LSU and Arkansas: A History of College World Series Showdowns
The LSU Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks are two of the most prominent programs in college baseball, with rich histories and numerous appearances in the College World Series (CWS). Their paths to Omaha, Nebraska, have been filled with memorable moments, legendary players, and intense rivalries. This article delves into the history of both programs, highlighting their College World Series achievements and notable encounters.
LSU Tigers: A Dynasty in College Baseball
The LSU Tigers baseball team, representing Louisiana State University, is a powerhouse in NCAA Division I college baseball, competing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Tigers stand as one of the major forces in college baseball, boasting 8 College World Series titles, with their most recent triumph in 2025.
Early Years and Coaching Changes
During the program's initial 30 seasons, LSU experienced frequent coaching changes, with a total of 15 head coaches. Only C. C. Stroud, who coached from 1914 to 1921, managed a tenure lasting longer than two seasons, achieving an overall record of 73-58-5 (.595).
Harry Rabenhorst: A Long-Lasting Legacy
In 1927, Harry Rabenhorst took over as head baseball coach, becoming the longest-tenured head coach in LSU history. Rabenhorst started at LSU in 1925 as the head coach of the men's basketball team, adding baseball duties two years later. As baseball coach, he secured two SEC baseball titles and earned the title of SEC Coach of the Year in 1939 and 1946. Rabenhorst's coaching spanned from 1927 to 1942, then again from 1946 to 1956 after serving in World War II, finishing with a baseball coaching career record of 220-226-3.
The Opening of LSU Diamond
In 1938, LSU's new baseball stadium, known as either LSU Diamond or LSU Varsity Baseball Field, was inaugurated.
Read also: Tuition at UARK Law
Post-Rabenhorst Era
During Rabenhorst's absence for World War II, A. L. Swanson served as head coach from 1943 to 1945. Raymond "Ray" Didier led LSU for seven seasons, from 1957 to 1963, with an overall record of 104-79-1 (.568), coaching the 1961 team to the SEC championship. From 1964 to 1983, LSU had three head coaches: Jim Waldrop (1964-1965), Jim Smith (1966-1978).
Skip Bertman: The Architect of a Dynasty
The arrival of Skip Bertman marked a turning point for the LSU program. In his second season, 1985, the Tigers qualified for postseason play for the first time in ten years. By his third season, LSU made its inaugural appearance in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, the first of 11 appearances during Bertman's 18-year career.
The 1989 team returned to the postseason, initiating a streak of 17 consecutive postseason appearances. That year, they qualified for the College World Series with a victory over Texas A&M in a regional final.
The Championship Years
The 1991 Tigers, with President George H. W. Bush in attendance, captured the national title. In 1996, despite entering the NCAA tournament with a two-game losing streak, LSU was selected as one of the eight regional host sites. They triumphed over Austin Peay, UNLV, and New Orleans, then defeated Georgia Tech, 29-13, in the regional final. At the College World Series, they defeated Wichita State, 9-8, and Florida, 9-4. In a memorable game against Miami, Warren Morris hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th inning, securing a 9-8 victory.
LSU aimed to become the first team since Stanford (1987 and 1988) to win consecutive national championships in 1997. They narrowly defeated Rice after a five-hour game against Long Beach State, 14-7 in 11 innings, and a home run by Larson gave LSU a 5-4 victory.
Read also: Hog Hoops Tournament Run
In 1998, LSU hit 161 home runs, Eddy Furniss won the Dick Howser Trophy. The Tigers went undefeated in the South II Regional to reach the College World Series, seeking to become the first team to win three consecutive championships since USC won five consecutive from 1970 to 1974. LSU hit eight home runs in its first game in Omaha, defeating USC, 12-10, then hit six more in a 10-8 victory over SEC team Mississippi State.
In 2000, LSU's regular season record was 39-17, and the team went undefeated in the SEC tournament to earn the #2 National seed in the NCAA tournament. LSU won the Baton Rouge Regional in three games, outscoring opponents 45-4. LSU began play at the College World Series with a 13-5 win over Texas. In game two, LSU defeated USC, 10-4. In the championship game on June 17, Stanford held an early 5-2 lead, but LSU scored three runs in the eighth inning with two home runs. LSU reliever Trey Hodges did not allow a run in the top of the ninth, his fourth scoreless inning of the game. In the bottom of the ninth, LSU led the inning off with a single and a walk to bring Brad Cresse to the plate with two runners on base. Cresse hit a line drive single into left field to score Ryan Theriot from second, giving LSU its fifth national championship in 10 years. LSU had 5 players named to the All-Tournament team- Blair Barbier, Mike Fontenot, Brad Hawpe, Hodges, and Theriot.
