BATON ROUGE, La. – In a thrilling contest that extended into the early hours of Saturday morning, the third-ranked LSU Tigers triumphed over the top-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks with a 5-4 victory in 10 innings at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The game, which was delayed for over three hours due to heavy rain, showcased the resilience and determination of both teams as they battled for supremacy in the SEC.
The action kicked off late on Friday, May 9, 2025, with the game starting at 9:55 p.m. CT and concluding just after 1 a.m. on Saturday. The lengthy rain delay did not dampen the spirits of the fans who remained, as they were treated to an exhilarating display of college baseball.
LSU's designated hitter Ethan Frey became the hero of the night, delivering a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning that allowed first baseman Jared Jones to score the winning run. Jones had led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and moved to third on a groundout by Daniel Dickinson. Frey’s fly ball was caught by Arkansas center fielder Justin Thomas Jr., but Jones tagged up and slid home just ahead of Thomas’ throw, which was deemed late after a replay review upheld the call of safe.
“It was a great win for our team,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “To beat that caliber of pitching that Arkansas has is awesome. Our players have a lot of confidence, and we’re working hard to be better. I have the privilege of knowing how hard our team works every day.”
Frey finished the game with a stellar performance, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, leading LSU’s nine-hit offense. The Tigers improved their overall record to 39-11 and 16-9 in the SEC, while Arkansas fell to 40-10 and 17-8 in conference play.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams exchanging leads and tying the score multiple times. Arkansas initially took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Cam Kozeal hit a solo home run to left-center field, marking his 12th of the season. However, Frey quickly responded with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the same inning, reclaiming the lead for LSU.
Arkansas regained the advantage in the sixth inning when Kuhio Aloy launched a home run, giving the Razorbacks a 3-2 lead. They extended their lead to 4-2 in the seventh, but LSU fought back, tying the game at 4-4 with a two-run single from freshman Derek Curiel in the bottom of the seventh.
Despite having the bases loaded in the top of the 10th inning, Arkansas was unable to capitalize, as LSU reliever Zac Cowan struck out Reese Robinett to escape the jam. Cowan earned the win after tossing three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three.
Arkansas reliever Gabe Gaeckle was charged with the loss after surrendering one run on two hits in 3.1 innings of work. The Razorbacks were left frustrated, having gone 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position throughout the game.
“That win will pay value for a lot of reasons,” Johnson added. “Not for the goals the team has or for what we want to accomplish, but I felt like we got a real competitive nature back tonight, which was really important. The play was better.”
LSU ace Kade Anderson left the game in the sixth inning with a wrist injury after throwing 109 pitches. Johnson later stated that the injury was just a cramp, emphasizing Anderson's importance to the team as a potential future big league pitcher. Anderson had an impressive outing, striking out 10 batters while allowing three runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings.
As the teams prepare for Game 2 of the series, scheduled for Saturday at 5:30 p.m. CT, the stakes have never been higher. LSU is now within one game of Arkansas in the SEC standings and two games behind Texas, who lost their series opener against Florida. The excitement in Baton Rouge is palpable as fans eagerly anticipate the continuation of this fierce rivalry.
With LSU’s victory, the Tigers have now won 29 of their last 33 games at home, showcasing their dominance at Alex Box Stadium. As the season progresses, both teams will be looking to solidify their positions for the postseason, making every game crucial.
“Tigers play better at 2 a.m.,” Frey joked in his post-game comments, reflecting the team’s resilience and determination to fight until the final out.
The stage is set for another electrifying matchup as the LSU Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks continue their series, with both teams eager to prove their mettle in this high-stakes SEC showdown.
