Anderson's three-hit shutout helps LSU beat Coastal Carolina in College World Series finals opener

Kade Anderson delivered another masterclass on the mound, pitching a three-hit shutout to lead LSU to a 1-0 win over Coastal Carolina in Game 1 of the College World Series (CWS) finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Saturday night.

With the victory, LSU is now just one win away from securing its second national championship in three years and eighth overall. The loss ended Coastal Carolina’s 26-game win streak. The 2016 national champions must win on Sunday to force a decisive Game 3 on Monday.

Anderson (12-1), a projected top-three pick in next month’s MLB Draft, struck out 10 and allowed just three hits, working around five walks and two hit batters.



Anderson’s dominant outing marked the first complete game shutout in the College World Series finals since 2018, and only the third since the NCAA adopted the best-of-three championship series format in 2003.


Despite early trouble, he held the Chanticleers scoreless, stranding multiple runners and holding them to 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. He now has 17 strikeouts and only one earned run allowed in 16 innings during the CWS.

LSU scored the game's only run in the first inning on Steve Milam’s RBI single, and Anderson made it stand. Coastal Carolina’s Cameron Flukey (8-2) settled in after that, keeping LSU in check through six innings with nine strikeouts before handing the ball to Dominick Carbone in the seventh.


As Anderson sealed the game by inducing a flyout in the ninth, he and catcher Luis Hernandez shared an emotional embrace before being swarmed by their teammates.

LSU remains unbeaten (16-0) in games where they have led at any point with Anderson on the mound.