Named one of the two College World Series finals’ most outstanding players, LSU baseball’s Kade Anderson did his part to get the Tigers their eighth national championship in program history.
The left-handed pitcher left it all on the field in his start on Saturday, throwing 130 pitches in the second complete game shutout of his career. The nation’s leader in strikeouts finished with 10 against Coastal Carolina.
Anderson relied heavily on his breaking pitches to make the Chanticleers chase, especially as he fought to retain command of his fastball. The southpaw’s grit bares similarities to fellow national champion Paul Skenes, who played a large role in the 2023 national championship run.
The right-hander didn’t make an appearance in the College World Series finals against Florida but, similar to Anderson’s performance against Coastal Carolina, kept the Tigers in a close 2-0 victory against Wake Forest.
In an elimination game, Skenes threw eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. It brought his total for the season to 209, setting the SEC single-season record. LSU won the game via Tommy White’s walk-off two-run homer in the eleventh inning.
Anderson and Skenes both led the nation in strikeouts during their national championship runs. The southpaw finished with 180 and a 3.18 ERA through 119 innings. In his lone season donning the purple and gold, Skenes posted a 1.69 ERA through 122.2 innings.
Both hurlers heavily increased their MLB Draft stock en route to becoming national champions. Skenes went first overall in 2023 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, eventually becoming National League Rookie of the Year. Anderson jumped up draft boards and is now considered a consensus top-five pick.
Paul Skenes’ 2023 vs. Kade Anderson’s 2025
Anderson: 119 innings, 3.18 ERA, 180 strikeouts, 35 walks, 1.059 WHIP, 6.9 hits/nine
Skenes: 122.2 innings, 1.69 ERA, 209 strikeouts, 20 walks, 0.750 WHIP, 5.3 hits/nine