Bertman's Legacy and Transition
Skip Bertman concluded his tenure as head coach in 2001 with a 44-22-1 record, having won 870 games, seven SEC titles, and 11 CWS appearances. His jersey number, 15, is retired by LSU, and a portion of South Stadium Drive was renamed Skip Bertman Drive in his honor. He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in June 2002 and the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January 2003.
After the end of the 2001 season, Bertman became LSU's athletic director. During his tenure, LSU won six total national championships and two BCS National Titles. In anticipation of Bertman's retirement, Louisiana-Monroe coach Smoke Laval was brought on as an administrative assistant for the LSU baseball team in 2001 and succeeded Bertman as coach in 2002. Laval was returning to LSU where he served as an assistant coach under Bertman from 1984 to 1993.
The Smoke Laval Era
Expectations were high for Laval when he took over as head coach at LSU. In his first year, Laval led the Tigers to a 44-22 record overall. The Tigers hosted a regional in Baton Rouge, which they won, and moved on to the Houston Super-Regional to face Rice, where their season ended. In 2003 and 2004, Laval would lead the Tigers to 45-22-1 and 46-19 overall record respectively. LSU would earn the No. 2 national seed in the 2003 tournament, and would host a super regional both years, meaning the road to Omaha went through Baton Rouge. LSU made the College World Series both years, but disappointed both years, posting an 0-2 record each year. In 2005, LSU struggled during the regular season despite a 40-22 record overall. The Tigers lost 12 games in SEC play and lost to Southern for only the second time in 41 tries. It was obvious that 2006 would be a critical year for Laval. However, that year would see LSU post a 35-24 mark overall, their worst since 1983. They also posted their first losing SEC record in 23 years and would miss the NCAA tournament for the first time in 18 years.
Read also: UA Admissions Landscape
Paul Mainieri: Restoring the Roar
On June 28, 2006, Paul Mainieri was named the twenty-fifth head coach of LSU Baseball. Mainieri returned to Baton Rouge, where he began his career in college baseball 30 years earlier as a freshman at LSU in 1976. Mainieri finished his collegiate playing career at the University of New Orleans. In his first season at LSU, the Tigers posted a mark of 29-26-1. In his second year, LSU was predicted to finish fifth in the SEC Western division by the SEC baseball coaches before the year started. Following an amazing turnaround, Coach Mainieri led LSU to the SEC Western Division championship with a conference record of 18-11-1, and the No. 2 seed in the 2008 SEC baseball tournament. The Tigers finished the regular season record at 39-16-1. The team won the 2008 SEC Tournament (held May 20-25 in Hoover, Alabama). By winning the SEC Tournament, LSU earned a 7th national seed in the NCAA tournament and extended the life of the old Alex Box Stadium as Baton Rouge hosted a regional bracket of the NCAA tournament. LSU swept the series, defeating Texas Southern (12-1) and Southern Miss (twice, 13-4 and 11-4) to win the regional bracket. As a result of the Regional, LSU and Baton Rouge earned a spot in the Super-Regional series, hosting UC-Irvine in the last three games to be played in the old Alex Box Stadium.
In the 2008 College World Series, No. 7 LSU faced the No. 2 North Carolina Tarheels in the first round, losing 8-4. The Tigers, facing elimination in a game against the Rice Owls, won in dramatic fashion, 6-5, continuing their string of come-from-behind victories. On June 20, 2008, after a rain delay of nearly 24 hours, UNC and LSU resumed their elimination game matchup, resulting in a 7-3 loss for LSU. The team was defeated after giving up the only grand slam in the 2008 CWS in the top of the ninth inning.
