After a 3-0 start to the Men’s College World Series, the Gators advanced to the best of three championship series where they will meet the LSU Tigers for the first time in 2023.
“We’re awfully excited to be in this position,” Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan said during the championship series press conference. “Last night’s game between LSU and Wake was an incredible game to watch from a fan’s perspective. We’re excited that we have an opportunity to play here.”
Florida has posted a record of 53-15 (20-10 SEC) to this point in the season, claiming a share of the SEC Championship in the process.
“This has not been an easy road for us,” O’Sullivan said this morning. “Obviously getting to the SEC schedule was not easy. Going through the losers’ bracket in the Regionals, playing South Carolina in the Supers was very difficult. Three one-run games out here and now the season is going to end with two SEC teams playing against each other. And we didn’t have an opportunity to play with each other. It should be a lot of fun.”
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
LSU found themselves towards the top of D1Baseball’s rankings throughout the season, working to a record of 52-16 (19-10 SEC).
The Tigers’ offense is one of the best in all of college baseball, ranking 20th in the nation with a .307 batting average while launching 138 home runs, the second most in the country. Led by potential No.1 pick Dylan Crews, LSU’s lineup is dangerous top to bottom. The Tigers have six hitters claiming a .300 or higher batting average while nine hitters have posted double digit home run totals in 2023.
Jay Johnson’s ballclub has also impressed on the mound at times this season, posting a 4.30 ERA across 583.1 innings pitched.
“They play with a lot of fire and intensity,” Gators’ shortstop Josh Rivera said on their matchup with LSU. “Like Wyatt said, they’ve got a really deep bullpen and a very deep lineup. It’s going to be very exciting to see us against them in the championship.”
LSU’s pitching staff has recorded 42 (out of 46) shutout innings across five games in the Men’s College World Series.
SCOUTING REPORT: PITCHING
Due to LSU’s early loss to Wake Forest, the Tigers had to get out of the losers’ bracket, forcing Jay Johnson’s squad to play an additional two games. This bodes well for the Gators as LSU has had to use many arms to reach the championship series.
“I’m way okay with having a day off today. That’s going to work out well for us,” Tigers’ Head Coach Jay Johnson said on Friday. “We earned our way here the way that we did. And so now we have to go with how we’re set up.”
LSU’s ace, Paul Skeens, will likely not be able to start a game this weekend as the Tigers had to use him in an elimination game against Wake Forest on Thursday night. It’s possible that the future top three pick could throw a few innings out of the bullpen on Monday night, shall the series get that far. However, it’s unlikely that the 6-6, 247-pound right-hander would be able to throw much more than a few innings after tossing 120 pitches on Thursday night, while on short rest. Skeens is also a projected top three pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, meaning he’s slotted to make roughly eight million dollars after signing.
Due to eight strong innings from Skeens on Thursday night, RHP Thatcher Hurd was the only other pitcher to make an appearance for LSU in the 11-inning battle, tossing 47 pitches in the contest.
With Friday off, the majority of the Tigers’ bullpen has had two full days of rest, meaning LSU enters the series relatively healthy.
Gator Country provides every appearance and pitch count by LSU’s pitching staff this College World Series.
RHP Paul Skeens: June 17 (123), June 22 (120)
RHP Gavin Guidry: June 17 (1), June 21 (20),
LHP Riley Cooper: June 17 (22), June 20 (40), June 21 (20)
RHP Ty Floyd: June 19 (97)
RHP Thatcher Hurd: June 19 (65), June 22 (47)
LHP Nate Ackenhausen: June 20 (93)
LHP Griffin Herring: June 21 (80)
RHP Blake Money: June 21 (6)
LHP Javen Coleman: June 21 (40)
PROBABLE STARTERS
Saturday: Brandon Sproat (8-3, 4.66 ERA) vs. Ty Floyd (7-0, 4.45 ERA)
Sunday: Hurston Waldrep vs. TBD
Monday: Jac Caglianone vs. TBD