That was, until LSU showed signs of life.
The No. 6 Tigers rallied from a two-run deficit to win 6-5 in the final frame, ending with a walk-off single from Jared Jones. The inning featured a plethora of mistakes by the Razorbacks, as Wehiwa Aloy turned down a potential inning-ending double play to get out a lead runner at third base, before Charles Davalan missed a potentially game-ending lineout in left field that resulted in two runs scoring to tie the game at 5-5 with two outs.
Jones put together a game for the ages, as he tied the game at 3-3 on a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth before walking it off in the bottom of the ninth.
LSU is heading back to the national championship series for the second time in three seasons. Arkansas falls just short of forcing a winner-take-all game on Thursday, June 19, for a spot in the national title series.
Here are the highlights from the Tigers’ 6-5 win to set up the national championship series against Coastal Carolina:
LSU vs Arkansas highlights: Watch the wild finish
LSU vs Arkansas baseball box score
LSU vs Arkansas baseball live updates
Jared Jones walks it off
Wow. Jared Jones comes up big again, as he singles to center field and scores Luis Hernandez from second base. LSU walks it off, taking a 6-5 win to head into the national championship for the second time in three years.
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LSU ties it
Luis Hernandez ropes a double to left field, which Charles Davalan appears to have a chance at, but he takes an awkward angle and dives before missing the catch.
Hernandez’s double drives in Ethan Frey and Steven Milam to tie the game at 5-5.
LSU with runners on
Derek Curiel singles and advances to second on an error before Ethan Frey walks, which puts LSU runners on first and second with one out. Curiel then gets thrown out at third on the fielder’s choice to Wehiwa Aloy, which allows Steven Milam to reach first base.
Arkansas turns to Cole Gibler
Freshman Cole Gibler, who has 56 strikeouts in 28⅔ innings this season, is coming in for the save opportunity. Arkansas is looking to force a winner-take-all game for a spot in the national championship series.
Arkansas takes 5-3 lead
Justin Thomas Jr. comes up big, as he ropes a two-run single to give Arkansas a 5-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning. Thomas swings at the first pitch thrown by Jacob Mayers, who just entered out of the bullpen.
What a moment for Thomas, who delivers perhaps the biggest hit of the season for the Razorbacks.
Brent Iredale doubles
Arkansas has runners on second and third with one out in the top of the ninth inning, after Reese Robinett singles and Brent Iredale doubles. Razorbacks are knocking at the door.
Arkansas escapes inning
Gabe Gaeckle gets out of the inning after striking out Daniel Dickinson. Arkansas and LSU are still tied at 3-3 heading into the ninth inning.
LSU puts runners on first and second
Josh Pearson singles before Jake Brown draws a two-out walk, putting LSU runners on first and second in the bottom of the eighth. Can the Tigers take the lead here and shut the door in the next frame?
Jared Jones ties it
Wow. Jared Jones crushes one 108.6 miles per hour to right-center field, tying the game at 3-3 for LSU with two outs. Jones stopped and stared at that one as he knew it was getting out of the yard.
LSU fans are going wild in Omaha.
Arkansas takes 3-2 lead
Helfrick hits a potential double play ball to the third baseman, but LSU only gets the out at second base as Arkansas brings in a run to tie the game at 2-2. Jared Jones then misses the throw on the double-play chance, which allows Wehiwa Aloy to score from second to give Arkansas a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning.
Huge chain of events for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas loads bases
LSU’s Chase Shores allows two singles and hits a batter, which loads the bases for Arkansas. Huge spot for the Razorbacks in the top of the eighth inning with one out.
Gaeckle picks up 2 more strikeouts
Gabe Gaeckle has been dominant outside of the two-RBI single he allowed to Jake Brown in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he strikes out his second and third batter in relief in the bottom of the seventh inning.
LSU still leads 2-1 heading into the eighth inning.
Shores gets inning-ending strikeout
Chase Shores has elite stuff, and it’s showing tonight. He hits 101 miles per hour on his fastball before ending the inning with a strikeout on a nasty slider.
Chase Shores enters for Jaden Noot
Jaden Noot gets three outs and allows no hits but is now being replaced by right-hander Chase Shores. Shores has a 5.03 ERA in 59 innings this season but has a fastball that consistently hits triple digits on the radar gun.
LSU takes 2-1 lead
What a spot for Jake Brown, who ropes a two-RBI single that gives LSU a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. The pinch hitter comes up huge for the Tigers.
Bases loaded for LSU
Gabe Gaeckle strikes out Jared Jones before Arkansas opts to intentionally walk Josh Pearson with two outs to load the bases. LSU’s Jake Brown is pinch hitting in a huge spot here in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Sac bunt puts runners on second and third
LSU with a chance to get on the board here, as Luis Hernandez’s sacrifice bunt puts runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning with slugger Jared Jones coming up to bat.
Huge spot for Jones.
Landon Beidelschies slowing down
Landon Beidelschies allows a leadoff double before hitting Steven Milam with a pitch, and that’ll be the end of his night. LSU has runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning with Gabe Gaeckle coming in relief.
