Florida Gators make a dogpile after winning national championship-1280x815
Jun 27, 2017; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators players celebrate after defeating the LSU Tigers in game two of the championship series of the 2017 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

OMAHA, Neb — For the first time in more than a century of playing baseball the Florida Gators won the final game of the college baseball season.

The Gators beat LSU 6-1 on Tuesday to sweep the College World Series Final. Florida had previously been 0-4 in two CWS Finals games (2005,2011). The championship is the first

The Gators received a Herculean effort from freshman Tyler Dyson, making just his second start of the season. Dyson threw a career-high 6.1 innings of scoreless baseball. Dyson’s previous high was five innings against Wake Forest but just two innings before that Super Regional appearance.

The Gators wasted little time getting on the board. Deacon Liput reached on an error to start the game. Dalton Guthrie singled back up the middle, moving Liput to third. JJ Schwarz took care of a fastball, drilling it through the left side to open the scoring. Poché, LSU’s career leader in wins (39), worked out of the jam and held Florida to just one.

The Gators got back after Poché in the second inning. Nick Horvath kicked the two-out rally off with a single up the middle. Horvath was picked off at first base but Nick Croomes dropped Poché’s pickoff attempt, allowing Horvath to reach second. It was Croomes’ second error of the game, and just like they did in the first Florida made him pay for it. Deacon Liput line a fastball back up the middle to score Horvath and extend the Florida lead to 2-0.

Meanwhile, Tyler Dyson was acting as if this wasn’t the biggest game of his young career, out-dueling Poché. Dyson gave up singles in the first and second but held the Tigers’ potent lineup hitless through the next five innings. Dyson ran out of steam in the seventh inning and Kevin O’Sullivan turned to his closer, Michael Byrne.

LSU didn’t greet Byrne kindly. Zach Watson stole second and scored on a Josh Smith double. Byrne gave up a single to Jake Slaughter to give LSU runners on the corners. Michael Papierski grounded a ball to second base, seemingly enough to tie the game but Slaughter was called for interference, sliding into Dalton Guthrie. That took a would-be run in Smith off the board and gave Byrne two outs. Beau Jordan lined out to end the threat.

The Gators tacked on a four-spot in the eighth inning against LSU close Zack Hess, who had dominated in Omaha.

Jonathan India started the frame off with a double, Austin Langworthy walked and Mike Rivera moved the two up with a sacrifice bunt. Christian Hicks pinch hit for Ryan Larson and was intentionally walked. Andrew Baker pinch ran for him. Nick Horvath was hit by a pitch by to give Florida a 3-1 lead. Deacon Liput opened the floodgates with a two-RBI single. Two batters later Schwarz’s sacrifice fly plated Horvath and the Gators 6-1 lead was insurmountable.

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC