OMAHA, Neb. — Anthony Eyanson was stretching in the LSU bullpen once again.

Heading into the seventh inning on Wednesday with a trip to the College World Series final on the line, the Tigers were just nine outs away from defeating Arkansas. Redshirt-sophomore right-hander Chase Shores was warming up in the bullpen, but a few feet away getting limber was Eyanson, the right-handed junior and LSU co-ace.

Eyanson, along with sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson, had been the one-two punch in LSU’s starting rotation that had guided the Tigers to this point, one win away from facing Coastal Carolina in the final.

Eyanson’s week in Omaha had already been all over the place. He warmed up in the bullpen during the Tigers’ first game at the CWS against Arkansas, only to then not be used in their 4-1 win. He started LSU’s next matchup against UCLA two days later, but inclement weather entering the fourth inning ended his night after 44 pitches.

“I think a lot of pitching is (having) experiences,” Anderson said, “and for him to have that Little Rock outing, and in relief was, I think, just gets him ready, whether he’s starting a game or being a reliever.”

Like on Saturday, LSU didn’t need Eyanson to take down the Razorbacks and advance to the championship series. The Tigers, trailing 5-3 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, put together a three-run rally — a two-run double that deflected off the left fielder and a run-scoring single to clinch the 6-5 walk-off victory. 

By not using Eyanson or Anderson, LSU will have both fully available for the CWS final series beginning on Saturday at Charles Schwab Field (6 p.m., ESPN).

“I think we’re really set, and all our guys will be ready to go,” Anderson said. “And whoever we need, they’ll be ready.”

The significance of Wednesday’s victory can’t be understated for LSU. Junior Jared Jones’ walk-off single had not only punched the Tigers’ ticket to the final, it also guaranteed that Eyanson would be available to face Coastal Carolina.

If LSU was forced to play the 10th inning, LSU coach Jay Johnson revealed on ESPN 104.5 on Thursday morning that he would have turned to the California native to pitch the top of the frame.

And if LSU had maintained its 2-1 advantage through the eighth inning, an edge it built after sophomore Jake Brown’s two-run go-ahead single in the sixth, Johnson probably would have used Eyanson in the ninth.

“The last nine outs were going to be Chase and Anthony,” Johnson said. “And we were going to win it last night to give us the best chance to win the national championship.”

A loss on Wednesday would have placed an even greater tax on LSU’s pitching staff. Johnson said the Tigers would have likely turned to some combination of Anderson and Eyanson on Thursday had there been a game, meaning that LSU would have potentially been without either starter against Coastal Carolina.

So, who would have gotten the ball first in that Thursday scenario? 

“Somebody who took and passed 12 units at LSU in the spring semester,” Johnson quipped.