LSU defeated Florida 18-4 in the third and final game of the Men’s College World Series Finals on Monday night, claiming the programs seventh National Championship and first since 2009.
After clubbing the Tigers 24-4 the day before to force a game three, the Gators got the other end of it on Monday night.
FLORIDA TAKES EARLY LEAD
Junior outfielder Wyatt Langford blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first, marking his 21st long ball of the season. Florida totaled two hits in the first inning but could only record two additional hits across the next eight innings.
COMMAND STRUGGLES
After plunking the leadoff batter with the first pitch of the game, Florida’s starting pitcher Jac Caglianone retired the next three batters in order.
With a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, Caglianone walked Gavin Dugas to start the inning. This sparked a monstrous offensive effort from LSU, which continued throughout the entirety of the game.
Caglianone was pulled from the game after recording just four outs. The left-hander allowed six runs, two hits, three walks, and two HBPs across 1.1 innings pitched.
The command issues continued in Florida’s bullpen, as the Gators relievers combined for five walks and two HBPs across 7.2 innings pitched.
NO ANSWER FOR THE TIGERS’ OFFENSE
The Tigers totaled 24 hits in the contest, breaking the record for most hits recorded in the CWS set by Florida during game two of the series.
“We didn’t really have an answer for them on the mound today,” Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan said postgame.
“I think these last three games, you know, we didn’t get as much as we probably needed to out of our starters,” O’Sullivan added. “We put a little bit too much pressure on our bullpen early in games, and we were probably playing with fire the last couple of games. And obviously it got to us today.”
TY EVANS MAKES HISTORY
With a solo home run coming in the bottom of the 7th inning, Ty Evans becomes the first player in MCWS history to hit five home runs in the tournament.
“It’s one of those stories, it will be told next year,” O’Sullivan said. “There will be somebody else that starts the season as a starter that kind of struggles for whatever reason. And you just tell them to stay the course, keep working hard, keep being a good teammate. And when your opportunity comes again you’ll be ready for it.”
“That is a really a great example of what happened with Ty,” O’Sullivan added. “And it’s, it’s easy to tell the story, but when you’ve got somebody on your team the other players have seen, now they can see firsthand what you’re trying to tell them.”
CONFIDENCE MOVING FORWARD
During a very emotional postgame press conference, the Gators displayed confidence in the Florida baseball program moving forward.
“This is definitely going to inspire the next team to work harder than we did and especially just try to get back here next year,” shortstop Josh Rivera said. “I have no doubt in my mind, Sully and the rest of the coaching staff are going to bring in a good group of guys.”
“They’re going to be just as talented, if not more talented than we were this year,” Rivera said. “It’s just a testimony to how hard they work, how hard we worked this year with our strength coach and all the coaches all around. And how we took it upon ourselves individually to come in day in and day out and give it our all.”
“They’ll learn a lot from that, especially the guys coming back,” Rivera said. “Those guys will push the freshmen and all the other younger guys to be right back in this position next year.”
Florida is now 1-3 in the MCWS Finals, with losses in 2005, 2011, and 2023.