Kade Anderson delivers a masterpiece as LSU blanks Coastal Carolina to take Game 1

LSU starting pitcher Kade Anderson took to the bump on Saturday night for Game 1 of the Men’s College World Series Finals against Coastal Carolina, winners of 26 straight games, and their starting pitcher Cameron Flukey.

Both pitchers put on a show, but it was Anderson and the Tigers who came out on top in an incredible pitching duel, winning Game 1 of the series by a final score of 1-0.

After Anderson worked out of a bit of a jam in the top of the first inning, getting out unscathed after walking a pair of batters, the Tigers scratched out a run in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff hitter Derek Curiel worked a walk to begin the inning and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice.

Curiel scored from second when shortstop Steven Milam laced a single to center:

That was all Anderson and the Tigers needed.

The LSU lefty and potential first-overall pick went the distance, saving some of his best stuff for the late innings. He closed out the eighth inning with the potential tying run on first, and Coastal Carolina right fielder Blagen Pado at the plate. After Pado fouled off the first pitch, Anderson came to the dish with his 114th pitch of the night, which was a 95-mph fastball that painted the outside corner.

Pitch 115 was a 94-mph heater at the knees that froze Pado for strike three.

The top of the ninth was again impressive from Anderson. He started the inning by striking out Colby Thorndyke on three nasty breaking balls, for his tenth strikeout of the night.

That brought Dean Mihos to the plate, who grounded out to third and left the Chanticleers down to their final out. Coastal Carolina then called on freshman Domenico Tozzi as a pinch hitter, and he worked a walk from Anderson, just the fifth of the night from the LSU starting pitcher.

LSU head coach Jay Johnson sent pitching coach Nate Yeskie out to talk to Anderson as Wells Sykes, the number nine hitter in the Chanticleers’ lineup, came to the dish. But after a quick chat, and a smile from Anderson, Yeskie made the walk back to the LSU dugout, and Anderson looked in for the next set of signs from catcher Luis Hernandez.

The first pitch of the at-bat, and the 129th of the game, was a 95-mph fastball at the knees for strike one. Anderson then got Wells to fly out to right on the next pitch, the 130th of the night, for the final out of the game.

It was the first complete game shutout in the MCWS Finals since 2018 when Kevin Abel of Oregon State blanked Arkansas. Anderson’s final line? He allowed just three hits and five walks over nine innings of work, with ten strikeouts.

It was also just the second time Coastal Carolina was shutout this season and their first loss since April 22.

LSU will look to close out the series and win the title, tomorrow in Game 2. Meanwhile, Coastal Carolina will look to keep their season alive and force a deciding Game 3.