The 2009 National Championship
The 2009 season was the first for LSU playing at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. They started play at the College World Series and faced the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round, winning 9-5. In the winner's bracket game, LSU played the Arkansas Razorbacks and won by a score of 9-1. In a rematch, the Tigers beat the Razorbacks again by a score of 14-5, advancing to the CWS finals for the first time since 2000. They played against the Texas Longhorns in a best-of-three series for the title, and won Game 1, 7-6 in a dramatic comeback win in 11 innings. The Longhorns beat the Tigers in game 2, 5-1, to force a third and final game. The Tigers out-slugged the Longhorns 11-4 in game 3 to win their 6th National Championship and first since 2000.
Under Mainieri, the Tigers also played in the 2013 and 2015 College World Series. In 2017, LSU played Florida in a best-of-three series to determine the winner of the 2017 College World Series. Mainieri retired following LSU's 2021 super regional loss to SEC rival Tennessee at Knoxville.
Recent Seasons
The 2022 season saw the Tigers post a 40-22 overall record and a 3rd place finish in the SEC west. The team would suffer major losses such as sweeps to both Arkansas and eventual champion Ole Miss. The Tigers earned a berth at the Southern Miss Regional of the 2022 NCAA Division I baseball tournament, winning their first two games against Kennesaw St and regional host Southern Miss.
The 2023 season saw notable transfers come in such as DH Tommy White of NC State and RHP Paul Skenes of Air Force. Ranked Preseason #1 by D1 Baseball, the Tigers would hold this spot for 13 weeks until series losses to both Auburn and Mississippi State. After a 1-2 appearance at the 2023 Southeastern Conference baseball tournament, LSU would earn #5 national seed and host a Regional for the first time since 2019. With sweeps of their regional and a Super Regional versus Kentucky the Tigers would earn their first CWS appearance since 2017. LSU would go on to win their bracket in dramatic fashion against the #1 ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the bottom of the 11th inning with a walkoff by Tommy White.
In 2024, Johnson coached LSU to the regional championship in Chapel Hill, North Carolina against the host, North Carolina, coming up just short in extra innings in the final game of the regional. In 2025, he was able to lead LSU back to the College World Series, marking its 20th appearance there, and another national championship with a win over Coastal Carolina in the championship series.
Attendance Records and Fan Support
As of the 2018 baseball season, LSU has consistently ranked high in college baseball total attendance for 23 straight seasons. In 2013, LSU recorded an NCAA-record total attendance of 473,298 in 43 games. LSU has also finished No. 1 in the final average attendance rankings for the 22nd time in 23 years.
Traditions and Uniforms
LSU introduced gold jerseys for the 1996 post-season, which became iconic after the team won their 3rd National Championship that year. Under head coach Paul Mainieri, the team wears the gold jerseys regularly on the third game of a three-game series, as well as during important tournament games.
The LSU Bat Girls
The LSU Bat Girls are a support squad that contributes to the LSU Baseball program. The Bat Girls consist of 30 individuals who work in teams of 10 at all home games, post-season games and various charity events. The squad serves as hostesses at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field and their responsibilities include selling game day programs, recovering foul balls, retrieving bats and helmets, answering fans questions, assisting with game day promotions and giveaways and checking on umpires.
Tailgating Culture
Tailgating is a significant part of the LSU baseball experience, with fans gathering in the same spots year after year. LSU has continually been ranked as the top tailgating location in the country.
Arkansas Razorbacks: Striving for a Championship
The University of Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and is currently coached by Dave Van Horn. The program started in 1897, and is in its 102nd season of play (77th consecutive) in 2024. The Razorbacks play baseball home games in Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field, which holds 11,749. Arkansas was the first program in the nation to have an average attendance over 8,000 for the course of the season. Baum Stadium has hosted NCAA regionals in 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023. The Arkansas baseball team also hosted an NCAA Super Regional in 2004 against Florida State, in 2015 against Missouri State, in 2018 against South Carolina, in 2019 against Ole Miss, in 2021 against North Carolina State, and again in 2025 against Tennessee. One of the games in the 2015 Super Regional series against Missouri State set the all-time stadium attendance mark at 12,167. The first game of the South Carolina Super Regional series had 11, 722 in attendance making it the 3rd highest attended game in Baum stadium history.
Early History and Coaching
Arkansas first fielded a baseball team from 1897 to 1930. The modern era of Razorbacks baseball began in 1947, under Deke Brackett.
