Chase Shores describes what it meant to be on the mound for final outs of LSU championship

When LSU needed a few more outs to seal its second national title in three years, there were no doubts. The Tigers knew who they were turning to: Chase Shores.

The third-year right-hander had been aces for LSU throughout the year. He just needed one more good outing to see it through. But his thought process remained the same.

“I was just trying to take it one pitch at a time,” Chase Shores said. “I just kept thinking about my teammates, just really wanted to get the job done for them. I feel when you try to do something for your teammates it kind of takes the pressure off of you and just allows me to go in there and focus on the job.”

Shores entered the game for starter Anthony Eyanson with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, protecting a 5-3 lead. Coastal Carolina had just homered and had some momentum.

But Shores coolly sat down his first two batters, getting a groundout and a strikeout swinging to get out of the inning unscathed. He cruised through the eighth inning — three up, three down.

That’s when the moment started to get very, very large. LSU was just three outs away from sealing the deal. Chase Shores credited coach Jay Johnson with getting him ready.

“He outlines everything before the game and makes our job a lot easier because he says what’s going to happen before the game,” Shores said. “And we’ve just got to go out there and execute.”

Things started off a little rocky in the ninth. A leadoff single brought the potential tying run up to bat. Shores battled with a strikeout swinging for the first out.

Then he got Coastal Carolina to play perfectly into his hands. He induced a grounder to second base, setting up a double play that would end the game and give the Tigers the crown. Chase Shores was the last man to throw a pitch this season.

“It means everything,” he said. “Being a part of that ’23 was special. But just to play a part in this run in Omaha was a dream come true. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m super thankful to do it with great teammates like Chris (Stanfield) and Anthony.”