Omaha run is over. LSU ends Coastal Carolina’s College World Series title hopes
Though they fell two victories shy of a second national championship, the Coastal Carolina baseball team got back to a place in Division I baseball where they hope to spend the next few seasons.
A four-run fourth inning Sunday powered LSU to a 5-3 victory over Coastal Carolina and clinched the College World Series championship for the Tigers.
It was the eighth CWS title in program history for the Tigers (53-15) and their second in the past three seasons. Coastal finished the season 56-13 in a campaign in which they won 26 consecutive games before dropping their final two to LSU in the CWS best-of-three finals.
And it wasn’t just another hot day at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. Things also got heated early in the game between home plate umpire Angel Campos and two members of the Chants coaching staff.
Head coach Kevin Schnall and first base coach Matt Schilling both were ejected by Campos in the bottom of the first inning for continuing to argue balls and strikes after an initial warning. If Coastal had won and forced a third game, both Schnall and Williams would not have been allowed to coach.
Schnall (two games) and Williams (three games) also received suspensions for prolonged arguing. Those suspensions will be served at the start of the 2026 season.
Associate head coach Chad Oxendine became the Chanticleers acting head coach for the remainder of Sunday’s game while director of player development and recruiting Tyler Shewmaker replaced Williams as the Chants first base coach.
While the season ended with a pair of losses to LSU — the current gold standard of college baseball programs — Schnall said there’s still plenty for which the 2025 Chanticleers should be proud.
“They accomplished a lot,” Schnall said. “To get us just back to Omaha after what we did in 2016, and then to come to Omaha and play the way we did and get us back to the World Series finals is really incredible.
“Unfortunately, we lost. But these two games won’t define what this team was. That national championship team obviously is very special. But, man, this team will hold a very special spot in my heart forever.”
Game recap
Designated hitter Dean Mihos gave Coastal a 1-0 lead with a two-out solo home run down the left field line, but LSU evened the score in the top of the third inning.
Ethan Frey laced a double over the head of Chants left fielder Sebastian Alexander, who appeared to lose track of the ball in the sun. Frey drove in second baseman David Dickinson, who led off the inning with a single to left-center field.
LSU sent all nine batters to the plate in the pivotal fourth inning. The Tigers loaded the bases when Jake Brown led off with a walk against CCU ace Jacob Morrison. Jared Jones singled to left field and catcher Luis Hernandez was hit by a pitch.
Center fielder Chris Stanfield followed with a 2-RBI single to left field, scoring Jones and Crown, to give LSU a 3-1 lead. A sacrifice bunt by Daniel Dickinson, moved Hernandez to third and Stanfield to second.
With two outs, left fielder Derek Curiel singled up the middle to bring home Hernandez and Stanfield for a 5-1 LSU lead. That single chased Morrison from the game in what turned out to be his shortest outing of the season. It also was the most runs Morrison had allowed in a single game this season.
The Chants cut into LSU’s lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Shortstop Ty Dooley was hit by a pitch from LSU starter Anthony Eyanson, and the call was upheld when challenged by the Tigers’ coaches.
Two pitches later, center fielder Wells Sykes belted a two-run home run to left field to cut Coastal’s deficit to 5-3. After getting Caden Bodine out, Tigers relief pitcher Chase Shores replaced Eyanson on the mound.
Shores earned his second save of the season by giving up just one his and striking out four while securing the final eight outs on just 27 pitches.
Though the season ended in defeat, Sykes said this team will remain special for years to come to everyone who suited up for the Chanticleers.
“This is something that not just me, but this entire team, will remember for the rest of their lives,” Sykes said. “These are my brothers, and I love everybody in that locker room.”
College World Series final series scores
Double-elimination; all times Eastern
- Saturday: LSU 1, Coastal Carolina 0
- Sunday: LSU 5, Coastal Carolina 3
This story was originally published June 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Omaha run is over. LSU ends Coastal Carolina’s College World Series title hopes."