OMAHA, Neb. — Jared Jones continues to be a nightmare for Arkansas — and this time, he punched LSU’s ticket to the national championship series in jaw-dropping fashion.

The sophomore slugger roped a walk-off RBI single off Arkansas second baseman Cam Kozeal’s glove with two outs in the ninth inning, capping a wild 6-5 comeback victory for LSU in Wednesday’s College World Series thriller at Charles Schwab Field.

With the win, LSU (51-15) advances to face Coastal Carolina in a best-of-three final beginning Saturday. The Tigers are chasing their second national title in three seasons and eighth in program history.

“What a game,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said. “Is ESPN Classic still around? They should loop that one for a week.”

A Ninth-Inning Collapse for Arkansas

For Arkansas (50-15), the heartbreak in Omaha adds another chapter to its frustrating CWS history. The Razorbacks, now tied with Clemson and North Carolina for the second-most CWS appearances without a title (12), let a two-run ninth-inning lead slip away amid fielding miscues and pitching gambles.

Arkansas led 5-3 entering the bottom of the ninth after Justin Thomas ripped a two-run single off LSU reliever Jacob Mayers. But the Tigers weren’t done.

After a defensive miscue by Reese Robinett and a crucial decision by Wehiwa Aloy to opt for a force-out instead of attempting a game-ending double play, LSU’s Luis Hernandez drilled a two-out, two-run double to tie the game.

Jones then stepped in against Aiden Jimenez, who had entered after Hernandez’s double. With first base open and two outs, the Razorbacks chose to pitch to Jones — who had already homered in the eighth to tie the game 3-3. On the fourth pitch, he lined a clutch single just over the second baseman’s reach.

“You’ve got to respect his slider,” Jones said. “I stayed on it and got just enough of it.”

Van Horn Defends Pitching Call

Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn stood by the decision not to walk Jones.

“Hindsight is 20-20,” Van Horn said. “We could talk about all the ifs and buts until we’re sick of each other.”

The Razorbacks had tried the intentional walk strategy earlier with mixed results — one leading to a strikeout, the other to a two-run single.

Tears and Accountability

The most visible sign of Arkansas’ pain came when left fielder Charles Davalan left the field in tears after misplaying Hernandez’s double in the ninth. Teammates and coaches quickly rallied around him.

“He was our glue,” Van Horn said. “This game isn’t on him. It’s on all of us.”

Catcher Ryder Helfrick echoed the sentiment: “It pissed me off that he apologized. That guy’s one of the best all-around players I’ve ever been around.”

Pitching Duel Gives Way to Fireworks

The game was largely a pitcher’s duel early, with LSU’s Zac Cowan and Arkansas’ Landon Beidelschies exchanging dominant outings. Cowan allowed just one run over 5.1 innings, while Beidelschies struck out nine and allowed two runs over 5.2 innings.

The offensive eruption began in the sixth when Jake Brown’s pinch-hit two-run single gave LSU a 2-1 lead. Arkansas punched back in the eighth, scoring twice — one on a fielder’s choice and another on an error by Jones at first — to take a 3-2 lead.

Jones atoned quickly, blasting a 398-foot homer off Gabe Gaeckle, who had struck him out five times previously in the CWS.

“I hadn’t seen him well all week,” Jones admitted. “I was lucky to get a fastball in the zone.”

The Final Frame

After Arkansas reclaimed the lead in the ninth, LSU stormed back with grit and clutch hitting. Hernandez’s double tied it, and Jones — once again — finished it.

“They just kept fighting,” Van Horn said. “We kept fighting. Then they got us.”

Up Next: A Clash of Titans

LSU now sets its sights on Coastal Carolina (56-11), one of only three 50-win teams in the country alongside Arkansas and LSU.

“It’s rare it plays out like this,” Johnson said. “But the three best teams in college baseball are still standing. Let’s see who finishes it.”

Box Score Notes:

• Player of the Game: Jared Jones (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI)
• Winning Pitcher: Jacob Mayers (1-0)
• Losing Pitcher: Cole Gibler (4-3)
• Attendance: 25,470
• Up Next: LSU vs. Coastal Carolina – Game 1 of the Championship Series, Saturday at Charles Schwab Field, Omaha