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College World Series 2023 results: Florida batters LSU in record-setting night to force Game 3

By June 25, 2023No Comments

There was a moment early in Sunday’s game where it looked like LSU just might sweep the finals. Florida tied the game at one in the top of the second, but the Tigers roared right back to score two more and re-take the lead 3-1.

LSU’s hopes of a series-clinching win on Sunday were quickly wiped away. The Gators put up a six-spot in the third on Ty Evans’ grand slam, his second home run of the day, and added another run in the fourth. 

And over the final four innings of the game, Florida mercilessly pummeled LSU, bashing four more home runs, including two from Jac Caglianone. The end result was a College World Series-record 24 runs and a tie for the record with 23 hits in a 24-4 beatdown of the Tigers. The six total home runs also was a single-game College World Series record at Charles Schwab Field, both for two combined teams or by a single team.

MORE: Watch the College World Series live with Fubo (free trial)

Hurston Waldrep struggled with command early in Sunday’s start, walking six batters in 2.1 innings and giving up three runs on four hits.

But from that point on, everything went the Gators’ way. Wyatt Langford filled up the book with a five-hit performance, including a moonshot home run of 449 feet and two doubles. He had six RBI and four runs scored. Fellow star, Caglianone, also blasted a pair of home runs and drove in five runs during a three-hit performance.

Scoring plenty of runs is nice, but for a Gator team that used its two top relievers for extensive outings against LSU in an extra-inning defeat in Game 1, the MVP of the game might well have been reliever Nick Ficarrotta. The reliever threw 68 percent of his 78 pitches for strikes and did not walk a batter, giving up only a ninth-inning solo shot and two other hits across five innings to earn the save and allow Florida to use only two arms out of the bullpen on Sunday.

MORE: Hurston Waldrep scouting report

Of course, it ultimately won’t matter how many runs are scored in Game 2. It will be a fresh slate for both teams tomorrow, with Florida and LSU meeting up for the final time in Omaha in a decisive Game 3 to determine the College World Series champion. And the question on everyone’s mind heading into the contest will be whether LSU winds up giving the ball to generational prospect Paul Skenes with the season on the line.

The Sporting News tracked live scores and highlights throughout Sunday’s game. Follow along for updates from LSU vs. Florida in the College World Series.

LSU vs. Florida baseball score

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 F
Florida 0 1 6 1 0 5 2 4 5 24
LSU 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4

College World Series live updates, highlights from Game 2

(All times Eastern)

6:42 p.m. End of game: Ficarrotta finishes off a tremendous performance out of the bullpen by tallying the final putout of the game on a comebacker fielded by Caglianone. He finishes with a five-inning save, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts and no walks, coming up huge to help rest the Gator bullpen ahead of Game 3.

6:40 p.m. LSU scoring play: Jobert gets the Tigers on the scoreboard for the first time since the second inning with a 421-foot home run out to straightaway center with two outs. Florida still leads 24-4.

6:35 p.m. End top ninth: Riopelle strikes out, and mercifully, the Florida bats are done for the day, barring a 21-run inning by the Tigers.

6:32 p.m. Florida scoring play: There’s the record. Deric Fabian drives in a pair of runs on a single with the bases loaded to push Florida’s total to 24, the most ever in a Men’s College World Series game. The 23 hits are also tied for the record. Florida extends its lead to 24-3.

6:26 p.m. Florida scoring play: A base hit by Halter up the middle, and another run comes across. Florida extends its lead to 22-3.

6:24 p.m. Florida scoring play: Matt Prevesk lines a base hit into right, and Frey has trouble with it in the outfield, allowing Shelnut to race around to score and Prevesk to advance to third. That’s the fifth error for LSU this afternoon. Florida extends its lead to 21-3.

6:23 p.m.: After a strikeout, Shelnut tallies a hit, giving every Florida starter a hit and bringing the Gators’ total to 20 hits.

6:19 p.m. Florida scoring play: Make it six home runs for the Gators, and Riopelle’s sixth in eight total NCAA tournament hits. That one went 435 to dead center. No doubter. Florida extends its lead to 20-3.

6:14 p.m. End of eighth: The Tigers get another baserunner on a fielding error by Halter, but he redeems himself on the next try, fielding a grounder from Dugas and, after missing the tag, throwing out Dugas at first.

