The national championship is set.
Thirteenth-seeded Coastal Carolina and sixth-seeded LSU will square off in a best-of-three series beginning Saturday, June 21 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
As unique as this matchup may appear, these two programs are no strangers to the spotlight or to each other. LSU won the title in 2023 behind future MLB stars Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews and has now reached Omaha four times in the last decade. Coastal Carolina, once a Cinderella story, has emerged as a perennial mid-major power. The Chanticleers won their first national title in 2016 and have since reached the NCAA Tournament in eight of the last nine years, capturing three Sun Belt championships along the way.
That 2016 title run is especially relevant, as it included a sweep of LSU in the NCAA Super Regionals. Coastal went into Alex Box Stadium and stunned the Tigers to punch their ticket to Omaha. Now, with everything on the line, the two programs meet again.
Coastal Carolina (13)
Record: 56-11 (26-4 Sun Belt)
RPI: 2
Coastal Carolina enters the title series unbeaten in the NCAA Tournament and riding a 26-game winning streak that dates back to April 22. After winning the Sun Belt tournament, the Chanticleers were awarded the 13 seed and landed in a regional that featured a red-hot Florida team. The matchup never materialized. Coastal swept through Fairfield and East Carolina to advance without breaking stride.
In the Super Regionals, they traveled to face fourth-seeded Auburn and once again silenced doubters. After stealing the opener in extra innings, Coastal dominated game two to secure a spot in Omaha. Once there, they cruised through their side of the bracket, winning all three games by at least three runs.
While the Chanticleers were expected to bring a top-tier pitching staff into the tournament, the offense has been a revelation. Coastal ranks 43rd nationally in on-base percentage and continues to execute in key moments. This is not a team that leans on power, but they find ways to manufacture runs. Caden Bodine (.326 average, 5 home runs), Alexander Sebastian (.314, 10 home runs), and Barthol Blake (.283, 12 home runs) have been steady contributors, and the lineup has held up well against top SEC and ACC arms.
The strength of the team, however, remains on the mound. Jacob Morrison (2.08 ERA), Riley Eikhoff (3.10 ERA), and Cameron Flukey (3.29 ERA) form one of the most dominant starting trios in the country. Coastal ranks second nationally in team ERA at 3.20, and sits in the top ten in WHIP, strikeout-to-walk ratio, and hits allowed per nine innings.
Head coach Kevin Schnall has employed a smart rotation strategy throughout Omaha. Eikhoff and Flukey pitched in the opener against Arizona to ensure a strong start, setting up Morrison to face Oregon State in a pivotal second game. Eikhoff returned to throw 5.1 innings against Louisville, despite having pitched just days earlier. That approach likely sets up Flukey for the series opener, followed by Morrison and Eikhoff in games two and three if needed.
LSU (6)
Record: 51-15 (19-11 SEC)
RPI: 5
LSU returns to the championship stage just two years removed from their last national title. The Tigers played every postseason game at home before arriving in Omaha, opening their regional with two shutouts. After a stumble against fourth-seeded Little Rock, they rallied from a 5-1 deficit and used late-inning offense to survive a potential early exit.
In the Super Regionals, LSU matched up with West Virginia and erupted for 28 runs across two games. Once in Omaha, they took down UCLA and battled past Arkansas twice in a loaded side of the bracket.
This LSU team has star power, depth, and postseason experience. Despite being overshadowed in the regular season by teams like Arkansas, Texas, and Vanderbilt, the Tigers have emerged as the most balanced and dangerous team left in the field.
The pitching staff features some of the nation’s top arms, including left-hander Kade Anderson, the No. 3 overall draft prospect according to MLB.com. Anderson posted a 3.44 ERA with a nation-leading 170 strikeouts, mixing high-velocity fastballs with elite offspeed command. Even more impressively, he ranks fourth in ERA among LSU pitchers. Anthony Eyanson, who is expected to start game two, owns a 2.92 ERA and 143 strikeouts.
At the plate, the Tigers are led by Jared Jones, who has hit 22 home runs this season. He is joined by Derek Curiel (.348 average, 7 home runs), Ethan Frey (.331, 13 home runs), and Steven Milam (.292, 11 home runs). The lineup ranks 17th nationally in home runs and 10th in doubles. LSU relies on explosive offense and can put up runs in a hurry.
The Matchup and the Pick
Both teams earned their place in the championship series. Coastal Carolina has been consistent and unshaken throughout the tournament, relying on timely hitting and elite pitching. LSU, meanwhile, has faced tougher competition but proved its mettle by knocking off heavyweight programs.
The contrast in styles is fascinating. Coastal prefers a patient, small-ball approach that thrives in spacious Charles Schwab Field, while LSU leans into power and high-leverage moments. This could come down to who dictates the pace and style of play.
LSU is the more talented team on paper, but Coastal Carolina has looked unbeatable over the past month. The Tigers might have the edge in individual star power, but Coastal’s pitching depth, momentum, and postseason poise are hard to overlook. They know how to grind out wins, control the tempo, and frustrate more explosive teams.
The odds favor LSU, but the matchup feels evenly balanced. If Coastal can limit extra-base hits and keep LSU in the yard, their pitching gives them a real path to the title. The underdog tag still fits, but the Chanticleers look more than ready.
Pick: Coastal Carolina to win in three games (+155)
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