Omaha, Neb – The Florida Gators and Louisiana State University Tigers took the field on Sunday afternoon for Game 2 of the Men’s College World Series final with the Tigers just one win away from being crowned national champions, but the Gators had other plans, big-big plans, in fact.
Early on in the game, it looked as if it would be another drawn out battle with the potential to end in extra innings.
The Tigers got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning when 2B Gavin Dugas doubled to right center to drive in CF Dylan Crews.
Florida bounced back in the top of the second when RF Ty Evans hit the first homerun of the game, the first of many, to tie the game up 1-1. In the bottom of the second, the Tigers strewn together a few more runs on a Tommy White single and a Tre’ Morgan sacrifice fly to take back the lead, 3-1. This had the LSU crowd roaring until some kind of wizardry came over the Gator bats between the second and third innings
Go ahead and just “Ty” one on, Gators
In the top of the third, the Gators quickly tied it up on a Jac Caglianone single to center that scored two and a Josh Rivera single that scored one to tie the game up, 3-3. Then with the bases loaded, on a two out rally, eight-hole hitter Ty Evans came to the plate, his second at-bat of the game, and annihilated another homerun, this time a grand slam, to give the Gators their first lead of the game at 7-3.
Have yourself a day, Ty Evans!!#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/nUbqw8heKC
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2023
From there, the Gators offense “chomped” their way to the second biggest victory in College World Series history, adding one run in the top of the fourth on a Tigers throwing error, five runs in the top of the sixth with back-to-back moon shots from Wyatt Langford and Jac Caglianone, and a Tyler Shelnut RBI, two more runs in the top of the seventh on a double and a sacrifice RBI, four more runs in the top of the eighth on a Wyatt Langford Double and another Jac Caglianone HR, and lastly, five more runs in the top of the ninth on three singles.
The ball was flying this afternoon!#MCWS pic.twitter.com/Hz2rK1bRMo
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2023
Gators Box Score
From the mound
Florida utilized three arms with starter RHP Hursten Waldrep and RHP Blake Purnell combining for 3.3 innings and three earned runs (Waldrep). Pitching the bulk of the game for the Gators was RHP Nick Ficarotta who worked five innings, three hits, one earned run, two strikeouts, and no walks.
LSU utilized starter Nate Ackenhausen through two innings and then brought in five different relievers from the pen, which could be an issue on Monday if the pen is needed.
Chomping records
Prior to this game, the most runs ever scored in a single College World Series game happened in 1957 when the Notre Dame Irish beat Colorado State College in a 23-2 slashing. The record held strong for 66 years. The record now belongs to the Florida Gators for likely many years to come.
This game put the Gators at a total of 14 CWS home runs this season, which is the most ever for a single team, six more than the second most single-season CWS home runs by one team (eight held by four teams).
This is also the first time since the College World Series moved to Charles Schwab Field in 2011 that there’s been a five-home run game by one team or combined.
Game 3: All or Nothing
Game 3 will take place on Monday at 7 p.m. EDT to close out the 2023 Men’s College World Series and decide the national champion. The Tigers will likely start top MLB Draft prospect RHP Paul Skenes on very short rest (pitched eight innings on Thursday night), while the Gators will likely start LHP Jac Caglianone.
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