Tigers Stay Alive: LSU Baseball to Host West Virginia in Baton Rouge Super Regional
BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU Tigers are one step closer to Omaha.
After surviving a tough regional in Baton Rouge, the defending national champions are now set to host the West Virginia Mountaineers in the NCAA Super Regionals at Alex Box Stadium. With momentum back on their side, the Tigers are riding high, while West Virginia is aiming to play spoiler in what promises to be one of the most exciting matchups of the postseason.
LSU punched its ticket to the Super Regional with a resilient performance through the Baton Rouge Regional. After a shaky start, head coach Jay Johnson’s squad rallied behind strong starting pitching and timely hitting to outlast teams like North Carolina State and UL-Lafayette. The Tigers capped the weekend with a statement win, reminding the college baseball world that their championship pedigree is very much intact.
Now, all eyes turn to the showdown with West Virginia.
The Mountaineers, fresh off a stunning regional win in the Tucson Regional, arrive in Baton Rouge as one of the feel-good stories of the tournament. Behind a gritty, blue-collar roster and the leadership of head coach Randy Mazey, West Virginia is making its first-ever Super Regional appearance. Led by a mix of veteran bats and rising underclassmen, the Mountaineers are hungry to prove they belong among the nation’s elite.
But facing LSU at Alex Box Stadium is no small task.
The Tigers boast one of the most intimidating home-field advantages in college baseball, and the Box will be rocking when the Super Regionals begin. Offensively, LSU continues to lean on sluggers like Tommy White and Jared Jones, who combined for 35 home runs this season. On the mound, lefty ace Gage Jump has returned to form at just the right time, giving the Tigers a dominant presence to open the series.
One key for LSU will be bullpen consistency. The Tigers struggled with late-inning execution at times during the regular season, and tightening up the relief corps will be crucial against a West Virginia lineup that capitalizes on mistakes.
For the Mountaineers, the challenge will be handling the pressure of playing in Baton Rouge. West Virginia’s ability to control the tempo with strong starting pitching and keep the Tigers’ bats quiet early could tilt the series in their favor. Much will depend on how their pitching staff holds up against LSU’s deep lineup.
This Super Regional represents a collision of tradition and ambition. LSU is seeking its 19th College World Series appearance, while West Virginia is aiming to make history with its first. It’s a matchup loaded with storylines, emotion, and Omaha dreams.
Game 1 of the best-of-three series is set for Friday, with first pitch expected in prime time. If LSU continues its upward trajectory and feeds off the energy of its home crowd, they’ll be tough to beat. But West Virginia is a scrappy, dangerous team playing with house money — and that makes them a formidable opponent.
Get ready for fireworks in Baton Rouge.
