BATON ROUGE, La. – In a thrilling showdown on Monday night, designated hitter Ethan Frey made a significant impact, driving in four runs, while right-hander Casan Evans delivered an extraordinary relief performance, helping the top-ranked LSU Tigers secure a 10-6 victory over Little Rock to clinch the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional title at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
With this win, LSU improved to 45-16 for the season, marking the 27th NCAA Regional title in the program’s history. Little Rock wrapped up its season with a record of 27-34.
The Tigers are now set to advance to the NCAA Super Regional round, where they will take on West Virginia in a best-of-three series starting Saturday at 1 p.m. CT (ESPN). The series winner will earn a prestigious spot in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Throughout the game, Little Rock initially held a commanding 5-1 lead by the third inning. However, LSU demonstrated remarkable resilience, ultimately battling back to secure the championship.
LSU head coach Jay Johnson expressed his pride in the team, stating, “Tonight is one of the best wins of my entire career because of what they had to do to earn it.” This victory also marked Johnson’s 500th career coaching win over his 13 years in collegiate baseball.
Frey had an exceptional night at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and four RBIs to lead an 11-hit attack for the Tigers. Catcher Luis Hernandez also shone with two solo home runs and three RBIs, while first baseman Jared Jones added a crucial two-run homer, his 20th of the season.
Coach Johnson hailed Frey’s outstanding performance, calling it “arguably the best game I’ve ever seen any one of my players ever play.”
On the mound, Evans (4-1) showcased his talent by limiting Little Rock to just one run on four hits over 6.0 innings, earning a career-best 12 strikeouts. His exceptional performance, throwing 109 pitches with 71 for strikes, drew high praise from Johnson, who described Evans as a superstar.
The Tigers’ pitching strategy was effective, with right-hander Anthony Eyanson sealing the victory by coming in to secure his second save of the season.
This game highlighted not only LSU’s skill and determination but also their capacity to rally under pressure. As they prepare for the Super Regional against West Virginia, there is a sense of optimism surrounding the potential for further success in the tournament.