NORMAN, Okla. — It wasn't boomer sooner in Norman. LSU sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson delivered a masterful five-hit shutout Thursday night as the fifth-ranked Tigers defeated No. 9 Oklahoma, 2-0, at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
With the win, LSU improved to 28-3 overall and 8-2 in Southeastern Conference play. Oklahoma fell to 23-6 and 5-5 in the league.
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT Friday and will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network+.
Anderson (6-0) went the distance for the first complete-game shutout by an LSU pitcher since AJ Labas blanked Lamar on April 24, 2018. It also marked the program’s first complete game since Paul Skenes’ nine-inning outing against Tulane on June 2, 2023, in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional.
The sophomore southpaw allowed just five hits, walked two and struck out a career-high 14 batters over nine innings. He threw 135 pitches, 91 for strikes.
“I thought Kade just hit another gear tonight,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said. “That was literally the definition of getting better as the game goes along. He was pitching with great tempo and getting ahead in the count more as the game went along, and I didn’t think their hitters were seeing him very well.”
After allowing a leadoff double in the seventh to Oklahoma right fielder Sam Christiansen, Anderson retired the final 12 batters he faced.
“He was getting stronger, he was well-conditioned for it, and leaving him in the game was one of the easiest decisions we’ve had in a tight game this year,” Johnson said.
Oklahoma starter Kyson Witherspoon (5-2) was charged with the loss, surrendering two runs on six hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out four.
LSU opened the scoring in the third inning after Witherspoon retired the first two batters. Derek Curiel doubled to left and scored on a single by Jared Jones to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers added insurance in the fifth. Luis Hernandez led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Tanner Reaves and scored on a single from Chris Stanfield.
Following the win, Johnson praised pitching coach Nate Yeskie, who shared an emotional hug with Anderson after the game.
“I believe Nate is the best pitching coach in college baseball,” Johnson said. “I don’t think there is any question about it, if you look over the past 18 years of his history of winning games and developing pitchers. He’s a great friend and the best pitching coach in college baseball.”