Gators’ beatdown of LSU forces game three of CWS Finals

The Florida Gators put on an offensive clinic during game two of the Men’s College World Series Finals, and that might be an understatement.

In a 24-4 victory over LSU, the Gators forced a game three behind the most runs scored in College World Series history, passing Notre Dame (23), set back in 1957.

The Gators beatdown over LSU marks their 54th victory of the season, the most in program history.

LSU STRIKES FIRST 

After the Gators’ stranded two runners to start the game, second baseman Gavin Dugas doubled to right center, scoring Dylan Crews from second baseman in the bottom of the first, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

FLORIDA FINDS THE SCOREBOARD

The Gators answered in the second inning as sophomore outfielder Ty Evans laced his 7th home run of the season and third of the College World Series, tying the game at one.

WALDREP STRUGGLES

Florida’s starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep was not himself on Sunday afternoon as the right hander allowed three runs, four hits, six walks, and two HBPs in 2.1 innings of work.

Waldrep’s command was absent as LSU continued to work his pitch count, forcing the Thomasville, Georgia native to toss 83 pitches with just one out in the third inning.

23 UNANSWERED RUNS

Trailing 3-1, nerves kicked in for Gator fans, but not for Kevin O’Sullivan’s ballclub. Florida would go on to score 23 unanswered runs, including three innings with five+ runs and another with four.

Florida launched six home runs (Caglianone X2, Evans X2, Langford, Riopelle) in a game for the first time since setting the program record with eight vs. Cincinnati on Feb. 26, 2023.

The Gators’ 24 runs scored marked a season high, while also setting a season high 23 hits.

HOME RUN KING

Jac Caglianone’s multi home run game puts him at 33 on the season, the most home runs in a single season in the BBCOR era, passing Texas’ Ivan Melendez who set the record back in 2021 (32).

Caglianone first RBI of the game came on a single up the middle, which set Florida’s program record for most RBIs in a single season with 86, a record previously set by Preston Tucker in 2009 (85). Caglianone is the first Gator to reach 90 RBIs.

“The record’s cool and all but the biggest thing on my mind is winning tomorrow,” Caglianone said postgame. “I’d give anything for this team to win. I said it earlier in the year, my biggest goal is just to get a ring on these guys that have been here a while. That’s the whole game plan for tomorrow.”

MORE RECORDS 

Ty Evans’ grand slam in the top of the third inning marked his 4th long ball of the CWS, tying the most home runs hit by a Gator in the CWS.

“It feels pretty incredible,” Evans said on Florida’s CWS run. “I mean, not just me contributing, but just our team as a whole. We’ve got a lot of older guys leaving next year, a lot of guys that just really care about this team. To be able to help give our team a chance to win, it’s been incredible.”

Wyatt Langford’s 449-foot three run home run marked his 20th of the season, making the Trenton, Florida native one of just three Gators to record back-to-back 20+ home run seasons alongside Brad Wilkerson (1997-98) and Jud Fabian (2021-22). Langford recorded his first five hit game in his career, totaling six RBIs and four runs scored in the contest.

“Obviously your best players have to perform,” O’Sullivan said. “Wyatt had an unbelievable day. I think he went 5-for-5; Jac, obviously had a good day at the plate; Cade couple hits. When those guys start going, our offense, obviously, is a lot better. And our best players performed really well today.”

STRONG BULLPEN EFFORT 

RHP Nick Ficarrotta and Blake Purnell gave Florida a combined 6.2 innings of relief in the game, allowing the Gators to rest their top relievers in Cade Fisher, Ryan Slater, and Brandon Neely.

“I thought the double play that Blake Purnell got was a huge play in the game,” O’Sullivan said “And obviously Nick came in and did a terrific job on the mound.”

“It was outstanding,” O’Sullivan said on Ficarrotta’s effort.” Because our bullpen was a little light today. We weren’t going to use Neely or Cade in this game, so some other guys needed to step up.”

“The goal was to, if we got into any trouble, was to go to Slater in the middle part of the game and hopefully ride him for three or four innings,” O’Sullivan said. “But turned out we didn’t have to use him today.”

NOTEABLES

• Langford tied Florida’s single-season doubles record (28) alongside Mike Zunino.
• Langford now owns the two-longest home runs hit at the MCWS at Charles Schwab Field with his 449-foot homer in the top of the sixth.
• Langford is the third player with four hits and four RBI in a MCWS Championship Finals game, joining Fresno State’s Steve Detwiler (2008 vs Georgia) and North Carolina’s Tim Federowicz (2006 vs Oregon State).
• Six of Riopelle’s eight hits in the NCAA Tournament have been home runs.
• The Gators have scored at least one run in all 70 games this season.
• Since Charles Schwab Field opened in 2011, Florida’s 14 home runs are the most ever in a single College World Series.
• Caglianone and Evans are the fifth pair of teammates to hit multiple home runs in the same MCWS game, and first since USC in 2001.
• Florida is the first team to post multiple four-homer games at Charles Schwab Field – regular season or at the College World Series.

Florida will play in their first game three of the College World Series Finals on Monday at 7:00 PM EST, aiming to win their second National Championship in program history and first since 2017.