Beidelschies’ final line: No runs on three hits and a walk with nine strikeouts across five innings.
Jaden Noot comes in for Zac Cowan
Zac Cowan strikes out Wehiwa Aloy and allows a single to Logan Maxwell, and that’ll end Cowan’s night. Jaden Noot is coming in to face Ryder Helfrick, who hit a home run off Cowan earlier in the game.
Cowan’s final line: One run on four hits with six strikeouts across 5⅓ innings.
Have a night, Landon Beidelschies
Landon Beidelschies gets through his fifth scoreless inning, striking out his eighth and ninth batters of the game. The left-hander is in the midst of his best start of the season at a crucial time, with his nine strikeouts marking a season high.
Zac Cowan retires Arkansas in order
Zac Cowan retires Arkansas in order in the top of the fifth inning, and the pitchers’ duel continues. Cowan has been nails outside of the solo home run he gave up in the fourth inning.
Beidelschies up to 7 strikeouts
What a showing so far for Landon Beidelschies, who tosses another scoreless frame in the bottom of the fourth inning, adding two more strikeouts to make his total seven on the night. Beidelschies has allowed two hits and a walk with no runs.
Zac Cowan responds after allowing home run
Zac Cowan gets two consecutive strikeouts after allowing the solo home run, then forces a foul out to Reese Robinett near first base.
Cowan has five strikeouts through four innings.
Arkansas takes 1-0 lead
Ryder Helfrick goes big fly, launching a 417-foot home run over the center-field wall to give Arkansas a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. That ball was demolished at 107.6 miles per hour.
Pitchers’ duel through 3 innings
Landon Beidelschies strikes out the side, retiring LSU’s hitters in order to end the third inning. Beidelschies has four strikeouts in a row and five in the game so far, with his sliders especially working early.
Both pitchers came to throw tonight.
Zac Cowan with strong start
Zac Cowan retires Arkansas in order in the top of the third inning, striking out Wehiwa Aloy in the process. Cowan has three strikeouts through three innings.
Arkansas turns double play
LSU’s Jared Jones hits a leadoff single to start the bottom of the second inning, but Landon Beidelschies forces a ground ball that’s turned into a 6-4-3 double play for Arkansas.
Beidelschies then strikes out Michael Braswell III to end the second inning.
Coach’s challenge keeps 2nd inning alive
LSU appears to get out of the second inning, but Arkansas opts to challenge an inning-ending strikeout. The Razorbacks won the challenge, with umpires determining there was catcher interference on Brent Iredale.
Arkansas has runners on first and second with two outs for Justin Thomas Jr. in the top of the second inning.
Luis Hernandez strikes out to end inning
Luis Hernandez strikes out with two outs and a runner on third base to end the inning. Arkansas and LSU tied at 0-0 entering the second inning.
Derek Curiel rips leadoff double
LSU gets a runner in scoring position early, as leadoff hitter Derek Curiel ropes a double down the right-field line to get the bottom of the first inning started.
Steven Milam keeps Wehiwa Aloy off base
What a play by LSU shortstop Steven Milam, who fields a hard-hit ground ball from Wehiwa Aloy before making a strong throw to first base for the second out of the top of the first inning.
LSU-Arkansas is underway
Zac Cowan fires the first pitch of the game, and LSU-Arkansas at the CWS semifinals is underway.
LSU baseball lineup tonight
LF Derek Curiel
DH Ethan Frey
SS Steven Milam
C Luis Hernandez
1B Jared Jones
RF Josh Pearson
CF Chris Stanfield
2B Daniel Dickinson
3B Michael Braswell III
Arkansas baseball lineup tonight
LF Charles Davalan
SS Wehiwa Aloy
RF Logan Maxwell
C Ryder Helfrick
2B Cam Kozeal
DH Kuhio Aloy
1B Reese Robinett
3B Brent Iredale
CF Justin Thomas Jr.
LSU, Arkansas pitchers tonight
LSU: RHP Zac Cowan (3-3, 3.09 ERA)
Arkansas: LHP Landon Beidelschies (4-0, 4.92 ERA)
Zac Cowan, who has only made one start this season, will get the ball on Wednesday night in a game that might ask a lot of the Tigers’ bullpen. Landon Beidelschies, meanwhile, has 12 starts this season with a 4.92 ERA in 56 2/3 innings.
What time does LSU vs Arkansas baseball start?
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Date: Wednesday, June 18
Location: Charles Schwab Field Omaha (Omaha, Nebraska)
What TV channel is LSU vs Arkansas baseball on today?
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app, ESPN+, Fubo
LSU-Arkansas baseball in the CWS semifinals will air live on ESPN, and can be streamed on the ESPN app. Other streaming options include ESPN+, which requires a subscription, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
College World Series schedule
The College World Series started on June 13, and will run through either June 22 or June 23, based on if the national championship series requires an if-necessary game, which would fall on June 23.
College World Series: June 13-22/23
CWS finals: June 21-22/23