Norm DeBriyn: Building a Foundation
In 1970, Cole hired 28-year-old Norm DeBriyn after another man took the job but resigned after only one day. DeBriyn inherited a program that played at a dilapidated stadium at the Washington County Fairgrounds, and whose paperwork was contained in a single manila folder. He immediately set about upgrading the program. Within three years, he had the Razorbacks in the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. He then persuaded athletic director Frank Broyles to build a new on-campus stadium, George Cole Field.
Conference Championships and Division Titles
Arkansas' baseball program has won six conference championships, two in the Southwest Conference in 1989 and 1990, and four in the Southeastern Conference in 1999, 2004, 2021, and 2023. They have also won two conference tournament titles, the first in 1985 as a member of the SWC, the second in 2021 in the SEC. In addition to those championships, the Razorbacks have also won nine SEC West Division championships in 1999, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024.
1979 College World Series
DeBriyn's 10th team put the Razorbacks on the national map. The Razorbacks won 49 games, lost 15, and finished second in the Southwest Conference (SWC). The Hogs defeated George Washington, Florida, and Delaware twice to move out of the East Regional (played at Seminole Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida). The Razorbacks then went to Omaha and defeated Pepperdine, 5-4 and an Arizona Wildcats club, with a young Terry Francona, 10-3. A match-up with SWC champion Texas loomed next for the Razorbacks. The Hogs had gone 1-4 against the Longhorns up to this point in the season. The Razorbacks prevailed, 9-4, and earned a contest with Cal State Fullerton for a championship. Texas was eliminated. Arkansas lost twice to the Titans, 13-10, and 2-1, to give the trophy to Cal State Fullerton.
1985 College World Series
Arkansas came into the South regional hot winning twelve straight games (last loss against fellow CWS team Mississippi State), and winning the SWC tournament with the help of tourney-MVP Dave Patterson. A 20-13 victory over Eastern Kentucky started things off on the right foot for the Hogs. Arkansas arrived in Omaha in as dramatic fashion as they left it. The Diamond Hogs defeated the Gamecocks of South Carolina in a 14 inning affair, 1-0, but Arkansas would lose to Mississippi State three days later, and fall to the loser's bracket. Facing elimination, the Razorbacks crushed Stanford 10-4, eliminating the Cardinal from the College World Series. The Hogs were 4-1 against the Longhorns in 1985, including two wins in the Southwest Conference Tournament.
1987 College World Series
Arkansas was 51-16 in 1987, and finished in fifth place at the CWS. The Hogs finished second in both the SWC regular season and postseason tournament. The Regional was played in Huntsville, Alabama, and the Razorbacks defeated Middle Tennessee, West Virginia, and Clemson (twice) in order to play in Omaha. Texas defeated Arkansas, 13-6, but Arkansas rebounded with a win against future SEC foe Georgia, eliminating the Bulldogs.
1989 College World Series
Ten years after the successful 1979 campaign, the Razorbacks were again headed to Omaha. Once in the College World Series, the Diamond Hogs met Wichita State. The Shockers had actually been defeated by the Razorbacks 5-1 in Fayetteville, which was the Razorbacks' first game of the season. Arkansas lost 3-1 on June 2, and had to stave off elimination against North Carolina. Wichita State defeated Norm DeBriyn's Razorbacks, 8-4, eliminating them. The finish was good for fifth place in the CWS. Wichita State would go on to win the National Championship, fighting off elimination three times more.
2004 College World Series
Arkansas was an eight seed in 2004, and for the fourth time in five Hog appearances, Arkansas' first game in Omaha was against the Texas Longhorns. #1 Texas prevailed 13-2, and the Razorbacks were one loss from elimination.
