The Gators set a College World Series record for home runs with 24, Force Game 3

Omaha, Neb. Florida has had more close games than any other team in the College World Series this year.

That changed dramatically on Sunday, when the Gators unleashed an offensive barrage of historic proportions.

Florida scored the most runs in a CWS game and moved within one short of the record for largest margin of victory in a 24-4 rout of LSU that forced a decisive Game Three of the Finals.

The Gators (54-16) hit six home runs on a whirlwind day at Charles Schwabe Field and LSU (53-17) bombed CWS for a career-high 23 hits on the day after Ty Floyd hit 17 in 4 Tigers. 3, 11-run in Game 1.

“We did exactly what we said we were going to do – he took a shower last night and came out today ready to play,” said team player Wyatt Langford. “Balls were falling on us today. And that’s just kind of how it went.”

Teams play the final game of the College World Series on Monday night, with the winner going on to win the national championship.

“Obviously we can’t take any of these runs until tomorrow,” Gators coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We’ll have to reset and restart. But very proud of the way they responded after last night’s huge loss.”

LSU head coach Jay Johnson said his players should quickly forget what happened on Sunday.

“So we’re going to stick to how we’re prepared and put it up tomorrow and give it our all,” Johnson said. “One game for the national championship. I think Coach O’Sullivan feels good about his team, as he does about the players they have.

“I feel comfortable with my team and the players we have.”

Two-Way star Jack Caglianone, formerly Plant High headliner, will be performing for the Gators. Johnson has not announced a start or comment on the availability of ace Paul Skenes, who has thrown 15-2/3 innings over two CWS games and will come off three days of rest if he wants to play.

Florida entered Sunday having played in four of the CWS’ record eight games. The Gators had hit 17 home runs in those games before the offense broke.

Ty Evans and Caglianone each led twice, with Evans’ grand slam opening things up early. Langford and BT Riopelle also went in deep.

Florida’s 24 home runs broke Notre Dame’s CWS record, set in a 23-2 win over Northern Colorado in 1957. The 20 win over the Tigers ranks second to that game by the largest margin.

The Gators haven’t scored as many points since their 28-5 win over Winthrop on March 3, 2019.

LSU has not surrendered much in any of its 245 NCAA Tournament games or in a game since a 28-2 loss to Alabama in 1997. The Tiger committed five errors on the season that led to six unearned runs.

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When asked if there was a point he felt the game was slipping away from, LSU star Dylan Cruz said, “Not really. I guess you could say when he got to about 20 innings. But we felt like we were in it the whole time, honestly. We made some comebacks.” great in our career.”

Langford was 5-for-5 with six RBIs along with two doubles and a homer.

Evans shot down the left field line from Nate Akenhausen (3-1) and tied it at 1 in the second. His big win off Gavin Guidry in the third was a high fly that looked like a slop, but the 20-mile-per-hour wind blowing from left to right pushed it inside the left field pole.

The Tigers were supposed to be out in the third before Evans came to bat, but Jordan Thompson’s mistake on a quick play cost them a chance on a double play and they continued what became a six-run inning.

Langford continued for fifth, and Cagliannin followed with his lead in thirty-second and thirty-third.

Florida champ Hurston Waldrip, who had allowed two runs in 21 runs in the NCAA tournament, went just 2-1/3. He walked six, struck out two batters and allowed four hits in his shortest appearance of the season, not counting the start against Vanderbilt when he did not return after one inning due to a rain delay.

LSU did almost nothing against Florida relievers Blake Purnell (2-0) and Nick Ficarotta, who played at Palm Harbor University. They combined to pitch 6-1/3 innings of three hits in relief.

“They don’t need a late speech tomorrow,” said O’Sullivan. “We’re playing a very good LSU team and the winner will have a chance to be a national champion. Enjoy it tonight and get up tomorrow and stay in our routine.”

Written by Eric Olson, sports writer

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