johnson is going back to the bullpen as Chase Shores enters the game for Jaden Noot. Shores has been dynamite in the postseason and will look to keep it rolling here.
LSU leads 2-1.
Jake Brown delivers. LSU leads.
After a Luis Hernandez bunt moved the LSU runners to second and third, Jared Jones struck out. Jake Brown entered the game as a pinch hitter and put LSU in front with a two-out, two-run RBI single.
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It's 2-1 LSU in the bottom of the sixth.
Arkansas makes a pitching change
After 5+ innings, Landon Beidelschies' day is done. LSU will be glad to see Arkansas go to the pen after Beidelschies was in cruise control.
Gave Gaeckle is in the game. He threw 90 pitches vs. LSU on Saturday.
Ethan Frey leads off with a double, Milam hit by pitch
Ethan Frey starts LSU with a double in the bottom of the sixth and Steven Milam was hit by a pitch. LSU has runners at first and second with no outs. Can the Tigers finally capitalize?
Noot strikeout gets LSU out of the inning
Arkansas stranded a runner at third and a Jaden Noot strikeout ended the half-inning.
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Arkansas leads 1-0 as we move to the bottom of the sixth.
On Jaden Noot
Noot enters the game with one out and a runner on first in the sixth inning. Noot's last appearance was a start vs. Little Rock in the regional. He only made it through 1.1 innings, allowing two earned runs.
On the year, Noot has a 4.26 ERA in 31.2 innings. In those 31.2 innings, Noot has missed 43 bats. The strikeout stuff is there.
LSU makes a pitching change
Jaden Noot is entering the game for Zac Cowan.
Cowan gave LSU exactly what it was looking for. He struck out six in 5.1 innings and limited Arkansas to just one run. 5.1 innings was Cowan's longest outing of the year.
Cowan is getting the best of Wehiwa Aloy
Wehiwa Aloy is one of the best hitters in the country, but LSU starter Zac Cowan is winning the matchup tonight. Aloy is 0-3 with two strikeouts.
Can the LSU offense figure it out?
Cowan is doing his part, but LSU needs something from the offense. LSU only has two hits, and the Tigers are 0-4 with runners in scoring position.
LSU and Zac Cowan continue to limit Arkansas
LSU pitcher Zac Cowan is commanding it and the LSU defense continues to do its job behind him. Three up, three down for the Razorback batters in the fifth.
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Cowan has allowed a homer, but Arkansas has just three hits. Cowan has struck out five without issuing a walk. He's thrown first pitch strikes to 16 of 19 batters.
LSU still isn't on the board
Another inning, another blank frame for the Tigers' offense. Through four innings, LSU has just two hits.
LSU gets out of the fourth without any more damage
Cowan settled back in after the home run and made quick work of the next three Arkansas hitters. The Razorbacks lead 1-0 as we move to the bottom of the fourth.
Arkansas strikes first
Ryder Helfrick got enough of one, and it carried over the centerfield wall. Arkansas leads 1-0.
Cowan continues to roll
Through three innings, LSU starter Zac Cowan is yet to allow a run.
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In his last five appearances entering the night, Cowan allowed a combined nine runs. LSU needed a pitcher to step up tonight, and so far, Cowan has delivered.
LSU strands two runners
With runners on first and second, Michael Braswell struck out and the game remains scoreless.
Arkansas starter Landon Beidelschies has struck out two and walked one. The pitch count is at 33 with 20 strikes.
LSU ends the inning
After the catcher's interference put a second Arkansas runner on, a ground out to short ended the inning. Cowan is at 40 pitches.
Catcher's interference keeps Arkansas alive
Zac Cowan thought he was out of the second inning, but an Arkansas challenge led to catcher's interference and Cowan is back out there. The Razorbacks have runners on first and second with two out. The game remains tied 0-0.
LSU strands Curiel at third
Derek Curiel led off the bottom of the first with a double and later advanced to third on a sac fly. LSU couldn't take advantage and its 0-0 after one.
Good first inning for Zac Cowan
Zac Cowan got help from the defense with Steven Milam and Michael Braswell making nice plays, but it was a scoreless first.
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That's a strong sign after Cowan's recent struggles.
LSU lineup: Curiel leads off, Pearson starts
Jay Johnson occasionally mixes up the lineup when LSU faces a lefty. In the postseason, Derek Curiel has hit in the bottom half of the order vs. a lefty starter. Not tonight, though. Curiel remains in the leadoff spot.
Josh Pearson is getting a start in the No. 6 hole.
Report: Zac Cowan will start for LSU
Per reports, Zac Cowan will get the start for LSU. The right-hander transferred to LSU for the 2025 season from Wofford. For most of the year, he was one of the SEC's best relievers. His ERA is 3.09 and he has 54 strikeouts in 46.2 innings.
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But Cowan has struggled in his recent appearances. Against Little Rock in the regional, he allowed five runs in just 1.1 innings.
What is LSU's pitching plan?
Lineups will be released soon and we'll get an idea of how LSU baseball head coach Jay Johnson plans to deploy the Tigers' pitching staff.
The big question right now: Will Anthony Eyanson get the start?
Eyanson threw 48 pitches on Monday and has shown he's capable of pitching on short rest this season. Eyanson is one of the best pitchers in the country, and if he's capable of going, it makes sense to give him the ball.
If it's not Eyanson, then Chase Shores, Zac Cowan, and Jaden Noot are in the mix. Shores is pitching the best of that group right now, but Johnson may want to save the big righty for a high-leverage opportunity with Casan Evans unavailable.
Who is starting for Arkansas?
The Razorbacks are starting Landon Beidelschies. The left-hander began his career at Ohio State in 2023 before transferring to Arkansas after two seasons with the Buckeyes. In 2025, Beidelschies has a 4.92 ERA in 56.2 innings. He has some swing and miss stuff, notching 61 strikeouts.
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Beidelschies started vs. LSU earlier this year and only made it through two innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs. His last time out, he pitched two scoreless innings vs. North Dakota State.
Don't expect a ton of length from Beidelschies, but Arkansas will count on two or three solid innings.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Play by play: LSU baseball beats Arkansas on walk-off, massive 9th
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