LSU claimed the national title Monday night with a win over Florida in Game 3 of the championship series. Game 1: LSU 4, Florida 3, final Game 2: Florida 24, LSU 4, final Game 3: LSU 18, Florida 4, final Required reading: LSU takes Game 1 Florida takes Game 2 LSU takes Game 3 (Photo: USA Today)
Mitch Sherman and more
June 26, 2023 at 11:00 PM EDT
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LSU finishes off the title
LSU is the national champion.
The Tigers beat Florida 18-4, returning the favor – and then some – from a lopsided defeat Sunday to win the College World Series championship series two games to one. LSU pounded 24 hits, a single-game CWS record, and hoisted the crown for the seventh time in program history, passing Texas for the second most in NCAA history behind USC’s 12.
Thatcher Hurd paced LSU on the mound. He threw six innings and did not allow a hit after Wyatt Langford’s two-run homer in the first before Hurd had recorded an out.
Reliever Gavin Guidry recorded the final out, getting Colby Halter on a swinging third strike to ignite a celebration that turned into a dogpile on the grass between third base and the pitcher’s mound.
LSU, the program of Ben McDonald, Todd Walker and Alex Bregman – and now Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews – is back on top.
Gators get one back
It was probably too little, too late, but Florida right fielder Ty Evans homered against LSU reliever Riley Cooper in the seventh inning — Evans’ fifth homer at this College World Series (and his ninth of the season).
That’s a CWS record. Eleven players previously hit four in one series.
LSU still leads 11-3 in the eighth inning.
Where did the close games go?
Eight of the first 14 games of this College World Series were decided by one run.
All 14 together were decided by 29 runs.
In the final two games here, with three innings to play, that number is 28 runs.
Mulkey in the house
LSU's national-championship-winning women's basketball coach, Kim Mulkey, is here in Omaha.
She demonstratively encouraged the thousands of Tigers fans in attendance while shown on the scoreboard at Charles Schwab Field.
The baseball team from Baton Rouge is four innings from winning a second team championship for LSU in this 2022-23 school year – a feat most recently accomplished by LSU athletics in 2007-08 when it was crowned as champion in football and women’s outdoor track and field.
LSU leads by 8 runs after 4 innings
LSU leads 10-2 through four innings in Omaha after a four-run top of the fourth inning. The final run came home as Alex Milazzo, stealing on a two-out pitch by Florida reliever Tyler Nesbitt, scored from first base on a single to right-center field by Cade Beloso.
Milazzo fell hard to the ground after leaping over Florida catcher BT Riopelle to cross the plate. Milazzo clutched his left leg and had to be helped to the locker room after staying on the ground for several moments.
Hayden Travinski entered at catcher for LSU to replace the injured Milazzo.
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LSU keeps piling on
LSU is starting to feel it. While Thatcher Hurd has quieted Florida since a two-run first inning, the Tigers continue to add to their lead.
Brayden Jobert doubled with two outs in the fourth against Ryan Slater, Florida’s third pitcher of the night, and Jordan Thompson ripped a single that bounded over the head of third baseman Colby Halter.
And then, boom, a two-run homer by Josh Pearson into the right-field seats put the Tigers on top 9-2.
This place is starting to feel like a big party for LSU, seeking its first national championship since 2009.
LSU offense explodes
A six-run second inning for LSU has pumped life into the full house at Charles Schwab Field, heavily weighted in favor of the Tigers.
After LSU chased Florida starter Jac Caglianone, Tommy White greeted Florida reliever Cade Fisher with a sharp single to left field to score Alex Milazzo. Tre’ Morgan then delivered a sacrifice fly to bring Cade Beloso home. Beloso scored on Gavin Dugas’ seeing-eye single to left.
The Tigers lead 6-2 after two innings.
Tigers get to Caglianone
That’s it for Jac Caglianone. Florida’s two-way star is done on the mound after recording four outs.
LSU leads the Gators 3-2 after Caglianone loaded the bases with one run across in the inning, then plunked Cade Beloso on the arm and walked Dylan Crews.
Freshman left-hander Cade Fisher is on in relief for Florida. Caglianone remains in the lineup at designated hitter.
LSU answers
Here comes LSU.
