Omaha, Neb - You couldn’t have scripted a better story for the Men’s College World Series than for the march to the ‘ship to come from a walk off homerun in extra innings after the LSU Tigers’ ace Paul Skenes and Wake Forest Demon Deacons' ace Rhett Lowder set the stage for the night.
The Battle of the Aces
Tigers’ RHP Paul Skenes and Deacs’ RHP Rhett Lowder, both 21 year old top ten MLB draft prospects, battled all night, battled all night and neither were budging. The duel of the aces lived up to its hype and then some. Both Skenes and Lowder made history on Thursday surpassing school and conference records.
Skenes broke the school record for most strikeouts in a season with 203 strikeouts. The record was formerly held by Ben McDonald, who had 202 strikeouts in the 1989 season. The record is also an SEC record.
Lowder broke the Wake Forest single-season strikeout record at 141.
RHETT LOWDER 1️⃣4️⃣1️⃣
Rhett Lowder now holds the Wake Forest single-season strikeout record with 141 strikeouts!#CollegeBaseball #MCWS #GoDeacs
— The College Experience (@TCEonSGPN) June 23, 2023
In comparing frames, RHP Rhett Lowder actually was a bit more effective in this outing. He mowed down the Louisiana bats all night when his slider came in just under the Tiger bats, although Skenes was no pushover himself.
Tre’ Jeter Morgan
LSU 1B Tre’ Morgan made a game-winning save in the top of the eighth when Deacs’ Houston laid down a bunt about 40 feet, Morgan charged and quickly punched it to home plate as he fell to the ground to throw out Deacs’ Justin Johnson, a Jersey native. When I referenced his “Jeter-like play” and asked him about it after the game, he replied,
We practice that bunt play all the time, but I was playing up, so I’m just glad he actually bunted it.
WOW...@tremorgann! 🤯#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN2 / @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/tsbY3QRYQN
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 23, 2023
Magic MOund-MENT
The mound magic didn’t stop there as both teams’ relievers held things down until Wake Forest brought in their last reliever of the night during the bottom of the 11th. RHP Camden Minacci, tossed his first ball of the game, a 90 mph slider for strike, and LSU 3B Tommy White “Tommy Tanks” capitalized on the moment sending the ball soaring over the left field wall to send the Tigers to the College World Series ‘ship. Asked afterward by ESPN what he was looking for, White replied,
Fastball. Didn't get a fastball. But I was so amped up, I just threw my hands at it.
WALK-OFF WINNER‼️
LSU IS GOING TO THE MCWS FINALS 🐯 pic.twitter.com/q5wgHx5Pux
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 23, 2023
Men’s College World Series Championship Final
The Tigers head back to the College World Series final for the first time since 2017 when they lost to the Florida Gators. They haven’t won a national title since 2009 when both DJ LeMahieu and Austin Nola were members of the team and the Yankees won their last title, I might add.
Buckle up…it’s about to be a wild battle of the bayou and the Tigers want their berth back.
2023 Men's College World Series Bracket
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