OMAHA, Neb. ― A 71-game season comes down to this. Florida baseball can secure a second national championship in program history with a win Monday night in Game 3 of the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field against the LSU Tigers.
The winner-take-all game between SEC schools comes after LSU edged Florida 4-3 in 11 innings in Game 1 on Saturday night. In Game 2 on Sunday afternoon, Florida responded, scoring the most runs in a game in College World Series history in a 24-4 rout of LSU.
"Obviously we can't take any of these runs into (Monday)," Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "We'll have to reset, reboot."
The Gators (54-16) have set a program record with 54 wins in a season and are vying for their first national title since 2017, when UF swept LSU in the CWS Finals in two games.
Florida will send lefty Jac Caglianone (7-3, 3.86 ERA) to the mound Monday night. LSU will start righty Thatcher Hurd (7-2, 5.96 ERA). Hurd last pitched Thursday, throwing 47 pitches in three scoreless innings of relief to get the win in LSU's 2-0, 11-inning win over Wake Forest.
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Florida plays LSU June 26 @ 7:00 pm EDT
10:30 p.m. | LSU the National Champions
LSU wins its seventh national championship in school history, beating Florida 18-4. Florida's season ends at 54-17.
9:49 p.m. | Ty Evans sets record with 5th College World Series home run
Ty Evans sets a College World Series with his fifth home run, a solo shot to the opposite field, which cuts LSU's lead to 11-3 in the seventh inning. The Tigers have brought in reliever Riley Cooper to finish the game after starter Thatcher Hurd allowed just two runs over six innings.
8:50 p.m. | LSU breaks it open
LSU scores four more runs in the top of the top of the fourth, taking a 10-2 lead. LSU scored all four of its runs with two outs, beginning with an RBI single by Jordan Thompson and continuing with a two-run homer by Josh Pearson and RBI single by Cade Beloso. Florida is now on its fourth pitcher, with Tyler Nesbitt relieving Ryan Slater. LSU 10, Florida 2 mid-4th.
8:00 p.m. | LSU answers with big inning
LSU answers by scoring six runs in the second, knocking Florida starter Jac Caglianone out of the game, to take a 6-2 lead. LSU sent 12 runners to the plate in the top of the second, going ahead 3-2 on a bases loaded walk by Dylan Crews. Cade Fisher relieved Caglianone and LSU continued to rally for three more runs on a Tommy White RBI single, Tre Morgan sacrifice fly and Gavin Dugas RBI single. LSU 6, Gators 2 mid 2nd.
7:30 p.m. | Florida strikes first
The Gators jump to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Cade Kurland leads off with a single, moves to second on a wild pitch and scores on Wyatt Langford's 21st home run of the season. Langford deposited a 3-2 pitch from LSU starter Thatcher Hurd deep into the seats in left field for UF's 15 home run of the College World Series. Gators 2, LSU 0 end 1.
7:00 p.m. | Wind blowing out
The wind is blowing out (north at 13 mph) for the start of Game 3 of the College World Series Finals between Florida and LSU. The Gators hit six home runs and scored 24 runs with the wind blowing out on Sunday. Game time temperature is 82 degrees with 46 percent humidity.
6:22 p.m. | Florida the home team, in orange tops
Florida is the home team and will wear orange tops and white pants for Monday's deciding Game 3 of the College World Series Finals. LSU is in yellow tops, white pants.
5:52 p.m. | LSU lineup, Beloso moves into leadoff spot, Crews batting second
LSU lineup: Beloso DH, Crews CF, White 3B, Morgan 1B, Dugas 2B, Jobert RF, Thompson SS, Pearson LF, Milazzo C. SP Hurd.
5:50 p.m. | Florida lineup, Evans moves up to 7 spot
Florida moved Ty Evans, who has four home runs in six College World Series, up to the seven spot in the order tonight. Florida lineup: Kurland 2B, Langford CF, Caglianone P, Rivera SS, Riopelle C, Heyman 1B, Evans CF, Shelnut LF, Halter 3B.
