LSU holds off Milwaukee to stay unbeaten

Tigers need late rally to secure victory over Panthers

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The LSU Tigers held off a late rally by the Milwaukee Panthers to win 5-3 and remain unbeaten on the season. LSU starting pitcher Cooper Moore had a career-high 11 strikeouts in his debut, but the Tigers had to squirm to the finish after building a 5-1 lead in the 8th inning.

Why it matters

As the defending national champions, LSU is looking to get off to a strong start to the season. This close win over Milwaukee shows the Tigers may have some areas to shore up, even as they continue their winning ways.

The details

LSU broke open a close game with three runs in the 8th inning, including RBI doubles from Steven Milam and Cade Arrambide. But Milwaukee made it interesting in the 9th, scoring two runs before LSU closer Grant Fontenot recorded the final out. LSU starting pitcher Cooper Moore, a transfer from Kansas, had an impressive debut with 11 strikeouts over 6 innings.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
  • The two teams will finish the weekend series on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 1 p.m.

The players

Cooper Moore

LSU starting pitcher who had a career-high 11 strikeouts in his debut.

Steven Milam

LSU outfielder who hit a key 8th inning double to help the Tigers pull away.

Grant Fontenot

LSU closer who recorded the final out to preserve the victory.

Jay Johnson

LSU head coach who praised the performance of starting pitcher Cooper Moore.

William Schmidt

LSU sophomore pitcher who will start the series finale on Sunday.

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What they’re saying

“Steven was just being Steven. Mr. Clutch. Time and time again, we never have a doubt he's going to do what he needs to do in these moments. And he delivered big time.”

— Jay Johnson, LSU Head Coach (americanpress.com)

“He has a lot of ways to get you out. He was our best-performing pitcher in the fall, so it was not a surprise to us that he had this type of outing today. Cooper has great self-belief, and I think those guys are special. He pitches like he needs to win, and we certainly needed that today.”

— Jay Johnson, LSU Head Coach (americanpress.com)

What’s next

The two teams will finish the weekend series on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 1 p.m., with LSU sophomore William Schmidt taking the mound.

The takeaway

Despite building a comfortable lead, LSU had to hold off a late Milwaukee rally to secure the victory. This close game highlights that even as the defending champions, the Tigers still have room for improvement as they look to build momentum for the rest of the season.