Omaha, Neb – The magical spark that lives within the LSU Tigers appears to still be live and roaring in the finals as the Tigers beat the Florida Gators 4-3 in another 11th inning blast to take Game 1 of the Men’s College World Series.
LSU DH Cade Beloso came to the plate in the top of the 11th inning with the game tied up at 3 when he blasted a go-ahead homerun on the second pitch over the right field wall. This was Beloso’s second go-ahead homerun during the College World Series.
KISS THAT ONE GOODBYE!#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/HIf0UEiIBn
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2023
LSU’nsung Heroes
Most will remember that LSU took Game 1 of the 2023 Men’s College World Series final with a go-ahead homerun in extra innings, but this game had several heroes involved.
LSU RHP Ty Floyd slashed a new SEC and LSU record for strikeouts in a men’s College World Series game, while tying Arizona State’s Ed Bane (1972) for the most strikeouts in a 9-inning game in MCWS history. Floyd absolutely shoved on the mound working 17 strikeouts and giving up just one walk and three earned runs across eight innings.
The Tigers’ RHP Riley Cooper came in to seal the 4-3 win and silenced the Gators over the final three innings, working three strikeouts and zero earned runs.
There was a moment in the bottom of the 10th where it looked as if the Gators were going to run away with the victory. Florida’s top 2023 MLB Draft prospect and CF Wyatt Langford came up to the plate with runners on first and second. He drove one out to deep left that looked like the game-winning hit, but LSU LF Josh Pearson leapt at the wall making an impressive catch.
WHAT. A. CATCH.#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/dTrSMlCsUP
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2023
Game 2
The Gators will look to force a Game 3 with First Team Preseason All-American Hurston Waldrep on the mound for Game 2. The Tigers will give ace RHP Paul Skenes one more day of rest and utilize him for Game 3 if necessary.
MCWS Finals Schedule
Game Two - Sunday, June 25 at 3 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Game Three (if necessary) - Monday, June 26 at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN
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