There will be a Game 3 on Monday. LSU baseball has lost its second game at the 2023 College World Series, getting smashed 24-4 by Florida in Game 2 of the CWS final on Sunday. The Tigers (53-17) took an early 3-1 lead through two innings. But Florida (54-16) exploded after that, scoring 23 unanswered runs to put the game well out of reach. Florida's 24 runs were the most runs any team has ever scored in a single game at the College World Series.
LSU failed miserably in all three phases of the game.
Florida had been involved in more close games than any other team at the Men's College World Series this year. That changed in a big way Sunday when the Gators unleashed an offensive barrage of historic proportions. Florida scored the most runs in an MCWS game and came up one short of the record for largest margin of victory in a 24-4 rout of LSU that forced a deciding Game 3 of the finals.
"We did exactly what we said we were going to do: Flush last night and come in today ready to play," Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford said. "The balls were falling for us today. And that's just kind of how it went." The teams will play the final game of the Men's College World Series on Monday night, with the winner earning the national championship.
Florida came into Sunday' contest having played in four of the MCWS record-tying eight one-run games. The Gators had totaled 17 runs in those games before the offense broke loose.
Ty Evans and Caglianone each homered twice, with Evans' grand slam breaking things open early. Langford and BT Riopelle also went deep.
Florida's 24 runs broke Notre Dame's CWS record, set in a 23-2 win over Northern Colorado in 1957. The 20-run win over the Tigers ranks second to that game for largest margin and represents the largest margin of victory in an MCWS finals game.
LSU played horrendous defensively, having five errors, a season-high, that led to six runs Sunday afternoon. Florida starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep allowed four hits, walked six and hit two batters in his less than three innings on the mound.
The Gators hadn't scored as many runs since a 28-5 win over Winthrop on March 3, 2019.
I predicted LSU to win in 3, however I think after an onslaught like today, the moment has shifted back to the pre championship favorite, Florida. With the deciding game 3 tomorrow night, LSU needs to forget about this game and focus up. Might have to sprinkler Florida ML +120.
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