How it happened: Florida crushes LSU 24-4 in Game 2 of College World Series finals
OMAHA, Neb. — The floodgates opened for the Florida offense in a must-win situation.
The Gators set a College World Series record with 24 runs in a single game, beating LSU 24-4 on Sunday in Game 2 of the finals. LSU won the opener on Saturday.
The teams will play Monday night in a winner-take-all game for the national title.
The Gators recorded 23 hits Sunday, including six homers. Ty Evans and Jac Caglianone belted two home runs each.
Here’s a look back at how it unfolded:
[Try Gators Online for just $10!]
Join the Conversation on the Gators Online Message board
Score: Florida 24 LSU 3
9th inning
With the game out of reach, the Gators plated five more runs to go up 24-3.
LSU managed a lone run in the bottom of the inning.
8th inning
Shelnut walked (3-0 BBBB).
Evans singled to right center (1-2 FSFB); Shelnut advanced to second.
Halter flied out to cf to left center (3-1 BBBK).
Kurland grounded out to p (0-0); Evans advanced to second; Shelnut advanced to third.
Langford doubled to left field, 2 RBI (0-2 FF); Evans scored; Shelnut scored.
Caglianone homered to right field, 2 RBI (0-1 F); Langford scored.
Rivera grounded out to ss (1-1 BS).
UF Inning Summary: 4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Pearson popped up to 2b (0-1 F).
Kling singled up the middle (2-2 BSKB).
Merrifield lined out to lf (0-0).
Frey reached on a fielding error by 3b (1-2 KBF); Kling advanced to second.
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB
7th inning
Halter struck out swinging (2-2 FBSFBFS).
Kurland doubled to left field (2-2 BBSF).
Langford doubled down the lf line, RBI (0-0); Kurland scored.
Little to p for Money.
Langford advanced to third on a passed ball.
Caglianone out at first 1b to p, RBI (1-2 KBK); Langford scored.
Rivera stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by c.
Riopelle walked (3-2 BBBKKB).
Riopelle advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Heyman struck out swinging (3-2 BFBSBS).
UF Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB
Beloso popped up to lf (2-2 KKBBF).
Travinski grounded out to 3b (0-0).
Jobert hit by pitch (1-2 BKS).
Thompson struck out swinging (1-2 BSFS).
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
6th inning
Halter doubled to right center (0-1 F).
Kurland hit by pitch (0-0).
Langford homered to left field, 3 RBI (0-1 S); Kurland scored; Halter scored.
Caglianone homered to left center, RBI (1-1 SB).
Rivera reached on a fielding error by 3b (0-2 FK).
Money to p for Collins.
Riopelle struck out swinging (3-2 BFSBBS); J. Rivera stole second.
Heyman flied out to lf to left center (0-0).
Shelnut singled up the middle, RBI (1-2 BSF); J. Rivera scored, unearned.
Evans grounded out to p (3-2 BBKFFFB).
UF Inning Summary: 5 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB
White grounded out to 3b (0-1 S).
Morgan out at first 1b to p (2-2 FKBB).
Dugas struck out swinging (2-2 KBBFFS).
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
5th inning
Collins to p for Guidry.
Riopelle singled to center field (1-0 B).
Heyman flied out to cf (1-1 KB).
Shelnut lined out to cf (1-2 BFFF).
Evans struck out swinging (0-2 KSFS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Ficarrotta to p for Purnell.
Commentary: That was a sensational outing for Purnell. Getting out of the bases-loaded, one-out jam in the third inning was massive.
Jobert lined out to cf (2-2 SBBK).
Thompson flied out to cf to left center (3-2 BFBFBF).
Pearson singled through the right side (1-2 BKF).
Crews grounded out to 3b (3-2 BFBFB).
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
4th inning
Kurland walked (3-1 BKBBB).
Langford singled to second base (0-1 F); Kurland advanced to second.
Caglianone reached on a fielder’s choice to second base; Langford out at second 2b to ss; Kurland advanced to third, scored on a throwing error by ss, unearned.
Caglianone out at second c to 2b, caught stealing.
Rivera struck out looking (1-2 BFSK).
UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB
Morgan walked (3-1 BBKBB).
Dugas grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b (1-1 BK); Morgan out on the play.
Beloso walked (3-1 KBBBB).
Travinski reached on a fielder’s choice to shortstop (2-2 BKFB); Beloso out at second ss to 2b.
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
3rd inning
Kurland hit by pitch (0-0).
Langford singled to left field (0-1 K); Kurland advanced to second.
Caglianone singled up the middle, RBI (0-0); Langford advanced to second; Kurland scored.
Rivera singled through the left side, RBI (1-2 FSB); Caglianone advanced to second; Langford scored.
Riopelle struck out looking (2-2 FBBSK).
Heyman reached on a fielder’s choice to shortstop (1-1 KB); J. Rivera advanced to second on a fielding error by ss; Caglianone advanced to third.
Commentary: Jordan Thompson’s 15th error of the season loads the bases for Tyler Shelnut.
Guidry to p for Ackenhausen.
Shelnut struck out swinging (0-2 SKS).
Evans homered to left field, 4 RBI, unearned (0-0); Heyman scored, unearned; J. Rivera scored, unearned; Caglianone scored, unearned.
