Logos from sportslogos.net
LSU met up with Florida in the College World Series Championship Series for Game One on Saturday night, with the Tigers looking to avenge 2017. Ty Floyd tied a CWS record with 17 strikeouts on the night, Cade Beloso and Tommy White delivered crucial home runs, and LSU wins it in 11 innings 4-3 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU got the game started the right way with Dylan Crews getting on base via a hit-by-pitch. Gavin Dugas then was walked to put a pair of runners on for Cade Beloso, who laced an RBI single into right field to score Crews and make it 1-0 LSU.
In the third, LSU added another run on a solo home run from Dugas to continue his great stretch in the postseason. However, Florida didn’t stay down long as Jac Caglianone had an RBI groundout to cut the lead in half at 2-1 after three innings.
Florida would tie the game in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout by Cade Kurland to score Ty Evans, who led off the inning with a double.
Then in the sixth, BT Riopelle, the Coastal Carolina transfer, launched his 18th home run of the season into the right field bleachers to give Florida their first lead of the night at 3-2.
LSU tied the game in the top of the eighth inning as Tommy White once again delivered in a clutch moment with a solo blast to right field, very similar to Thursday night’s walk-off.
In the bottom of the ninth, Florida got a runner on second base before Riley Cooper was able to record the third out of the inning and force extra innings.
Cade Beloso gave LSU the lead yet again in the 11th inning with a solo shot to right field to make the score 4-3.
Riley Cooper retired the Florida Gators in order to end the game and put the Tigers one win away from their seventh national title.
BIG NUMBER: 17, 78
Ty Floyd struck out 17 Gators, tying a single-game College World Series record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game.
LSU also stranded 17 base runners on the night, but it ended up not costing them the victory.
LSU also has 78 strikeouts as a team in six CWS games, which is the most by any team in Omaha.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ty Floyd
Floyd pitched eight innings for LSU, allowing three runs on five hits while setting an LSU record with 17 strikeouts in a College World Series game, tying the CWS record.
UP NEXT: LSU will look to capture their seventh National Championship when they battle Florida in Game Two of the Championship Series. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. and you can hear it on The Game.