LSU Shreveport made history by becoming the first college baseball team recorded to complete an undefeated season, achieving a remarkable 59-0 record as they clinched the NAIA championship in Lewiston, Idaho. The Pilots capped their flawless season with a dominating 13-7 triumph over Southeastern (Florida) on Friday night. This victory secured the first-ever national title in any sport for the institution, which has a student population of 10,000, located in northwest Louisiana.
Having been a strong force in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) over the past 25 years, LSU Shreveport has consistently showcased its prowess in sports events arranged for 241 mostly small colleges across the nation. The Pilots have made it to the NAIA national tournament every year since 2005 and participated in the NAIA World Series in the years 2021, 2022, and 2025. Under the guidance of coach Brad Neffendorf, the team has an impressive record of 270-49 over six seasons, boasting a stellar 142-13 in Red River Athletic Conference matchups.
This season, LSU Shreveport rarely found themselves in tightly contested games, with only four games decided by a single run. In dazzling fashion, they secured the second spot in NAIA rankings by averaging 11.3 runs per game, and third in terms of batting average, finishing at .361. The team’s exceptional pitching resulted in a superb 2.38 ERA, more than a full run ahead of the nearest competitors, while they topped the nation with a .982 fielding percentage.
Notably, Josh Gibson led the charge with an outstanding batting average of .436, positioning himself among three players on the team with over .400 averages. Meanwhile, Isaac Rohde showcased his pitching mastery by striking out an NAIA-leading 146 batters and achieving a 2.09 ERA while going undefeated at 16-0.
The Pilots surpassed the previous NAIA-record winning percentage of .935, previously held by Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) who achieved a 43-3 record in 1996. In comparison, the highest single-season winning percentages in the NCAA include .914 by Arizona State (64-6 in 1972) in Division I, .939 by Savannah State of Georgia (46-3 in 2000) in Division II, and an impressive .978 by Trinity of Connecticut (45-1 in 2008) in Division III.