And now, the end is near, and so we face the final series. Sorry, Frank, couldn’t resist.
The college baseball season will soon reach its conclusion at the Men’s College World Series, with the last two teams standing set to square off in the best-of-three finale at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
Here’s all you need to know about the finalists and how to watch the last showdown on the collegiate sports calendar.
No. 6 LSU (51-15) vs. No. 13 Coastal Carolina (56-11)
Game 1, June 21, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2, June 22, 2:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 3 (if necessary), June 23, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Both teams negotiated their respective four-team brackets in Omaha unscathed, although LSU did so with a bit more drama. The Tigers’ ninth-inning rally, admittedly aided by Arkansas’ miscues in the field, nonetheless demonstrated that an opponent can’t afford to leave the door open against this batting order. The Chanticleers, however, might just be the team best-constructed to keep LSU at bay, with pitching depth and sound defensive fundamentals.
Coastal coach Kevin Schnall has options regarding his rotation, but it’s fairly certain that Jacob Morrison and Cameron Flukey will start Games 1 and 2 in some order. The Chanticleers can also be confident that Riley Eikhoff can be called upon if a Game 3 is needed, and Ryan Lynch and Dominick Carbone anchor a deep bullpen that is well-rested. The primary threats they’ll face from LSU’s formidable lineup include Jared Jones (.330, 22 HR, 76 RBI) and Derek Curiel (.348, 53 RBI, 66 runs scored).
Of course, there’s the other side of the matchup, where the Tigers also have some accomplished arms. LSU generates 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings, and that’s usually the M.O. to get out of jams. Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson are the K leaders, with closer Casan Evans also able to miss bats.
Coastal might not have LSU’s power, but the Chanticleers’ ability to make contact and get timely hits has served them well. Coastal catcher Caden Bodine and first baseman Colby Thorndyke are just a couple of the clutch producers from a lineup whose top six hitters have an average above .275.