David Rosenberg
June 25, 2023 7:00 pm ET
The Florida Gators entered Sunday down a game in the College World Series Finals, but a 24-4 win over the LSU Tigers evened up the series and shifted all the momentum to the Orange and Blue heading into a deciding Game 3 on Monday.
Ty Evans was the early offensive hero on a day when Florida right-hander Hurston Waldrep did not look his best. Waldrep gave up three early runs, but Evans hit two home runs (a solo shot and a grand slam) to put UF out in front early.
Although the game looked like it would be a back-and-forth contest, it was all Florida from that point on. The Gators scored 23 unanswered runs in total, with home runs from Jac Caglianone, Wyatt Langford and BT Riopelle. Caglianone tied and broke the BBCOR-era home run record with his two jacks, and Langford crossed the 20-homer threshold for a second-straight season.
Langford led the pack with six runs batted in, but Caglianone and Evans were very close with five apiece. Finding the right words to praise Evans adequately is tough. He was pulled from the everyday lineup two months ago, yet Florida would not have a chance to win it all without him. A legendary performance from a struggling Gator. File that under things you love to see in this sport.
The relief performances from Blake Purnell and Nick Ficarrotta must also be recognized. Both were key pieces of the bullpen last year but didn’t see as much action as expected in 2023. They still stepped up when the team needed them most, though, preserving plenty of arms for Sunday’s deciding contest.
Ficarrotta went five innings, striking out two and giving up just one run late in the game after both teams had accepted the result. Purnell worked out of two jams while the game was still tense, inducing a pair of key double plays to keep things close.
For more on Florida’s record-setting night (most runs in a College World Series game by a single team), here’s an inning-by-inning breakdown of the game.
Top 1st
The Gators are here for a bounce back!#MCWS x @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/Y6xHcoGlvL
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2023
Nate Ackenhausen struggled through the top of the first for LSU. Cade Kurland led things off with a grounder to shortstop, but Jordan Thompson bumped into third baseman Tommy White and couldn’t make the throw to first in time.
Wyatt Langford walked to put two men on, and Jac Caglianone grounded out to first to move both runners into scoring position. Josh Rivera, who went 0-for-5 on Saturday, struck swinging after getting ahead 2-0 for out No. 2 of the inning. Home plate umpire Jeff Head likes the low and outside stuff, and his zone forced Rivera to adjust mid-at-bat.
BT Riopelle struck out looking on a slider that he thought was coming up and in. Two were stranded for Florida in the first.
Bot 1st
Gavin Dugas has been so consistent and a core piece of this LSU team. 💣#MCWS | #CWS | #Omaha | @gavin_dugas04
pic.twitter.com/CDD0XAfylf— Harrison Cordell Fant (@Fantavious9) June 25, 2023
Dylan Crews got LSU going immediately with a ball through the left side but Hurston Waldrep bounced back to Tommy White. Tre Morgan grounded out to short for the second out, but Gavin Dugas got a slider over the plate and sent it into the right-center gap, scoring Crews easily.
SCORE: LSU 1, Florida 0
Waldrep pitched around Cade Beloso to put two men on, but he lost Hayden Travinski to load the bases. Brayden Jobert rolled over on a ball to end the inning and strand the bases juiced. Phew.
Top 2nd
Is the Moon made of cheese? Well this ball from Ty Evans will find out pic.twitter.com/Z1jbpWDPXU
— Jake Hitt (@jake_hitt06) June 25, 2023
Luke Heyman and Tyler Shelnut both struck out to start what looked like it would be a short inning for LSU. Ty Evans had other plans, though. He launched a ball high and deep to left and waited to see whether or not it stayed fair. Evan wasn’t sure, but the umpire put their fingers in the air and signaled a long ball, and suddenly the game was tied.
SCORE: Florida 1, LSU 1
Colby Halter flew out to left, ending the inning, but Evans’ home run kept the momentum even.
