TIGERS CLINCH BATON ROUGE SUPER REGIONAL AS CHASE SHORES’ 100‑MPH FASTBALL SEALS SWEEP OF WEST VIRGINIA IN DRAMATIC 12‑5 FINALE — LSU EYES RETURN TO OMAHA AND CWS GLORY

HOWLS AT SKIP BERTMAN FIELD: TIGERS CLINCH BATON ROUGE SUPER REGIONAL AS CHASE SHORES’ 100‑MPH FASTBALL SEALS SWEEP OF WEST VIRGINIA IN DRAMATIC 12‑5 FINALE — LSU EYES RETURN TO OMAHA AND CWS GLORY

 

 

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In a showcase of power hitting, lightning-fast relief pitching, and home-field dominance, the No. 6–seeded LSU Tigers have emphatically extended their College World Series journey. The Tigers not only swept West Virginia 2–0 in the Baton Rouge Super Regional but did so with authority—earning a 12–5 Game 2 victory at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field, and punching their ticket to Omaha for the 2025 Men’s College World Series .

 

🎙️ Game Two Recap: A Roaring Seventh and a Pitching Clinic

 

LSU’s bats came alive early, but it was the thrilling six-run surge in the seventh inning that truly tilted the contest. With explosive offense and relenting strikeouts, LSU established control. However, it was their pitching staff—emboldened by rising star Chase Shores—that slammed the door shut.

 

Shores, a redshirt sophomore and Legacy High School alum returning from Tommy John surgery, entered in the eighth inning. His scorching fastball touched 100 mph right out of the gate, and an even more electrifying 101 mph strikeout closed out the eighth inning . He returned in the ninth, striking out two more batters and sending LSU into the College World Series with a perfect 12-of-15 strikes performance .

 

Historic Home-Field Edge

 

Playing in Baton Rouge has once again proven an enormous advantage. Across NCAA Super Regional history, 69.3% of host teams have advanced to Omaha, and LSU has leveraged that statistic beautifully . With capacity crowds and Skip Bertman’s legacy energizing the field, LSU weathered the Mountaineers’ rallies and asserted dominance in front of nearly 12,100 fans in Game 1 and similar numbers in Game 2 .

 

West Virginia’s Run and LSU’s Response

 

West Virginia, champions of the Big 12 and regional winners, came into Baton Rouge with momentum and grit. Their resilience had powered them past Kentucky and Clemson in the regionals . But LSU’s relentless offense and precision pitching staff ultimately disrupted the Mountaineers’ rhythm, forcing them to chase the Tigers’ firepower.

 

Season Context and Tigers’ Identity

 

Under Coach Jay Johnson, now in his fourth season, LSU has built a program defined by heavy offense and elite pitching. The pitching depth—anchored by Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson, and now resurgent Shores—combined with household slugging stars like Dylan Crews and Tommy White, forms a formidable nucleus .

 

Shores’ recovery arc echoes the larger redemptive theme of the Tigers’ season—a bounce-back from mid-season struggles to a postseason run defined by clutch performances and swagger.

 

Looking Down the Road to Omaha

 

With the Super Regional sweep complete, LSU is headed to Omaha to compete in the College World Series. They’ll face SEC foe Arkansas in their opening game—adding another rivalry punch to the storied Bronx of college baseball . As one of the few SEC–SEC matchups, it’ll test both familiarity and prestige under CWS’s spotlight.

 

Alex Box Stadium—a venue frequently ranked among college baseball’s elite atmospheres—has again lived up to its legend, propelling LSU back onto the national stage .

 

Why This Sweep Matters

 

Validation for Coach Johnson: Johnson, a former National Coach of the Year in 2023, has guided the Tigers through high expectations, roster turnover, and injury adversity.

 

Pitching depth affirmed: Shores’ appearance underscores LSU’s ability to build relief arms mid-season—a critical element deep in postseason play.

 

Offensive consistency: Even without repeating the historic home run totals of the Skip Bertman era, LSU’s bats remain sharp, balanced across power and situational hitting .

 

Program legacy: The Tigers are returning to Omaha for the first time since 2023, vindicating their approach and keeping alive LSU’s reputation—as a school with seven national titles and consistent CWS presence .

 

 

What Fans Should Watch

 

Matchup vs. Arkansas: Securing the SEC’s dominant programs against each other adds intrigue—and familiarity—to CWS drama.

 

Shores’ role: Will he remain a bullpen weapon or transition back to starting? His continued velocity and control make him a potential postseason X‑factor.

 

Fanbase turnout: LSU’s faithful pack Alex Box and follow them to Omaha; performance and atmosphere could fuel a true Tigers’ run.

 

 

 

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🗣️ Final Takeaway

 

From power rally innings to victory-clinching pitch clocks at 101 mph, LSU’s sweep of West Virginia in Baton Rouge isn’t just a series win—it’s proof of peak form, pitching depth, coaching excellence, and home-state advantage in perfect synergy.

 

Now the Tigers return to Omaha, chasing their eighth College World Series title and re-affirming the might of LSU Baseball in a modern era. Stay tuned—the journey’s only just begun.