In a game full of drama, tension, and heartbreak, LSU once again found a way to rise in Omaha. Jared Jones delivered the walk-off hit as the Tigers erased a late deficit and stunned SEC rival Arkansas 6-5 on Wednesday night, punching their ticket to the Men’s College World Series Championship Series for the second time in three years.
With the game tied and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Jones — who had struck out five times in LSU’s MCWS opener against the Razorbacks — smacked a line drive up the middle that ricocheted off the glove of Arkansas second baseman Cam Kozeal. Luis Hernandez raced home from second base, setting off a euphoric celebration in center field as the Tigers walked off in dramatic fashion at Charles Schwab Field.
“This felt a lot like 2023,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson, recalling the Tigers’ walk-off victory against Wake Forest that sent them to the finals two years ago. “These guys just don’t quit.”
Arkansas appeared poised to force a winner-take-all bracket final Thursday after Justin Thomas’ clutch two-run single gave the Razorbacks a 5-3 lead in the top of the ninth. But the Tigers (51-15), who had already beaten Arkansas 4-1 in their MCWS opener, weren’t finished.
Facing Arkansas reliever Cole Gibler (3-2), LSU got two runners on with one out. Steven Milam grounded sharply to shortstop, and Wehiwa Aloy opted for the out at third base instead of attempting a double play. That decision left LSU with runners at first and second.
Then came the turning point. Hernandez lined a ball to left field that Charles Davalan appeared to have read poorly. Slipping as he broke in, the ball clipped his right shoulder and rolled away, allowing both Ethan Frey and Milam to score and tie the game 5-5.
Moments later, Jones — who had already tied the game in the eighth with his team-leading 22nd homer — delivered the game-winner.
“It’s baseball. You can go 0-for-5 one day and be the hero the next,” said Jones, who has bounced back to go 5-for-9 with six RBIs and two home runs in LSU’s last two games. “I just stayed locked in.”
LSU improves to 5-0 all-time against Arkansas in MCWS play and 4-1 against them this season. The win sends the Tigers to the championship series where they’ll face Coastal Carolina in a best-of-three showdown beginning Saturday. The Chanticleers advanced earlier Wednesday with an 11-3 rout of Louisville.
Zac Cowan, making just his second start of the season, was strong for LSU. The junior right-hander gave the Tigers 5⅓ innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and striking out six without a walk. Jacob Mayers (2-0), the fourth LSU pitcher, earned the win after recording the final two outs of the ninth.
For Arkansas (50-15), the loss is another bitter pill to swallow. The Razorbacks have now made 12 appearances in Omaha, including eight under head coach Dave Van Horn, but still have no national title to show for it. They join Clemson and North Carolina with the second-most MCWS trips without a championship — trailing only Florida State (24).
The heartbreak echoes 2018, when Arkansas was a pop-up away from a national title before a misplayed foul ball led to Oregon State rallying for the championship.
“This one hurts just as much,” Van Horn said. “You feel for the guys. They laid it all out there. But in Omaha, sometimes the game doesn’t go your way — even when it looks like it’s in your hands.”
Now, LSU turns its focus to Coastal Carolina, a team making its first appearance in the MCWS finals since its magical 2016 championship run. The Tigers are seeking their eighth national title — and their second under Johnson — after winning it all in 2023.
The best-of-three championship series begins Saturday in Omaha, where LSU will look to complete a storybook run fueled by resilience, redemption, and one unforgettable swing from Jared Jones.
