Coastal Carolina rolls into College World Series finals; LSU vs. Arkansas to decide finalist; check time, date, and how to watch

Coastal Carolina secured its place in the 2025 College World Series championship series with a dominant 11-3 victory over Louisville on Wednesday afternoon in Omaha, Nebraska. The win extends the Chanticleers’ astonishing streak to 26 straight victories and improves their season record to 56 wins.

The Chanticleers wasted no time, scoring six runs in the first inning and never looking back. The team’s offense was led by Colby Thorndyke, who went 3-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Blake Barthol crossed home three times, while catcher Caden Bodine contributed two hits from the leadoff spot.

Coastal Carolina’s big first inning began with a single, two hit batters, another single, a walk, and then Thorndyke’s bases-clearing double for a 5-0 lead. After a strikeout, Ty Dooley’s RBI single made it 6-0.


Louisville briefly threatened with a three-run sixth inning, but Coastal Carolina answered with two more runs in the bottom of the frame and another in the eighth for the final margin.

Riley Eikhoff earned the win on the mound, helping the Chanticleers reach the championship series for the second time in school history, the first since their national title in 2016.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 3 Arkansas and No. 6 LSU will face off in a pivotal semifinal Wednesday night. If LSU won, the Tigers would advance to face Coastal Carolina in the best-of-three finals starting Saturday, June 21, 2025.

If LSU lost, the Tigers and Razorbacks would play again on Thursday, June 19, 2025, with the winner earning the finals berth. Arkansas, having already lost once to LSU (4-1) in the double-elimination bracket, needs to beat the Tigers twice to move on.

Coastal Carolina’s hot streak and balanced performance have set the stage for a dramatic best-of-three championship series, where the Chanticleers will look to claim their second national title in program history.

The opponent, either LSU or Arkansas, will be determined by the outcome of Thursday’s game, if necessary. The championship series is set to begin Saturday, June 21, at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.

What time does the LSU vs. Arkansas baseball game start?

• Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
  
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
  
• Where: Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.
  

College World Series finals Schedule (Eastern Time):

• Saturday, June 21: Game 1 — No. 13 Coastal Carolina vs. TBD, 7 p.m. on ESPN
  
  
  
• Sunday, June 22: Game 2 — No. 13 Coastal Carolina vs. TBD, 2:30 p.m. on ABC
  
  
  
• Monday, June 23: Game 3 (if necessary) — No. 13 Coastal Carolina vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
  

How to watch the College World Series finals?

• TV channel: ESPN and ABC
  
• Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+