Bot 2nd
Excellent piece of 2-strike hitting by Tommy White who stays back on this breaking ball and lines an RBI single into RCF. No stride here from White who just lets his hands work. pic.twitter.com/VntvouVcNV
See Also2024 Baseball Roster2022 Baseball RosterLive updates: Florida Gators take on LSU Tigers in the College World Series FinalsCollege World Series: Live updates from Game 3 for Florida baseball vs. LSU Tigers— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) June 25, 2023
LSU put up two more runs in the second, regaining the lead almost immediately. Waldrep got Thompson to fly out to center, but he walked Josh Pearson on four pitches Crews singled softly over the shortstop’s head and White drove in run No. 102 on the year with a single to right-center.
SCORE: LSU 2, Florida 1
Morgan scored another on a deep sacrifice fly to center, and Waldrep reloaded the bases by hitting Dugas and walking Beloso.
SCORE: LSU 3, Florida 1
Travinski grounded into a fielder’s choice at third to strand the bases loaded again, but Waldrep clearly was without his best stuff and was over 60 pitches after two innings.
What a time for him to lose command…
Top 3rd
Jac delivers!#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/R2LzmWZFjY
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2023
It became apparent around the third inning that this would be a high-scoring affair. After Kurland took a leadoff hit by pitch on the toes, Langford, Caglianone and Rivera tied the game with back-to-back-to-back singles.
SCORE: Florida 3, LSU 3
Riopelle struck out, and Heyman loaded the bases back up on a fielding error by Thompson at short. That forced Ackenhausen out of the game, which was massive for Florida with Waldrep struggling.
Gavin Guidry took over and struck out Shelnut, but Evans got ahold of another ball and it kept carrying until it went over the wall for his second homer of the day, a grand slam.
SCORE: Florida 7, LSU 3
It’s hard to believe that Florida was thinking about keeping Evans on the bench heading into the College World Series. He’s been one of the best hitters on the team over the past two weeks.
Bot 3rd
LEAVE'EM STRANDED! 😤#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/W9JkZxoFoD
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2023
Waldrep walked Jobert to start off the bottom of the third, and got Thompson swinging for his final out of the ball game. Pearson walked on a call Waldrep didn’t agree with and Crews leaned into a pitch to get a free base. Any other umpire might do his job and review it, but Jeff Head does not care about rules.
No matter. Sully turned to Blake Purnell out of the bullpen, and he quickly got out of the inning thanks to a double play from White.
Top 4th
Oh no.
Gavin Dugas gloves a ground ball by Caglianone, throws to Jordan Thompson for the out at second. Thompson turns and throws to third, that throwing error allows Kurland to score. There was a review for an illegal slide at second, but the call wasn't overturned. #LSU
— Leah Vann (@LVann_Sports) June 25, 2023
Florida added another run in the fourth, thanks to an errant throw by Thomspon at second base. Kurland walked to start things off, and Langford singled to second, putting two on for the Gators. Caglianone sent a double play ball to second, but Thompson didn’t have time to make the throw to first.
Instead, he tried to throw over to third and missed badly. Kurland easily scored, but LSU tried to challenge Langford’s slide into second. Langford was on the inside of the bag, but you’re allowed to do that as long as you aren’t spiking above a certain height. Replay confirmed that the call on the field was correct, and the run counted.
SCORE: Florida 8, LSU 3
Cags tried to steal second but was caught and Rivera struck out looking.
Bot 4th
Another 6-4-3 twin killing for Purnell! pic.twitter.com/76lUdAqCis
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 25, 2023
Purnell surrendered a leadoff walk to Morgan, but a double play ball to shortstop bailed him out of any trouble. Another walk to Beloso didn’t hurt with the bases empty, and Travinski hit into a fielder’s choice to end it.
Purnell was one of the top arms in Florida’s bullpen a year ago, but he struggled throughout 2023. He had one good relief outing in May, but this was a much higher-leverage situation than that appearance.
Top 5th
Gators strand one.
