Omaha, Neb - The Florida Gators knocked off TCU to advance to the College World Series finals while the LSU Tigers clawed their way through the semis against Wake Forest to force another game.
Florida knocks off TCU, advances to CWS finals
The No. 2 seed Florida Gators are the only team in the tournament to remain unbeaten. The Gators knocked off TCU in Wednesday’s Bracket 1 semifinal match. Florida’s SS Josh Rivera gave the Gators the first surge of the game with a top of the first two-run homerun.
It was huge for our momentum definitely to get us up early in the game. And I just think it was a very big moment for my team. So it was special. - Rivera in his postgame interview
The Horned Frogs fought their way back when 3B Brayden Taylor ripped an RBI single to center in the bottom of the first, trimming the lead to 2-1. Taylor again gave TCU last minute hope when he ripped one out to center in the bottom of the eighth that would have walked it off for the Horned Frogs, but Florida’s redshirt freshman, Michael Robertson, had different plans when he soared through the air at the wall to make a sensational save for the Gators.
The Florida Gators are FINALS BOUND 🐊
Redshirt Freshman, Michael Robertson HEROICS. Makes the game-winning play in CF with an incredible snatch at the wall! #NCAA #ncaabaseball #cws #cws2023 #florida #floridagators #baseball #d1baseball #collegebaseball #collegeworldseries https://t.co/rcpuoXdFYT pic.twitter.com/Rwk4vWR4jh
— JP_YankeesGirl (@90syankskid) June 21, 2023
The Florida Gators edged the TCU Horned Frogs 3-2 to advance to the College World Series finals for the fourth time in school history and first since 2017.
LSU claws their way through to force a second semifinal match with Wake Forest
The battle of the Tigers and Demon Deacons lives on. The LSU Tigers and No. 2 seed Wake Forest Demon Deacons met up for a second ballpark battle and will live to see one more match as the Tigers clawed their way through semifinals Wednesday to force another game before a winner advances to the CWS finals.
In this game, Wake Forest got the early lead with a two-run single up the middle by CF Tommy Hawke in the top of the second.
The Tigers answered back in the bottom of the second with a RF Brayden Jobert double to right that scored one.
In the bottom of the third, the Tigers tied it up on a wild pitch and pulled ahead in the next at-bat when LSU DH Cade Beloso blew the game open with a three-run homer deep to left to give the Tigers the 5-2 lead.
The Tigers’ bullpen proceeded to hold out strong, giving up zero runs the rest of the game.
I mean, it's one of the nicest fields in America, you know. The people, whoever constructed this field, put it all together, did a phenomenal job. You can see the ball good here. They've got bright lights and good bat side. – Cade Beloso postgame press conference when asked if there is something at Charles Schwab Field that allows him to have a better batter’s eye
A Cade Beloso HR in Omaha. That’s magic 🪄@cade_beloso | #ThePowerhouse pic.twitter.com/E1II3HetUE
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 22, 2023
Next up: Semifinals Final
If Wake Forest can manage to fend of the LSU Tigers, it will be the first time since 1999 that the College World Series championship has ended in a battle between the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.
The Tigers and Demon Deacons will battle it out one last time with a trip to the ‘ship at stake, while Florida will await their opponent.
The game begins at 7:00PM EDT on ESPN.
2023 Men's College World Series Bracket
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