6:11 p.m.: Following a single by Kling, Jack Merrifield, pinch-hitting for White, lines out to left on the first pitch he sees. Another pinch hitter, Ethan Frey, comes in for Morgan.

6:10 p.m.: Crews is done for the day as Paxton Kling comes in to pinch hit for the superstar. No reason to risk injury this late in the blowout.

6:09 p.m.: Pearson pops up to second to start the Tigers’ bottom half of the inning.

6:07 p.m. End top eighth: Rivera bounces out to short to mercifully end the inning. The Gators will still get one more chance to bat in this game.

6:05 p.m. Florida scoring play: If this game wasn’t already out of hand, it most certainly is now. Caglianone hits his second home run of the day, this one heading out to the right field bullpen. Make it a 16-run lead for the Gators and multiple runs in three straight innings. Florida extends its lead to 19-3.

6:04 p.m. Florida scoring play: There was very nearly a cycle in Omaha as Pearson missed a Langford line drive on a diving attempt in left, but he gets up quick enough to recover the ball and hold Langford to a double, his fifth hit of the day. Two runs score on the play. Florida extends its lead to 17-3.

6:03 p.m.: A hard grounder back to Little gives him some issues fielding the ball, but he’s able to grab it after it bounces off his glove and throw Kurland out at first for the second out.

6:02 p.m.: Halter flies out to left center to record the first out of the inning. Runners still on first and second, and the top of the order is coming up.

6 p.m.: Evans drops a base hit into center for his third knock of the contest and puts runners on first and second with no one out.

5:58 p.m.: A four-pitch walk of Shelnut leads off the top of the eighth.

5:55 p.m. End of seventh: Thompson comes up empty on a pitch down the middle to end the seventh. Headed to the eighth with the Gators leading by 12.

5:55 p.m.: Jobert is hit by a pitch to give the Tigers a baserunner with two away.

5:52 p.m.: Beloso lifts a high popup to shallow left, and Shelnut comes over to make the grab for the out. Travinski follows that up with a groundout to third on the first pitch he sees from Ficarrotta for two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh.

5:49 p.m. End top seventh: Heyman strikes out swinging to put an end to the two-run inning by the Gators and strand a pair in scoring position.

5:48 p.m.: Wild pitch moves Riopelle up to second. Rivera holds at third.

5:46 p.m.: There’s now runners on the corners for Heyman as Riopelle lays off ball four.

5:44 p.m.: Rivera swipes second and Travinski’s attempted throw is no where close to the bag, flying into the outfield and allowing Rivera to move up to third.

5:43 p.m.: Rivera rolls a base hit through the left side for his second base hit of Sunday’s game.

5:43 p.m. Florida scoring play: Caglianone grounds out to the right side, but it’s deep enough to first base that Langford is able to score. Add another to make it a 12-run lead for the Gators. Florida still leads 15-3.

5:42 p.m.: Passed ball off the glove of Travinski, and Langford makes his way up to third with one out.

5:38 p.m. Florida scoring play: Langford makes it a 4-for-4 day, demolishing a double to left to drive in Kurland. He’s up to four RBI on the afternoon. That will also chase Money and bring in Christian Little from the bullpen. Florida extends its lead to 14-3.

5:37 p.m.: The Florida bats keep on swinging as Kurland cranks a double to left field to bring Langford back up to the plate with a runner in scoring position.

5:35 p.m.: Halter comes up empty swinging at a high fastball from Money for the first out of the frame.

5:31 p.m. End of sixth: Dugas goes down swinging, and the Tigers are set down in order. The Gators are nine outs away from securing the Game 2 victory.

5:29 p.m.: Make it back-to-back groundouts to begin the bottom half as Morgan hits a sharp grounder to Caglianone, who throws it over to Ficarrotta covering for the second out.

5:28 p.m.: White grounds out to third to start off the bottom of the sixth.

5:25 p.m. End top sixth: The Tigers finally get out of the top of the sixth as Evans hits a bouncer back to the mound for a groundout. The Gators have now scored 12 unanswered runs, and are well on their way toward forcing a Game 3.

