LSU vs. Coastal Carolina Prediction & Best Bets – Game 2 (June 22, 2025)
LSU HAS DONE IT! They beat Coastal Carolina and are a win away from another national title. Their eight, to be exact.
The southpaw phenom Kade Anderson pitched a shutout and led his team to a 1-0 win over the Chanticleers in Game 1 of the College World Series Championship. He threw 130 pitches in 8 innings, struck out 10, walked five, and gave away zero runs. That’s quite a line. If the sophomore is the number one pick of the MLB Draft, this game could be a big reason for it.
Not only that, this win took away a 26-win game streak (best in the nation) for Coastal Carolina. Oof
LSU got their only run in the bottom of the first. Derek Curiel opened the inning with a walk, and Steven Milam brought him home with an RBI single. That was the end of scoring for the remainder of the game. Coastal’s Cameron Flukey and Dominick Carbone shut it down after the run and held the Tigers to six hits until the end.
Game 2 is on in Omaha for tomorrow afternoon. If Carolina wants to stay in it, they need to win if they want to push it to a third game and a shot at the championship.
Not gonna lie, this game was better than some recent MLB snoozers, so the second game is a must-watch!
Keep scrolling for a Game 1 recap, our Game 2 preview, betting odds, and our picks for the best bets!
Game 2 Details
- Matchup: LSU vs. Coastal Carolina
- Date & Time: Sunday, June 22, at 2:30 PM CT (3:30 PM ET)
- Location: Charles Schwab Field, Omaha
- Broadcast: ABC/ESPN+
Game 1 Breakdown: LSU 1, Coastal Carolina 0
Here’s what went down in Game 1:
- Final Score: LSU 1, Coastal Carolina 0
- Date: Saturday, June 21
- Location: Charles Schwab Field, Omaha
- Winning Pitcher: Kade Anderson (LSU): 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 10 K, 0 BB
- Losing Pitcher: Cam Flukey (Coastal Carolina): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 9 K, 2 BB
- Key Play: Steven Milam brought in Drew Curiel with a first inning RBI single, and it was LSU’s only run of the game.
- Player of the Game: Kade Anderson pitched a total game shutout in Omaha in college baseball’s most elite competition.
Game Summary
- LSU got the lead in the first inning, and Carolina couldn’t get anything going against Anderson’s pitching.
- Anderson obliterated Carolina from beginning to end, full stop.
- Coastal’s offense might as well have been in a straitjacket; they got just three singles.
- LSU’s defense was squeaky clean and got the job done, reinforcing Anderson with flawless play.
- Implication: LSU is ahead 1-0 in the series and preserved their bullpen going into Game 2.
Storylines to Watch in Game 2
Keep your eyes peeled for the following in Game 2!
- Can Coastal Come Back? They finished Game 1 with four singles and never got a runner past second base. Derek Bender and Blake Barthol, who are two of their best, combined to go 0-for-7 with soft contact all night. If they’re going to push this series to a Game 3? Then they need to drive balls into the gaps and make LSU pitch under some pressure. There can’t be any more weak flyouts and stranded singles.
- LSU Bullpen Readiness: After Kade Anderson covered eight innings, the Tigers didn’t have to use a single reliever until the ninth. That means everyone is available; they’ve got Griffin Herring, Gavin Guidry, and Riley Cooper at the ready. It gives LSU a lot of flexibility; they don’t need length from their starter, just five or six good frames.
- Pitching Matchups Update: Anthony Eyanson is expected to start for LSU, and he’s been really reliable in this position before. Coastal could counter with Jake Books, who last went five strong against Florida and hasn’t allowed a homer in three straight appearances. Neither team has confirmed their starters, but that’s the likely pairing.
- Defensive Adjustments: Neither team was perfect in the field (Anderson, you were perfect). LSU botched a basic grounder in the fourth, and Coastal fumbled a chance to turn two in the sixth. In a close series, that kind of oops can change the game. There will be tighter infield alignments and quicker throws; no dugout wants to be the reason that they lose a championship because of a misplay.
Latest Betting Odds & Lines
If you’re putting some cash on Game 2, here are the latest betting odds and lines courtesy of BetMGM:
| Team | Run Line | Moneyline | Total Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
LSU | -1.5 (+130) | -120 | Over 8.5 (-105) |
Coastal Carolina | +1.5 (-165) | -110 | Under 8.5 (-125) |
- Moneyline: LSU (-120), Coastal Carolina (-110)
- Run Line: LSU -1.5 (+130), Coastal +1.5 (-165)
- Total: O 8.5 (-105), U 8.5 (-125)
Best Bets for Game 2
We’ve honed in on three angles that make the most sense for Game 2. Look below for our four best bets!
| Bet | Pick | Why We Like It | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
Moneyline | LSU to Win (–120) | They’ve got the better pitching setup going into Game 2 and just handed Coastal their first loss in 27 games. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8/10) |
Run Line | LSU –1.5 (+130) | If the Tigers get to the bullpen first, they’ve got the hitters to create some separation by the late innings. | ⭐⭐⭐ (7/10) |
Total Runs (O/U) | Under 8.5 | Game 1 finished 1–0, and both teams are sticking with their strong starting options and reliable defense. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8/10) |
First 5 Innings | Under 1.5 Runs | With Eyanson likely facing Liam Doyle, scoring will probably stay close through the first half of the game. | ⭐⭐⭐ (7/10) |
Can Coastal Force a Game 3?
LSU goes into Game 2 with the upper gloved hand (get it???). They’re up 1–0 in the series and coming off an absolute clinic from Kade Anderson that shut down the country’s longest win streak. They only needed one run to take Game 1, and now they’ve got a well-rested bullpen and a chance to finish it off.
But hold your horses: Coastal Carolina didn’t win 26 in a row by folding after one loss. If their top hitters can reset and make some adjustments at the plate, they’re still very much in this. The question is if their rotation can hold long enough for the hitters to make something of it.
Our Final Score Prediction: LSU 4, Coastal Carolina 2
How this one plays out could depend on who scores first and who handles the middle innings better once the starters give way.
If Coastal does manage to extend the series, you should stay ready for Monday’s game! It’s baseball, and stranger things have happened; Game 2 could go either way.
