LSU, Kade Anderson shut out Coastal Carolina to take CWS Finals Game 1

Kade Anderson said this week he was focused on helping LSU win and continue its push toward a potential eighth national championship, regardless of what his statistics might be along the way.

The former St. Paul’s star moved the Tigers one huge step closer Saturday to their title goal and his childhood dream with another superb day at the office that carved his name even further into the program’s record books.

The sophomore southpaw threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts to lead a 1-0 defeat of Coastal Carolina in the opening game of the College World Series Championship Series.

“Great performance by our team tonight, especially Kade — special performance,” coach Jay Johnson said. “Not taking it for granted. That’s what we’ve seen all year. He’s the best pitcher in the country and did it again tonight.”

Anderson authored the fourth-ever College World Series shutout in LSU history and just the second-ever complete-game shutout, joining Brett Laxton in the 1993 title game against Wichita State.

The Tigers are now just one victory away from a championship.

“Probably every night,” Anderson said of how often he had probably dreamt of a moment like Saturday. “And really just putting my team in a situation to win. And we’ve got a loaded bullpen now, and that necessarily wasn’t to end the College World Series, so we’ve got one more that we’re preparing for.”

LSU scored its lone run in the bottom of the first inning.

Freshman left fielder Derek Curiel drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a grounduout by junior designated hitter Ethan Frey and scored on an RBI single to center by sophomore shortstop Steven Milam.

That’s all Anderson and a near-perfect defensive performance behind him would need to secure the win.

For the third time in four College World Series games, the Tigers were not charged with an error.

And senior third baseman Michael Braswell III led several players who chipped in highlight-reel plays throughout the contest that were particularly impressive — and critical on a night with a tight margin.

“Luis Hernandez behind the plate tonight was spectacular,” Johnson said. “(Anderson) was striking out a lot of guys, and some of ’em were on chase pitches. The blocks, the recovery, the tag or throw down to first base — to not let any weird plays kinda happen.

“And then Michael Braswell‘s defense at third base was a difference-maker in the game tonight. So good all-around effort by our team, and get ready to go for tomorrow.”

LSU stranded a single base-runner in each of the second, third, fourth and seventh innings.

But the Tigers’ best opportunity to add to their lead came in the sixth and was deflated in part by a circumstance out of either team’s hands.

Milam drew a leadoff walk and appeared to have an opportunity to advance to at least second, if not third, when a pickoff throw from Coastal Carolina pitcher Cameron Flukey skipped wide of first baseman Colby Thorndyke.

But the ball deflected off first base umpire Jeff Head and back toward the infield, instead holding Milam at first.

Milam later reached third on a two-out single to left-center by Hernandez that would have almost certainly scored a run if not for the umpire mishap.

But the Flukey was able to induce an inning-ending groundout from junior center fielder Chris Stanfield the next at-bat.

“(Flukey) was better than the reputation, and the reputation was really good,” Johnson said. “It’s hard to imagine that he’s probably not a first-round pick next year. I mean, we’ve seen a lot of good arms this year, and he’s right there at the top. I thought our guys battled. Anytime we had a chance for momentum, it was either the next at-bat didn’t go the way we needed it to go to capitalize and create some space in the game. And thankfully we had the best pitcher in the world going tonight and played great defense behind him.”

Milam’s 2-for-3 effort with an RBI, a double and a walk led the Tigers’ work at the plate.

“I just saw him well,” he said. “Just stuck to my plan and was able to execute it.”

Curiel, Dickinson and Hernandez each finished 1-for-3 — with Curiel also drawing a walk — and sophomore right fielder Jake Brown was 1-for-4.