Preview: LSU vs West Virginia – Baton Rouge Super Regional Showdown
The stage is set in Baton Rouge as two red-hot teams, LSU and West Virginia, collide in the Super Regional at Alex Box Stadium, with a coveted spot in the College World Series on the line. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday, airing live on ESPN. This clash promises fireworks, with both programs surging at the right time.
LSU, the reigning national champions, are riding a wave of momentum after dominating the Chapel Hill Regional. The Tigers, seeded second in their group, stunned top-seed North Carolina with timely hitting and a lights-out bullpen. Head coach Jay Johnson’s team features a lethal combination of power, speed, and postseason poise. Junior slugger Tommy White, already with 21 home runs on the year, remains the centerpiece of LSU’s lineup. He’s flanked by outfielder Dylan Crews, who’s been unstoppable in June, hitting over .400 in the postseason with multiple game-winning RBIs.
On the mound, LSU has found its groove. Freshman ace Luke Holman, a quiet assassin on the rubber, has been lights-out in the postseason. He’ll likely get the ball in Game 1, bringing a mid-90s fastball and devastating breaking stuff that can neutralize even the hottest bats. Behind him, the bullpen duo of Griffin Herring and Thatcher Hurd has been nearly untouchable.
West Virginia, on the other hand, is writing its own Cinderella script. The Mountaineers swept through the Tucson Regional, silencing Arizona and Dallas Baptist with clutch pitching and scrappy offense. Head coach Randy Mazey’s squad is built on hustle, defense, and opportunistic hitting — a gritty mix that thrives in postseason chaos.
Their star? JJ Wetherholt, the Big 12 Player of the Year. Wetherholt, a top MLB prospect, combines speed, contact, and elite fielding. He’s batting .390 with 17 steals, and if he gets on base, he changes the game. WVU’s pitching staff doesn’t feature household names, but they’ve been surgical when it counts. Sophomore lefty Aidan Major, known for his fearless approach, is likely to toe the rubber in Game 1.
The environment at Alex Box Stadium will be electric — over 10,000 Tiger fans draped in purple and gold, roaring with every strikeout and moonshot. LSU has never lost a Super Regional at home under Jay Johnson, but West Virginia has made a habit of spoiling expectations.
This series is a study in contrasts: LSU’s firepower vs. WVU’s grit, tradition vs. hunger, reigning champs vs. dream chasers. It’s the kind of matchup June baseball lives for — unpredictable, emotional, and possibly epic.
Only one team will punch its ticket to Omaha. And starting Saturday afternoon, under the blazing Louisiana sun, every pitch, every swing, every roar from the crowd will inch us closer to finding out who.