5:22 p.m. Florida scoring play: A grounder up the middle from Shelnut hits off the glove of a diving Thompson in shallow center, deep enough for Rivera to race around and score to make it a 10-run game. Shelnut reaches first safely. Florida extends its lead to 13-3.

5:20 p.m.: Heyman flies out to left for the second out of the frame. Runner still on second.

5:19 p.m.: Riopelle strikes out swinging, but Rivera takes off to swipe second as the ball is dropped.

5:14 p.m.: White can’t field the chopper from Rivera, who reaches first on the error. That will chase Collins and bring in Blake Money from the bullpen.

5:12 p.m. Florida scoring play: Back-to-back Gator bombs as Caglianone hits one 412 feet to left-center, his 32nd home run of the season. Florida extends its lead to 12-3.

5:10 p.m. Florida scoring play: Langford absolutely demolishes a home run to left field, and the Gators are pouring it on now. That one went 449 feet and went out at 114.4 mph and brings in three runs. That is the second-longest home run in Charles Schwab Field history, only trailing his 456 foot home run earlier in this College World Series. Florida extends its lead to 11-3.

5:08 p.m.: Kurland is hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second for Langford with no one out. Gators back in business in the top of the sixth.

5:08 p.m.: Halter missed a home run by a few feet, instead settling for a double as he one-hops the right-center field wall and races in to second for the leadoff hit.

5:05 p.m. End of fifth: Crews hits a grounder to third, and Halter makes a nice throw on the run to nab the speedy Crews by a half step for the third out of the frame.

5:02 p.m.: Pearson reaches base for the third time today, this time singling through the right side to add to his two walks. He hit that one just over 108 mph. Crews will bat with a runner on first and two away.

5 p.m.: Langford is staying busy out in center as he makes a snag on a Thompson fly ball at the warning track.

4:58 p.m.: Jobert hits a 2-2 fastball on a line to center field, but Langford gets a great jump to cut that off and make the catch for the first out.

4:56 p.m.: Purnell is done for the day, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings and scattering two walks. Nick Ficarrotta, who has a 5.45 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 34.2 innings, comes in to replace him for the bottom of the fifth.

4:54 p.m. End top fifth: Evans strikes out swinging on a 93 mph heater as Collins sends the Gator right fielder to the bench for the first time tonight.

4:53 p.m.: Shelnut lines out to center with Crews speeding into the gap to make the grab. Two away as the Tigers look to keep the Gators scoreless for only the second time today.

4:52 p.m.: Heyman flies out to center for the first out. Shelnut coming up with the dangerous Evans looming in the on-deck circle.

4:50 p.m.: Riopelle lines a single into center. That is only his second of seven hits in the NCAA tournament not to leave the yard.

4:47 p.m. End of fourth: Back-to-back scoreless innings by the Tiger bats as Travinski grounds into a fielder’s choice. Purnell works around two walks in the inning. Bryce Collins will come in to replace Guidry to start the top of the fifth.

4:44 p.m.: Beloso collects his third walk of the day, laying off a pitch down and away.

4:42 p.m.: Two innings, two ground ball double plays from Purnell as he gets Dugas to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Beloso up to bat with two away.

4:41 p.m.: Morgan walks to lead off the fourth. The Tigers have had a leadoff baserunner in three of four innings. Each has come around to score.

4:37 p.m. End top fourth: Rivera is caught looking for strike three to end the top half of the inning.

4:36 p.m.: Caglianone tries to catch the Tigers napping and swipe second, but Travinski nabs him at second.

4:33 p.m. Florida scoring play: Huge blunder by Thompson. Caglianone hits a roller to Dugas, who throws the ball to Thompson for the fielder’s choice at second. But instead of hanging onto the ball, he airmails it throwing it to third, allowing Kurland to score. LSU is challenging Langford’s slide into second, but it doesn’t look like anything out of the ordinary, and the umpires agree on a quick review. Caglianone reaches first with one out. Florida extends its lead to 8-3.

4:31 p.m.: Langford hits a slow roller to the right side of the infield, and manages to beat out the infield single ahead of the throw from Dugas.

4:30 p.m.: Kurland walks to lead off the fourth, marking the second straight inning he’s reached base to start the frame.

