The LSU Baseball team came into Saturday looking to continue their wining streak as they faced off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It was a record attendance for a Frisco Classic as 11,003 fans showed up to watch the Nation's 2nd ranked team. Early on, the game looked to be all Nebraska before the Tigers offense decided to pour it on.
Early on it was clear that Anthony Eyanson didn't have his best stuff as he gave up four first inning hits which allowed the Cornhuskers to take a 3-0 lead. In the second inning Nebraska made LSU pay for a walk and a wild pitch tacking on yet another run to make it 4-0 Nebraska. The battery clearly wasn't on the same page as in the third inning another wild pitch followed by a single made it 5-0.
In the Fourth Inning, the Tigers started to chip away behind clutch extra base hits. Josh Pearson started the inning off with a double before scoring on a Steven Milam double. Jake Brown flied out advancing Milam to third where he'd score on a Cade Arrambide ground it to make it 5-2. Tenner Reaves would then smash a double down the right field line which was followed by a Chris Stanfield RBI single.
In the 5th, LSU would claw back again with a two out rally as Josh Pearson singled to left field, Steven Milam singled up the middle before both advanced on a passed ball. Jake Brown then brought Pearson home on a single making it 5-4 Nebraska.
After a shaky start, Anthony Eyanson shook it off and was able to turn in a solid outing giving the Tigers some much needed length. Eyanson turned in 6 innings for the Tigers allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and a walk while striking out 7.
In the bottom of the 6th, LSU's new and improved defense put on a show with one of the prettier plays you'll ever see between Daniel Dickinson, Steven Milam, and Jared Jones.
Oh my the SAUCE. Dickinson to Milam for one of the most beautiful 4-6-3 putouts you’ll ever see. pic.twitter.com/TQyche0qCz
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) March 2, 2025
In the top of the 7th, Daniel Dickinson wore one off the bat and when Josh Pearson doubled to right it gave LSU 2nd and 3rd with none out looking to lead for the first time. Steven Milam dropped a single into right field tying the game for LSU. Jake Brown's sac fly gave LSU the first lead of the day before Chris Stanfield added on an insurance run with a single to left. Derek Curiel then hit the perfect swinging bunt which sent Nebraska into a frenzy tacking on another run for LSU.
Havoc on the basepaths. Tigers plate another. ⚡️
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) March 2, 2025
📺 D1 Baseball pic.twitter.com/N6Lu5Sxip6
After a pitching change Nebraska made the decision to face Jared Jones with first base open and instead they poked the Bear as Jared Jones drove in a pair with a single up the middle.
Bear's single takes us to 🔟@bearjones_3 | D1 Baseball pic.twitter.com/peMN8jcptL
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) March 2, 2025
Zac Cowan was called upon following the end of Eyanson's day, Cowan looked to be cruising in the 7th but, Nebraska was able to plate a run on three straight hits. In the 8th inning, Cowan looked locked in and cruised through a scoreless inning to send it to the ninth.
The Tigers tacked on another run to make it 11-6 in the Ninth as Josh Pearson wore a pitch scoring Chris Stanfield. Jay Johnson turned the game over to Freshman Phenom William Schmidt in the 9th inning, Schmidt allowed a walk but, worked a clean Ninth inning securing the win.
Jay Johnson was looking to make this team more well rounded on the basepaths and in the field this offseason. On defense, Chris Stanfield and Daniel Dickinson have had massive impacts and it showed once again in this game. Ethan Frey, Chris Stanfield, and Derek Curiel all had incredible moments on the bases and its allowed LSU to score runs when they wouldn't have last season.
Playing five games this weekend was a massive test for Jay Johnson's team and it was going to tell him a ton about his team. Anthony Eyanson really answered the bell as he could've crumbled after a tough start but, he rallied to give LSU a chance in this game going 6 innings.
Josh Pearson was the star of the game for LSU on offense with a 4-5 day at the plate scoring three runs with three doubles on the day. The Tigers offense as a whole did an incredible job flooding the bases with 17 hits, 6 walks, and a pair of hit by pitches which put constant pressure on the Huskers.
The win officially clinched the Frisco College Baseball Classic Championship for LSU as they've beaten both teams with a win while Sam Houston is 0-2. The Tigers will look to make it a perfect week and a perfect Frisco Classic against Sam Houston on Sunday.