Halter grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-1 BS).
UF Inning Summary: 6 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB
Jobert walked (3-1 BBBKB).
Thompson struck out swinging (2-2 BKBFS).
Commentary: Nick Ficarrotta and Blake Purnell are getting hot quick in the bullpen.
Pearson walked (3-2 KBBBFFFB); Jobert advanced to second.
Crews hit by pitch (0-2 KFF); Pearson advanced to second; Jobert advanced to third.
Purnell to p for Waldrep.
White grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b (1-0 B); Crews out on the play.
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
2nd inning
Heyman struck out swinging (2-2 KBFBS).
Shelnut struck out swinging (0-2 KKS).
Evans homered to left field, RBI (0-1 K).
Commentary: Ty Evans continues to have an incredible College World Series. His third home run of the tournament, the most in program history.
Halter flied out to rf (2-1 BBF).
UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Thompson flied out to cf to left center (1-1 BF).
Pearson walked (3-0 BBBB).
Crews singled to left field (0-0); Pearson advanced to second.
White singled to right center, RBI (2-2 FFBBFF); Crews advanced to third; Pearson scored.
Morgan flied out to lf, SF, RBI (1-0 B); Crews scored.
Dugas hit by pitch (0-0); White advanced to second.
Beloso walked (3-1 BSBBB).
Travinski reached on a fielder’s choice to third base (2-2 KSBBFFFF); Beloso advanced to second; Dugas out at third 3b unassisted.
LSU Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
Commentary: The Tigers have stranded six runners through two innings.
1st inning
Kurland singled to shortstop (3-2 SBFBB).
Langford walked (3-2 BBKBSB); Kurland advanced to second.
Caglianone grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-1 KB); Langford advanced to second; Kurland advanced to third.
Rivera struck out swinging (2-2 BBKKS).
Riopelle struck out looking (3-2 BBFBFK).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Commentary: That’s not the start the Gators wanted at all. Florida had the first two runners reach base. Caglianone’s groundout moved them over but Josh Rivera cannot strikeout in that spot. You have to put the ball in play, preferably on the ground or something you can drive deep.
Crews singled through the left side (1-0 B).
White struck out swinging (2-2 BSFBS).
Morgan grounded out to ss (3-1 BBBK); Crews advanced to second.
Dugas doubled to right center, RBI (2-1 BKB); Crews scored.
Beloso walked (3-0 BBBB).
Travinski walked (3-2 BSKBBB); Beloso advanced to second; Dugas advanced to third.
Jobert grounded out to 2b (2-0 BB).
LSU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
Umpire crew
| HP: | Jeff Head |
| 1B: | Casey Moser |
| 2B: | Ramon Armendariz |
| 3B: | Angel Campos |
Lineups
Florida
2B Cade Kurland
CF Wyatt Langford
1B Jac Caglianone
SS Josh Rivera
C BT Riopelle
DH Luke Heyman
LF Tyler Shelnut
RF Ty Evans
3B Colby Halter
SP: RHP Hurston Waldrep
LSU
CF Dylan Crews
3B Tommy White
1B Tre’ Morgan
2B Gavin Dugas
DH Cade Beloso
C Hayden Travinski
RF Jayden Jobert
SS Jordan Thompson
LF Josh Pearson
SP: LHP Nate Ackenhausen
Game 1 Recap
LSU defeated Florida 4-3 in Game 1 of the best-of-three College World Series championship series on Saturday night in Omaha. Tigers designated hitter Cade Beloso snapped a 3-3 tie with a home run off UF closer Brandon Neely to lead off the top of the 11th inning.
The Gators trailed 2-0 before tying the game in the fifth inning on Cade Kurland’s RBI grounder to second. The Gators took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on a two-out solo home run from catcher BT Riopelle. LSU answered in the top of the eighth on a Tommy White solo home run off lefty Cade Fisher, who was otherwise unscathed in 3 1/3 innings in relief of starter Brandon Sproat. However, the Gators squandered some scoring opportunities late in the game and struck out 20 times.
Game 1 quotes
Florida baseball manager Kevin O’Sullivan
Opening statement…
“Well, it was, obviously, a well-played game. We got off to a tough start on the mound. We ran into a lot of offensive counts. But Brandon was able to pitch his way out of it. Obviously, his pitch count got up there. I thought Cade came in and did an outstanding job. Obviously, he made that one mistake on the 0-2 count, but other than that he pitched great. And I thought Brandon pitched great. It came down to one pitch. Offensively, we struck out 20 times tonight. They only walked two. I just think our swings were a little bit big tonight. And we’ve handled the moment really well. Tonight, offensively I think we kind of got caught up in it a little bit and that kind of resulted in the strikeouts. But with that being said, we got Hurston going tomorrow, and we’ll do everything we can win tomorrow and force a Game 3. That simple.”
On the team bounding back tomorrow…
“Yeah, I think it’s hard right now. Once they go back to the hotel, get a shower, get something to eat – we’ll have them ready to play tomorrow. This team has shown fight the entire year. We’ve had a situation in Regionals we had to win three in a row, and we were able to do that. We’ll need some other guys to step up in the pen. But we certainly feel confident that they will. We’ve got a bunch of guys that have not even stepped on the mound yet. But they’ll be ready to play tomorrow.”