4:26 p.m. End of third: Two pitches, one batted ball, two outs. Purnell gets White to roll into the 6-4-3 double play to escape trouble. Tigers have now left eight runners on base through three innings.

4:25 p.m.: Purnell has not seen much action lately, per Baseball America’s Teddy Cahill.

4:22 p.m.: That will do it for Waldrep, who was extremely wild all day. Blake Purnell is coming in to pitch for the Gators with the tying run coming to the plate in White. Waldrep is responsible for the runners on the bases. He allowed four hits, six walks and two hit-batsmen during 2.1 innings of work with just two strikeouts. He threw 44 balls to 39 strikes, but only three earned runs so far.

4:21 p.m.: Crews is hit by a pitch to load the bases for the third straight inning.

4:20 p.m.: And Waldrep has walked the No. 9 hitter for the second time today. He’s up to 79 pitches today. Six walks.

4:17 p.m.: Thompson strikes out swinging at slider for the first out. That’s Waldrep’s second punchout of the afternoon.

4:15 p.m.: Even with a four-run lead, Waldrep still cannot throw strikes. He walks Jobert on five pitches to lead off the bottom of the third. That’s now five walks and 37 balls to just 29 strikes.

4:13 p.m. End top third: Halter grounds out to first to end the frame, but a six-run frame has turned this game all the way around.

4:11 p.m. Florida scoring play: Have a day, Ty Evans. He launches his second home run of the day, this one clearing the bases, to left and the Gators have turned this into a four-run lead. Florida leads 7-3.

4:10 p.m.: Shelnut is set down swinging on three pitches, chasing a down-and-out slider for the second out of the frame.

4:06 p.m.: Jay Johnson pulls Ackenhausen and brings in Gavin Guidry.

4:05 p.m.: Heyman hits it hard to Thompson at short, but instead of turning the double play, Thompson has trouble on the transfer and allows all runners to advance safely. Bases loaded now for Shelnut with only one away.

4:03 p.m.: Riopelle is caught looking at a fastball for the first out of the third.

4:01 p.m. Florida scoring play: And just like that, this game is tied up once again. Rivera singles through the left side to score Langford. Florida ties the game 3-3.

3:59 p.m. Florida scoring play: Caglianone delivers a run-scoring base hit up the middle, driving in Kurland. It’s just a one-run game now with runners on first and second and no outs. LSU still leads 3-2.

3:57 p.m.: Langford rips a single to left to bring Caglianone up to the plate with a pair on and no one out.

3:56 p.m.: Ackenhausen bounces a pitch that hits Kurland to give the Gators a leadoff baserunner with Langford now coming to the plate.

3:54 p.m. End of second: Halter fields the grounder from Travinski and steps on third for the final out of the frame. Second straight inning the Tigers have left the bases loaded, but they also now head to the third with a two-run lead.

3:50 p.m.: A wild pitch moves both White and Dugas up a base. Waldrep then walks Beloso to load the bases for the second straight inning. More control issues as he has thrown 31 balls to just 21 strikes today.

3:49 p.m.: Dugas is plunked by the first pitch of the at-bat, and takes exception with Waldrep as he walks down to first.

3:48 p.m. LSU scoring play: Morgan hits a fly ball to left that just kept carrying before Shelnut was able to make the grab in front of the warning track. Crews comes in to score on the sacrifice fly. LSU leads 3-1.

3:47 p.m. LSU scoring play: The Tigers are back out in front. White adds to his RBI total by slapping a hanging curveball into right field to drive Pearson home from second and move Crews up to third. Morgan up to bat with runners on the corners and only one out. Waldrep is now up to 45 pitches. LSU leads 2-1.

3:44 p.m.: Crews likes the first pitch he sees, and he slashes the slider into left for his second single of the day. Tigers have a pair on for White.

3:44 p.m.: Waldrep walks Thompson, the LSU No. 9 hitter, on four pitches. That’s the third walk of the afternoon for the Florida hurler.

3:43 p.m.: Thompson puts a charge into one, but Langford patrols over to left-center to make the grab for the first out of the inning.

3:40 p.m. End top second: Halter flies out to right, but not until after Ty ties the game at one.