2009 College World Series
Arkansas began hot in 2009, starting the year at 10-2 including back-to-back wins over #1 Arizona State that set Baum Stadium attendance records. The Hogs luck changed entering SEC play, as they dropped series against Vanderbilt, Georgia, and LSU, and were swept by Alabama and Ole Miss to end the year. Limping into the 2009 SEC baseball tournament, the Hogs defeated Florida twice, but were bumped from the tournament by Vanderbilt. The Hogs defeated Washington State in game 1 in Norman, setting up a match up with #9 Oklahoma, who the Hogs had beaten at home a month earlier on a Brett Eibner walk-off bases-loaded walk. Arkansas collected 20 hits in a 17-6 win over the Sooners, setting up super regional berth with another win. The Hogs last met Florida State in the 2004 Fayetteville Super Regional, with the Hogs advancing to Omaha. The Razorbacks opened the College World Series in game 1 against #1 national seed Cal State Fullerton. The win set a rematch with LSU, who had beaten Arkansas in a hard-fought series earlier in the year. LSU got a first-inning home run from pitcher Brett Eibner, and the Hogs bats fell silent in a 9-1 loss. Both fighting for their tournament lives, Arkansas met Virginia in an elimination game. The Razorbacks offense was again quiet, and the Hogs were down to their last strike when Brett Eibner homered to keep the Razorbacks in Omaha. A rematch with LSU sat on the horizon, and the drained Arkansas pitching staff struggled. Closer Stephen Richards started the game for the Hogs, who were losing 4-0 by the third inning. After an error and a wild pitch, the Razorbacks gave up runs in six separate innings, and lost 14-5.
2012 College World Series
Arkansas began the 2012 season with high expectations, including a consensus top ten ranking and D. J. Baxendale, Nolan Sanburn, Dominic Ficociello, and Ryne Stanek receiving preseason All-America honors. Arkansas won their first game of the 2012 College World Series, an 8-1 victory over Kent State Golden Flashes. Two nights later the Razorbacks faced SEC foe and two-time defending champion the South Carolina Gamecocks, who came into the game with a 22-game postseason win streak. A Dominic Ficociello RBI in the first inning gave Arkansas a 1-0 lead, as they never trailed, winning a 2-1 pitcher's duel.
2015 College World Series
Arkansas was not expected to make it to the College World Series in 2015, especially after a slow start to the season left the Razorbacks sitting at .500 heading into April. Arkansas then faced No. 5 national seed Miami, and fell behind 2-0 when Jacob Heyward hit a 2-run shot off reliever Jackson Lowery, who had just been inserted for Keaton McKinney. The Razorbacks rallied twice to tie the game at 2-2 and 3-3, but lost 4-3 when Heyward hit a walk-off single.
2018 College World Series
The Razorbacks entered Omaha with a 44-19 record, co-champions of the SEC West with Ole Miss, and having won the Fayetteville Regional and Super Regional at home in Baum Stadium. The team set a school record for home wins, going 34-4 at Baum. Beginning the year as a top ten team, the Razorbacks never left that spot throughout the season. Arkansas defeated Texas in its opening game 11-5 behind pitcher Blaine Knight, who improved to 13-0 on the year. It then went on to beat Texas Tech 7-4 in a game pushed back a day because of weather, and then eliminated defending national champion Florida 5-2 to earn a spot in the championship series against Oregon State. Arkansas won the first game of the championship series 4-1, but Oregon State completed a comeback 5-3 win in game two thanks in large part to a dropped foul ball by Arkansas with two outs in the 9th inning.
Gage Wood’s No-Hitter
Today, the Arkansas Razorback baseball program achieved something the LSU program has never done: throwing a no-hitter at the College World Series. In an elimination game against Murray State, Razorbacks' pitcher Gage Wood threw the game of his life. A 19 strikeout, no-hitter, to save his team's season for one more day.
Individual Awards and Recognition
Arkansas has produced three winners of the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy, bestowed annually to the best amateur baseball player in the United States. The Razorbacks have produced 31 All-Americans and 25 Freshmen All-Americans.
LSU vs. Arkansas: A Budding Rivalry
The LSU and Arkansas rivalry has grown in recent years, fueled by their frequent encounters in the SEC and the NCAA Tournament. Their matchups are often intense and closely contested, with both teams vying for conference supremacy and a spot in the College World Series.
2009 College World Series
In the 2009 College World Series, LSU and Arkansas faced off twice, with LSU winning both games en route to their national championship.
Recent Encounters
The two teams consistently battle for position in the SEC West, with series often determining division championships and NCAA tournament seeding. The rivalry is marked by passionate fan bases and a high level of competition on the field.
2025 Season Outlook
LSU is participating in its 20th College World Series and is just the seventh school in NCAA history to make 20 CWS appearances. LSU has won seven baseball national championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2023), the second-most in NCAA history.
tags: #LSU #Arkansas #College #World #Series #history
