The Razorbacks blew their chances, and LSU baseball took full advantage in a thrilling, 6-5 win on Jared Jones' walkoff single with 2 outs in the 9th inning.
The Razorbacks had three separate fielding blunders in the final frame, which ultimately cost them a chance to force a winner-take-all rematch. Arkansas closer Cole Gibler began the inning with a strikeout of Josh Pearson, but then Derek Curiel reached base on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Ethan Frey drew a walk, bringing Steven Milam to the plate as the potential winning run. Milam grounded into what looked like it could be a game-ending double-play, but shortstop Wehiwa Aloy took the out at third base instead. Luis Hernandez then hit a rocket to left field, which was was misplayed by Charles Davalan. Both runs crossed the plate to tie the score at 5-5, setting up Jones' heroics.
“LSU baseball. I can’t explain it," Jones said on the field after the game. "It’s been the most magical 3 years of my life. Just unbelievable.”
The Razorbacks plated a pair of runs in the top of the 9th inning to take the lead -- and 4 runs in the final two innings -- all charged to Chase Shores.
It was a classic game from the jump, with both starters spinning impressive performances in the biggest game of their careers. Zac Cowan got the ball for the Tigers and went 5.1 with just 4 hits allowed while striking out 6. His only blemish came in the 4th inning when Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick ambushed the first pitch for a home run to dead center field.
On the other side lefty Landon Beidelschies was elite, striking out 9 through 5 innings before things came unglued a bit in the 6th inning. The Tigers loaded the bases before Jake Brown delivered a two-run single to give the Tigers the lead, which they held into the 8th inning.
Arkansas struck back against the flamethrower Shores. The big right-hander allowed a hit, walked a batter and then hit another to load the bases. He forced a bounding ball into the middle infield, but Jones was unable to hold onto a potential double play turn at first base as two runs came in to score.
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Jones got his revenge in the bottom of the inning, taking a Gabe Gaeckle pitch over the right-field wall to tie things up. Gaeckle allowed a hit and a walk, but locked back in to strike out Hunter Dickinson to push the game into the 9th inning tied 3-3.
The Razorbacks again put two runners in scoring position against Shores in the 9th, with J Mayers taking over. Justin Thomas Jr. quickly delivered with a two-run single to pin the Razorbacks to a 5-3 lead.
The win means LSU advances to the title series on Saturday, where they'll face Coastal Carolina, who took down Louisville in a similar scenario and is currently riding a 27-game win streak. Coastal Carolina's last trip to the College World Series was in 2016, going through Baton Rouge and LSU in the Super Regionals and taking down Arizona in the title series, a team coached by now-LSU head coach Jay Johnson.