Anderson's shutout vaults LSU to Game 1 win of MCWS finals
Kade Anderson’s shutout steered sixth-seeded LSU to a 1-0 victory over 13th-seeded Coastal Carolina in Game 1 of the College World Series finals on Saturday night.
The Tigers are now one win away from their second CWS title in the past three years, thanks mainly to Anderson’s brilliance. The sophomore left-hander -- MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 Draft prospect -- threw 130 pitches while blanking the Chanticleers over nine dominant innings. He struck out 10 batters, scattering three hits and walking five.
Anderson became the first pitcher to throw a complete game at the CWS since Oregon State’s Kevin Abel in 2018.
Anderson has been nothing short of brilliant through two CWS starts for LSU. In his first start on June 14, he tossed seven innings of one-run ball against a stout Arkansas lineup. His second, it turns out, was even better.
Three batters into Saturday’s game, the Tigers secured the only run that they would need. Shortstop Steven Milam lined an RBI single into center field, bringing home left fielder Derek Curiel for the game’s only run.
From there, Anderson stole the show -- buckling down even when Coastal Carolina threatened to score. In the third inning, he wiggled out of a two-on, one-out jam thanks in part to a caught stealing at third base. Then, after a leadoff double in the fourth inning, Anderson set down the Chanticleers 1-2-3 to strand another runner in scoring position.
Coastal Carolina finished the game 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The loss snapped a 26-game winning streak -- the longest active streak in Division I -- and led to the Chanticleers' first defeat since April 22 against the College of Charleston.
Now, they'll try to keep their season alive on Sunday: Game 2 of the CWS finals looms, with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET.