LSU-Coastal Carolina: Anonymous Head Coaches Break Down College World Series Final
Image credit: (Photo by Eddie Kelly)
The national championship series between LSU and Coastal Carolina is set to get underway on Saturday night with both teams aiming to return to the top of college baseball.
LSU last won a national title in 2023 when its rotation was headlined by phenom Paul Skenes. Two years later, the Tigers’ rotation is again headlined by a potential first over pick, lefty Kade Anderson, and their lineup ranks among the best in the country in nearly every statistic, similar to the dominance that propelled them to their most recent title.
Coastal is aiming to win its second title in program history after winning it all in stunning fashion in 2016. While this team has taken a much less stunning path to the title series, its run is no less impressive. The Chanticleers are riding a 26-game winning streak into the national championship, the longest pre-title series streak ever. Their rotation is widely viewed as one of the best in the country with three pitchers—Jacob Morrison, Cameron Flukey and Riley Eikhoff—who rank among the best in the country in ERA.
Baseball America polled Division I coaches to understand who they view as the favorites to win the national championship and 19 of 35 picked LSU.
Coaches also offered their opinions on what makes each team great. Here’s what they said. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
On LSU:
Head coach 1: “LSU because of star power, real mound talent and just because of Jay (Johnson),” one head coach said after picking the Tigers to take home the trophy. “If Coastal can pull it off, I would love it. I’m pulling for Coastal but, if I was a betting man, I just think that crowd, the atmosphere the history, the talent, the arm talent, the bullpen talent. That’s no disrespect in any way to Coastal but I think they may get mugged by history and the stage. LSU has done it before and Jay is the best of us.”
Head coach 2: “Jay Johnson is the best coach in our sport. Period. He has experience in the title series and won it just a few years ago. Hard not to pick him.”
Head Coach 3: “Kade Anderson will be on the biggest stage and he’s just built for it.. I think each team has its own priorities for the top of the draft and there are a lot of guys who are great, but having faced Kade this year, for my money, he’s the best pitcher in the country. Difference maker in the three game series.”
Head Coach 4: “LSU is the most battle tested team in college baseball. Anderson and Eyanson are a really tough 1 and 2. Lastly, nobody prepares like Jay and his staff.”
Head coach 5: “I will pick LSU, 2-1. Its pitching will be the difference.”
Head coach 6: “I think LSU wins because of the depth of the roster. Coastal is hot, but the law of averages is going to show up at some point.
Head coach 7: “I have LSU winning it because they have Anderson and Eyanson tee’d up with Casan Evans on good rest too. If Arkansas would have won, I’d say Coastal wins it all.”
Head coach 8: “Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson are a really tough 1-2.”
Head coach 9: “LSU is used to this scenery. The environment will be on their side and as an old player I loved breaking streaks. Their pitching and Bear Jones is back too, He’s their guy.”
Head coach 10: “LSU. The momentum they got from the ninth inning against Arkansas combined with the best 1-2 punch on the mound in college baseball.”
On Coastal Carolina:
Head coach 11: “They play the game so fundamentally and they have one of the deepest pitching staffs with high end stuff. They will not beat themselves.”
Head coach 12: “I’ve got Coastal. Super balanced team that has a way of scoring runs without the home runs. They know how to play offense. Should be a great series”
Head coach 13: “They’re the more complete team.”
Head coach 14: “I’m going to go with the underdog Coastal. They’re hot, playing as a team.”
Head coach 15: “Coastal pitching and they have forgotten how to lose.”
Head coach 16: “Morrison, Flukey and Eikhoff are elite. They don’t just have to miss bats. Can put the ball in the zone. Multiple pitches for each of them and their offense is relentless without needing to put the ball over the wall. I just think they’re a really complete group.”
Head coach 17: “I think any underdog talk is ridiculous. This is a great team with a real shot. I have Coastal in two because of that pitching. It’s a fantastic group.”