The Tigers have life after falling behind early on the heels of a 20-run loss Sunday night. Gavin Dugas walked to open the top of the second ahead of singles by Brayden Jobert and Jordan Thompson against Florida starting pitcher Jac Caglianone.
Caglianone then walked Josh Pearson to load the bases with one out, prompting work in the Florida bullpen.
Gators lead 2-1 for the moment.
Florida's momentum continues
Florida is still scoring runs.
The Gators picked up where they left off in Game 2 as this decisive contest of the CWS championship series got underway. Cade Kurland singled to lead off the bottom of the first against LSU starter Thatcher Hurd, then Wyatt Langford blasted his 21st home run to Florida’s favorite part of this park – the seats beyond the left-field bullpen.
That’s 15 home runs in Omaha for Florida, which destroyed LSU 24-4 on Sunday. It leads 2-0 tonight.
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Game 3 prediction
Give me Florida. The Gators' offense is fully awake, the Tigers' offense left a concerning number of runners on base in Games 1 and 2, and I can't quite see how LSU plans to cover however many innings Paul Skenes won't pitch tonight.
(Photo: USA Today)
Pitching matchup is set
The pitching matchup is officially set for tonight in the decisive game of the CWS championship series.
Florida, the home team, will use sophomore lefty Jac Caglianone (7-3, 3.68 ERA), who’s also batting third in the lineup and brings his nation-leading 33 home runs into the final game of the season.
LSU counters with sophomore right-hander Thatcher Hurd (7-3, 5.97).
Both bullpens appear in decent shape after the Gators’ 24-4 win in Game 2. The rout allowed the SEC rivals to save pitching after the outcome was essentially decided in the middle innings.
So much intrigue, of course, surrounds Paul Skenes. Will LSU consider going to the hard-throwing ace, a projected top pick in the MLB Draft next month, on three days of rest after he threw 120 pitches Thursday against Wake Forest?
Game 3 prediction
I’ll go with Florida. The Gators have arguably had the best roster in the country and after Sunday night’s victory and the fashion in which Florida dominated, it’s hard to argue against that momentum.
Record-setting performance
A look at Florida's Game 1 win.
Game 3 prediction
I’ve had LSU since the start of the postseason. No 20-run loss in the biggest moment of the season is going to get me to back off the Tigers. Florida has been living a charmed life in Omaha, from its accidental pitching change against Oral Roberts to the wind-aided grand slam Sunday. Look for LSU’s Thatcher Hurd to make Florida wish it had saved some of those runs from Game 2. LSU in a close one.
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Game 3 prediction
Florida’s 24-4 win on Sunday made me skeptical about sticking with my original pick: LSU in three games. The lopsided score was one thing, but the Tigers had plenty of chances early on as Florida starter Hurston Waldrep walked six batters in his first 2 1/3 innings — and the Tigers ended up leaving 13 batters on base.
Regardless, I’ll stick with LSU in Monday’s finale. The Tigers got to this point by beating Wake Forest twice after losing to the Demon Deacons in their second game in Omaha. If it turns to ace Paul Skenes, I’ll be even more confident in LSU’s chances.
(Photo: USA Today)
Florida vs. LSU expert picks, odds, TV and streaming
The 2023 College World Series is set for a winner-takes-all Game 3 on Monday night in Omaha. LSU won Game 1 on Saturday thanks to an 11th-inning home run by Cade Beloso and Florida responded on Sunday by blowing out the Tigers 24-4. The Gators scored the most runs ever in a College World Series game. Despite the blowout loss on Sunday, LSU is still favored in Monday’s deciding game.
LSU is going for its seventh national title, while Florida is playing for its second national title. The Gators beat LSU in the 2017 championship series for their only national title.
There’s a chance that top MLB Draft prospect Paul Skenes pitches on only three days rest after helping LSU get to the Championship Series on Thursday. If he does pitch, LSU should become an even bigger favorite.
GO FURTHER
Florida vs. LSU expert picks, odds, TV and streaming: 2023 College World Series set for decisive Game 3
Game 3 prediction
The best College World Series that I can remember will come down to one game. This will be great theater. I picked Florida before the series started and will stick with the Gators. They are deep and well-rested on the mound, and the bats came alive yesterday. Will they face Paul Skenes at any point? That is the biggest question of the night.
(Photo: USA Today)
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