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LSU embraces "opportunity" of playing in a Game 7 Monday night

On3 imageby: Matthew Brune06/02/25MatthewBrune_
Jay Johnson LSU
Jay Johnson LSU

Through the first two games, it seemed like LSU was going to cruise through the Baton Rouge regional, defeating Little Rock then Dallas Baptist by a combined score of 19-0. That’s what made Sunday’s 10-4 loss to the Trojans a wake up call, forcing a decisive Game 7 on Monday at 8 p.m. CT between LSU and Little Rock, which will be televised on ESPN2.

In the three games since the opening-round loss to LSU, the Trojans have scored 40 runs, getting hot at the plate at the right time, presenting a challenge to the Tigers’ staff.

“Great job by Little Rock today winning two games against two great teams,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to tip your hat to them, they took a lot of good at-bats throughout the day. I watched the entire first game as it was transpiring, and it was a complete performance by them. I think the game kind of speaks for itself. It got away from us. We’ll leave it here tonight, turn all of our focus to tomorrow, and find a way to play great.”

The Tigers enter tonight’s game as substantial favorites, but they recognize the challenge Little Rock presents — despite their record. One game for LSU in The Box to advance to the Super Regional round, Johnson is antsy to get back on the diamond.

“It’s a special day in their life tomorrow,” Johnson said after the loss. “After this, unless you play in the Major League World Series, you never play for a team again – it becomes an individual sport. You never quite get the feeling of a game sevens unless you’re actually in the big leagues, and not many guys get to do that. Opportunity. That’s what tomorrow is and I’m excited. Sure, I’d have loved to win tonight and wrapped it up, but we didn’t, and that’s because the opponent did a great job. Less than 24 hours ago, we probably played the cleanest and best brand of baseball you can play at this level. That was just yesterday. I’m excited to see us do that tomorrow.”

LSU still has Zac Cowan and Kasan Evans available, two high-level arms, and the rest will be pieced together with whatever it takes to win. All year it’s been a search to find the pitching outside of Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson and now there’s a confidence that they’re ready for the moment. On the mound and at the plate, we’ll see who steps up for the Tigers in key moments.

“I have ultimate confidence in everybody that we have left,” Cooper Williams said. “You’ve seen it all year. I think we have a great group of strike-throwers who are still yet to throw and will come in tomorrow.”

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