If you didn’t know Jared Jones’ name before the College World Series, you probably know it now. The LSU slugger is renowned for his power, clobbering 22 homers in 2025. Yet, it was his contact skills — and his flair for the dramatic — that reigned supreme Wednesday night against Arkansas.
The Tigers punched their ticket to the CWS final, besting a resilient Razorbacks side 6-5 courtesy of Jones’ walk-off single.
The junior first baseman had already pockmarked the match in his fingerprints after ripping a game-tying moonshot into the right-center bleachers in the eighth inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, he got some help. LSU overcame a 5-3 deficit after an untimely Arkansas error gave way to a fiery Luis Hernandez liner that plated two.
Up stepped Jones, one of the nation’s most feared power hitters. He opted for a more contact-centric approach in his final at-bat, lofting the unruly pitch toward right center. It barely evaded 2B Cam Kozeal’s glove, limping into the outfield.
That was just what Hernandez needed to get around the bases.
Jones disappeared into the Omaha night, shrouded in his teammates’ waiting embraces. The Tigers are back in the College World Series final, this time against Coastal Carolina, and he’s one of the biggest reasons why.
The Sporting News tracked live updates from Wednesday's night's clash between the Tigers and the Razorbacks. Below are highlights, analysis, and more as LSU put itself on the doorstep of a second national title.
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LSU vs. Arkansas baseball final score
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | F | |
Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
LSU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
MORE: Rocco's Jell-O Shot Challenge live tracker
LSU vs. Arkansas updates, highlights from College World Series
(All times Eastern)
End of ninth inning: LSU 6, Arkansas 5
10:30 p.m.: RUN SCORED! LSU wins! Jones does it again, smacking a liner beyond second to plate the winning run! The Tigers are moving onto the World College Series final!
HOW 'BOUT THEM FIGHTING TIGERS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AQY8wDrcd7
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 19, 2025
LSU 6, Arkansas 5
10:25 p.m.: RUN SCORED! LSU answers! A pair of runners cross the plate after Luis Hernandez smacks a double into left field! We are tied!
🤯🤯🤯@_lh_13 | ESPN pic.twitter.com/wygUJrlrhO
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 19, 2025
Arkansas 5, LSU 5
10:07 p.m.: RUN SCORED! Justin Thomas Jr. comes up clutch, ripping a single into left field to score two!
JUSTIN THOMAS JR. IS THAT GUY, PAL pic.twitter.com/XtjLWIbilu
— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) June 19, 2025
Arkansas 5, LSU 3
10:03 p.m.: Arkansas continues to fight to keep its tournament dreams alive. After producing two hits in their first three at-bats, the Razorbacks are on the brink of taking the lead.
End of eighth inning: Arkansas 3, LSU 3
9:56 p.m.: LSU nearly tacked on an additional run, getting two ducks on the pond before bowing out courtesy of a Gabe Gaeckle strikeout.
9:49 p.m.: HOME RUN! Jared Jones knots the match at 3 after sending a moonshot into right center field! What a game!
Let It Fly@bearjones_3 | ESPN pic.twitter.com/jh6x1tSTxZ
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 19, 2025
Arkansas 3, LSU 3
9:42 p.m.: RUN SCORED! Arkansas takes the lead! Helfrick ripped aground into short, setting up a dash for a double play. Helfrick beat out the throw at first, prompting the first baseman to drop the unruly effort. Two runs on the board for the Razorbacks.
IT TAKES WHAT IT TAKES IN OMAHA pic.twitter.com/4t4FEelWVp
— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) June 19, 2025
Arkansas 3, LSU 2
9:38 p.m.: Arkansas has rallied thus far, placing three men on base with one away. And who is up to the plate with the bases jacked? None other than Helfrick, the man who got the Razorbacks on the board.
End of seventh inning: LSU 2, Arkansas 1
9:30 p.m.: Despite bringing a runner into scoring position, LSU fails to add to its advantage. The Razorbacks have two innings left to keep their season alive.
9:20 p.m.: LSU gets out of the top half of the inning with the lead intact. Onto the bottom half we go...
9:15 p.m.: The Tigers flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the sixth. Now, they look to maintain their advantage against an Arkansas squad that, save for Helfrick's homer, has struggled to produce.
End of sixth inning: LSU 2, Arkansas 1
9:00 p.m.: RUN SCORED! The Tigers are on the board! And they got on there in a big way. Jake Brown batted home two runs after LSU knocked Beidelschies out of the contest.
Jake Brown Delivers@JakeBrown_14 | ESPN pic.twitter.com/AlyFL5xFVP
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 19, 2025
LSU 2, Arkansas 1
End of fifth inning: Arkansas 1, LSU 0
8:45 p.m.: Arkansas kept its advantage course of additional Beidelschies excellency. The southpaw continues to flex his dominance on LSU's weary lineup.
End of fourth inning: Arkansas 1, LSU 0
8:20 p.m.: HOME RUN! The Razorbacks take the lead courtesy of a moonshot from Ryder Helfrick!
Arkansas 1, LSU 0
End of third inning: LSU 0, Arkansas 0
8:10 p.m.: Beidelschies continues to make his mark. Just struck out the side.
End of second inning: LSU 0, Arkansas 0
7:52 p.m.: Things remain level after two, with neither side able to plate a run. There have certainly been chances, however; both teams were able to get runners in scoring position before sulking back to the dugout.
End of first inning: LSU 0, Arkansas 0
7:30 p.m.: The Tigers got a runner on third. But they saw their attempts at thwarted amid timely Landon Beidelschies pitching. Onto the second inning we go...
7:20 p.m.: Cowan gets out the inning unscathed, although he did surrender a hit in the process.
7:05 p.m.: Zac Cowan will take the mound for the Tigers. He'll get quite the test in Arkansas' lineup, led by projected first-rounder Wehiwa Aloy.
How to watch LSU vs. Arkansas
The Tigers and Razorbacks will test wits live on ESPN. Cord-cutters can find the action on ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
MORE: Who is in the College World Series? Teams, odds & bracket
College World Series schedule
Friday, June 13
Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
Game 1 | Coastal Carolina 7, Arizona 4 | — | — |
Game 2 | Oregon State 4, Louisville 3 | — | — |
Saturday, June 14
Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
Game 3 | UCLA 6, Murray State 4 | — | — |
Game 4 | LSU 4, Arkansas 1 | — | — |
Sunday, June 15
Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
Game 5 | Louisville 4, Arizona 3 | — | — |
Game 6 | Coastal Carolina 6, Oregon State 2 | — | — |
Monday, June 16
Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
Game 7 | Arkansas 3, Murray State 0 | — | — |
Game 8 | LSU 9, UCLA 5 | — | — |
Tuesday, June 17
Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
Game 9 | Louisville 7, Oregon State 6 | — | — |
Game 10 | Arkansas 7, UCLA 3 | — | — |
Wednesday, June 18
Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
Game 11 | Louisville vs. Coastal Carolina | 2 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
Game 12 | LSU vs. Arkansas | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
Thursday, June 19
Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
*Game 13 | TBD | 2 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
*Game 14 | TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
*If necessary
Saturday, June 21
Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
CWS Finals Game 1 | TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
Sunday, June 22
Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
CWS Finals Game 2 | TBD | 2:30 p.m. | ABC, Fubo |
Monday, June 23
Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
*CWS Finals Game 3 | TBD | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
*If necessary