LSU Opens 2025 Season With 14–0 Shutout Over Purdue Fort Wayne

Photo By: LSU ATHLETICS : Kristen Young

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BATON ROUGE, La. — February 14, 2025

The defending national champions wasted no time showing why they’ll again be a force in 2025. On Opening Day at Alex Box Stadium, LSU rolled to a 14–0 shutout win over Purdue Fort Wayne, combining explosive offense with dominant pitching to extend their season-opening win streak to 24 straight years.

Tigers Strike Early and Often

The game was essentially decided in the first inning. LSU’s lineup jumped on Mastodon pitching for five runs in the opening frame, the program’s biggest first-inning total in a season opener since 2012. Sophomore Daniel Dickinsonset the tone with a two-run single and later added more damage, finishing 3-for-4 with five RBIs to headline the Tigers’ offensive barrage.

Extra-Base Power Lights Up the Box

LSU pounded out five doubles and a triple as part of its 13-hit attack. Dickinson wasn’t alone in the slugfest, Michael Braswell III, Josh Pearson, Jared Jones, and John Pearson each roped doubles, while Chris Stanfieldripped a triple and crossed the plate twice. First baseman Jared Jones also added a home run, making LSU’s heart of the order look dangerous from the jump.

Anderson Sets the Tone on the Mound

While the bats grabbed the spotlight early, sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson delivered just as strongly on the mound. Making his first Opening Day start, Anderson threw five shutout innings, scattering four singles, striking out eight, and walking only one. His command kept Purdue Fort Wayne from ever threatening.

Bullpen Slams the Door

The relief corps carried the shutout to the finish line in dominant fashion. Freshmen Casan Evans and Jacob Mayers, along with sophomore Cooper Williams, combined for four innings of no-hit baseball. Together, LSU pitchers racked up 17 strikeouts, the program’s highest Opening Day strikeout total in nearly 50 years.

A Complete Team Effort

Every aspect of the game tilted LSU’s way. The defense was flawless, the lineup produced runs in five different innings, and the pitching staff never allowed Purdue Fort Wayne to find momentum. The mercy-rule win reinforced why LSU entered the season ranked among the nation’s top programs and why expectations are again sky-high in Baton Rouge.

Looking Ahead

The Tigers continue their opening weekend with a five-game slate that includes a matchup against VMI and additional non-conference opponents before SEC play begins in March. For head coach Jay Johnson, the message after the win was simple: “This is the standard. We came out ready, we executed, and now we have to build on it.”