Arkansas baseball's offense virtually nonexistent in first CWS game against LSU

No. 3 Arkansas (48-14, 20-10 SEC) could not get its offense rolling in a crushing loss to the No. 6 LSU Tigers (49-15, 19-11 SEC), 4-1, on Saturday night in the opening round of the 2025 Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Neb. at TD Ameritrade Park. The Razorbacks will have to fight their way through the loser's bracket if they want to reach the championship series.

Arkansas baseball vs LSU, game one of the College World Series

With one out in the top of the second inning, LSU loaded the bases with C Luis Hernandez drawing a walk, LF Derek Curiel getting on with a single and 2B Daniel Dickinson legging out a bunt single. CF Chris Stanfield drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single to left field to score Hernandez, and 3B Michael Braswell III was hit by a pitch to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

RF Josh Pearson plated Dickinson on an RBI fielder’s choice with Braswell getting thrown out at second base. After picking up the second out of the inning, LHP Zach Root was relieved by RHP Gabe Gaeckle with runners on the corners. Gaeckle forced DH Ethan Frey to ground out to end the three-run rally. Root went a career-short 1.2 innings in his 18th start of the season while allowing three runs on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts.

After being shut out for the first five innings of the game, Arkansas put up its first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth on a leadoff solo shot by 1B Reese Robinett to cut the lead to two, 3-1, for his third home run and 13th RBI of the year. The ball traveled 386 feet at 104 MPH.

Gaeckle was relieved by LHP Cole Gibler in the top of the eighth with a runner on second and two outs. Gaeckle was lights out for the Hogs in relief with six innings while allowing a run, three hits and a walk with a career-high 10 strikeouts on 90 pitches.

Curiel jumped on Gibler with an RBI single to right field to cash in SS Steven Milam from second to put LSU back up by three. Dickinson struck out to end the inning.

LHP Kade Anderson went seven innings for the Tigers in his 18th start of the season. He was relieved in the top of the eighth by RHP Chase Shores after giving up a leadoff single to 2B Camden Kozeal. Anderson allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters on 100 pitches.

Shores threw a wild pitch on the first pitch he threw to move Kozeal to second base, but came back by striking out 3B Brent Iredale and Robinett. CF Justin Thomas Jr. lined out to center field to end the threat.

Gibler was relieved by RHP Christian Foutch in the top of the ninth with two outs after giving up a walk to Pearson. Gibler struck out three of the five batters he faced on the night. Foutch hit pinch hitter Jake Brown to put runners on first and second, but struck out Jones to end the inning.

LSU placed RHP Casan Evans on the mound in relief of Shores to shut down the game. CF Charles Davalan led off with a single center, but SS Wehiwa Aloy struck out swinging for the first out. RF Logan Maxwell grounded out to the pitcher while Davalan moved over to second base. C Ryder Helfrick grounded out to short to end the game.

The Razorbacks will stave off elimination on Monday against the Murray State Racers at 1 p.m. at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.