Jared Jones played the hero twice and the scapegoat once in the final two innings Wednesday as the junior first baseman’s walk-off single propelled No. 6 LSU to a 6-5 win over No. 3 Arkansas and into the finals of the Men’s College World Series at Omaha, Neb.
A rematch between the top two seeded teams in Omaha produced a lot of late drama in what was a must-win game for the Razorbacks, who lost to LSU 4-1 in both teams’ opening game on Saturday.
The three-run bottom of the ninth for the Tigers (51-15) — after Arkansas (50-15) scored twice in the top of the frame — means LSU advanced to the series’ best-of-three final against No. 13 Coastal Carolina, which will start Saturday.
It looked as if the Razorbacks would force a winner-take-all game Thursday between the two schools after Justin Thomas Jr.’s two-run single in the top of the ninth gave the Hogs a 5-3 lead. Cole Gibler (3-2) started the bottom of the ninth getting a strikeout, but Derek Curiel reached on an infield single and Ethan Frey walked.
Gibler got Steven Milam to hit in what might have been a game-ending double play, but shortstop Wehiwa Aloy chose to force Curiel at third.
With two out, Luis Hernandez hit a rope to left. Razorbacks left fielder Charles Davalan charged the ball, but it appeared to hit off his head. That allowed the tying runs to score on what was ruled a double.
Aiden Jimenez then came on to pitch against Jones, who homered in the eighth to tie the game at 3. On a 2-1 count, he hit a line drive up the middle that glanced off the outstretched glove of second baseman Cam Kozeal to start the celebration for the Tigers.
Prior to that, Jones committed a fielding error on a possible double-play ball in the top of the eighth that allowed Arkansas to take a 3-2 lead.
Jacob Mayers (2-0) struck out two in the top of the ninth to keep it a two-run game.
With LSU advancing, the SEC has a chance to continue its recent dominance in Omaha. The last five national champions have come from the conference, and its schools have won it 10 times since 2009.
LSU, which seeks its eighth title, last won it in 2023.
–Field Level Media