3:38 p.m. Florida scoring play: Ty Evans hits a moonshot 423 feet to left — he didn’t even know it was fair at first — that knots up the game at one run a piece. That’s now an MCWS-leading third home run for Evans. Florida ties the game 1-1.

3:37 p.m.: This time, it’s the breaking ball from Ackenhausen that gets Tyler Shelnut swinging for strike three. Make it four straight punch outs for Ackenhausen.

3:36 p.m.: Luke Heyman begins the first by striking out swinging on a high fastball from Ackenhausen. The Gators struggled to lay off the high fastball all night against Ty Floyd, who fanned 17 Florida batters in Game 1.

3:33 p.m. End of first: That mound visit must have made a difference as Jobert bounces out to Kurland at second for the final out of the inning as Waldrep leaves them loaded to prevent further damage.

3:33 p.m.: After starting off Jobert 2-0, Waldrep is visited on the mound by Kevin O’Sullivan. He’s struggled with his control over the past two batters.

3:31 p.m.: Travinski walks to load the bases for Brayden Jobert. Waldrep is now up to 26 pitches.

3:29 p.m.: Cade Beloso lays off four straight pitches outside the zone to put runners on first and second for catcher Hayden Travinski.

3:27 p.m. LSU scoring play: The Tigers strike first once again. Gavin Dugas splits the gap with a double to the right-center gap that scores Crews and gives LSU a run in the first inning for a second straight day. LSU leads 1-0.

3:26 p.m.: White hits a high bouncer to shortstop that’s too slow to turn the double play, but Rivera is able to throw Morgan out at first as Crews moves up safely to second.

3:25 p.m.: Waldrep gets White swinging at the splitter for the first out of the inning. 

3:23 p.m.: Crews starts the bottom of the first with a hard-hit, leadoff single past a diving attempt by Halter at third. He’s continued his streak of reaching base in each game this season. Leadoff baserunner for White.

3:19 p.m. End top first: Riopelle is caught looking, and Ackenhausen picks up a pair of punchouts with two runners in scoring position to strand the runners and keep the Gators scoreless in the top half of the inning.

3:17 p.m.: Rivera strikes out on a 2-2 breaker, and there’s two away as BT Riopelle comes to the plate.

3:15 p.m.: Jac Caglianone hits a hard grounder to Tre’ Morgan, who takes the ball over to first for the unassisted groundout. The runners move up to second and third on the play as Josh Rivera comes to the plate with a pair in scoring position.

3:14 p.m.: Wyatt Langford lays off a fastball that just misses the down and in corner to earn a walk and give the Gators runners on first and second with no one out.

3:11 p.m.: Kurland hits a high bouncer to the gap in the left side of the infield, causing shortstop Jordan Thompson to run into third baseman Tommy White trying to field the grounder. Thompson gets a throw off, but it’s not in time to beat Kurland to the bag for the leadoff, infield single.

3:10 p.m.: The first pitch from Nate Ackenhausen is swung on and missed by Cade Kurland, and this game is underway.

3:05 p.m.: Want to get to know Hurston Waldrep, the Gators’ starting pitcher in this afternoon’s game? Here’s a scouting report on the projected first-round pick taking the hill for Florida.

2:40 p.m.: With the start of the game just around 30 minutes away, here’s a look at the lineups for the Gators and Tigers as LSU looks to end the 2023 College World Series with a title in Game 2.

How to watch 2023 College World Series finals Game 2

  • Start time: 3 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo

ESPN will continue its coverage of the 2023 College World Series through the remainder of the finals. Viewers can find the games on ESPN, ESPN+ or on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Karl Ravech will be calling play-by-play, while Chris Burke and Kyle Peterson will provide analysis. Kris Budden will be reporting from the field and dugouts.

College World Series schedule 2023

LSU is a win away from ending the College World Series and leaving Omaha with a seventh championship.

Here’s the schedule for the College World Series finals:

Saturday, June 24: College World Series finals Game 1

Score
LSU 4, Florida 3 (11 inn.)

Sunday, June 25: College World Series finals Game 2

Game Time (ET)  Channel
LSU vs. Florida 3 p.m. ESPN, Fubo

Monday, June 27: College World Series finals Game 3*

Game Time (ET)  Channel
LSU vs. Florida 7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo

* – If necessary 

Source

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