Arkansas' CWS curse continues with heartbreaker vs. LSU

Arkansas Razorbacks center fielder Justin Thomas Jr. (4) bows his head after the loss against the LSU Tigers at Charles Schwab Field. Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

Arkansas' College World Series curse continues with heartbreaker vs. LSU

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 12:27 AM ET

The Arkansas Razorbacks' College World Series curse struck them again on Wednesday night.

Entering the 2025 CWS, the Razorbacks were tied with the Clemson Tigers and the North Carolina Tar Heels for the tournament's most appearances (12) without a title. Arkansas fans will have to keep waiting for a championship after it blew a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning against the LSU Tigers in the semifinal.

LSU was down 5-3 in the bottom of the 9th and then this happened @LSUbaseball | #MCWS pic.twitter.com/B4JmNYIRrT
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) June 19, 2025

With one out, Arkansas first baseman Reese Robinett missed a throw at first base, which allowed LSU outfielder Derek Curiel to reach second base after an infield single. Arkansas relief pitcher Cole Gibler subsequently walked LSU outfielder Ethan Frey.

The Razorbacks would get their second out when LSU infielder Steven Milam grounded into a fielder's choice to shortstop. The Tigers would respond, though.

On the following at-bat, LSU utility man Luis Hernandez doubled to left field, driving in Frey and Milam, tying the game at 5-5. Afterward, Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn replaced Gibler with pitcher Aiden Jimenez.

The pitching change didn't work. LSU first baseman Jared Jones singled to center, sealing the 6-5 win for the Tigers. LSU (51-15) will face the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (56-11) in Game 1 of a best-of-three series on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Since 2008, Arkansas has made eight College World Series. This stretch has included some heartbreaking losses for the program.

In Game 2 of the 2018 College World Series Finals against the Oregon State Beavers, three Arkansas fielders missed a routine pop-up, with the Razorbacks leading 3-2 with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. Arkansas lost the game 5-3 and would fall to the Beavers in Game 3.

Like that loss, Wednesday night's meltdown should sting for Razorback fans for a long time.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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