UF 8, LSU 3 // M5#GoGators pic.twitter.com/eyQawumxBk
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 25, 2023
Bryce Collins took over for LSU on the mound during this inning. Riopelle finally put a ball in play, a single to center field, but Florida couldn’t score a run in a fourth-straight inning. Heyman and Shelnut flew out to center, and Evans struck out swinging to strand Riopelle.
Evans already hit two home runs, so the strikeout isn’t a concern.
Bot 5th
Fic fires a big 0️⃣ for the Gators.
𝗗𝘂𝗲 𝘂𝗽: Halter, Kurland, Langford#GoGators pic.twitter.com/4E7opjVLZv
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 25, 2023
Nick Ficarrotta took over in the fifth for Purnell. He got Jobert to line out to center and Thompson to fly out to the same spot. Pearson singled through the right side, but Fic got Crews to ground out to third, ending the threat.
Top 6th
No. 2️⃣0️⃣ for TRENTON THUNDER ⛈#GoGators // 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/hTCUymKkzX
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 25, 2023
Colby Halter got the sixth started with a 400-foot double to center, and Cade Kurland ate a second hit by pitch to put two on for Wyatt Langford. The future top-five overall pick sent a ball 449 feet into left field for a three-run shot, putting the Gators up 11-3.
Jac Caglianone broke his home-run slump and went back-to-back with Langford, taking sole possession of the national lead. He’s just one shy of breaking Ivan Melendez’s BBCOR-era record of 32, which was set last season.
SCORE: Florida 12, LSU 3
Florida’s Jac Caglianone crushes home run No. 32 on the season, tying the record since the college game went to BBCOR bats.
🎥 @GatorsBB | #MCWS pic.twitter.com/gYMiFh2wZY
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) June 25, 2023
Josh Rivera reached first safely thanks to a sloppy error from Tommy White at third, which meant the end of the line for Collins. Blake Money took over and got Riopelle swinging — strikeout No. 3 on the day for Florida’s catcher.
Heyman flew out to center, but Shelnut singled up the middle to score Rivera (unearned because of the error).
SCORE: Florida 13, LSU 3
Evans grounded out instead of hitting a third home run. Shame! (kidding)
Bot 6th
1️⃣-2️⃣-3️⃣ frame for Fic!
UF 13, LSU 3 // E6#GoGators pic.twitter.com/KCbOm4QiRq
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 25, 2023
Fic returned for the sixth and sat the Tigers down in order. White grounded out to Halter at third, Morgan did the same to first and Dugas struck out swinging.
Top 7th
Ｓｔｒｅｔｃｈ time at The Chuck ⏳
UF 15, LSU 3 // M7#GoGators pic.twitter.com/l34Pnoxk45
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 25, 2023
Florida added a few more runs in the seventh because… well, why not? Halter struck out swinging to start, but Kurland and Langford delivered back-to-back doubles, scoring a run. Christian Little came in to pitch, which meant LSU was giving up. Caglianone scored Langford on a ground out to first.
SCORE:Florida 15, LSU 3
Rivera singled off Little and stole second, despite being up 12 runs. Travinski, who is dealing with a rib injury, was clearly in pain after making the throw, but there was really no need to keep him out there while down a dozen.
Riopelle worked the count full and walked, but Heyman struck out to end the threat.
Bot 7th
Nick Fic blanks the Tigers.
UF 15, LSU 3 // E7#GoGators pic.twitter.com/BAdbj7qVrC
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 25, 2023
Ficarrotta pitched his third scoreless inning of the game in the seventh. He almost got all three outs without allowing a baserunner, but he hit Jobert before striking out Thompson for out No. 3.
Top 8th
🚨 RECORD JAC JACK 🚨
Jac Caglianone hits his 33rd homer of the season, the most in the BBCOR era!!!@GatorsBB x @jac_caglianone pic.twitter.com/OPyFGFL2Vb
— D1Baseball (@d1baseball) June 25, 2023
LSU made a few defensive changes with the game clearly out of reach. Jared Jones took over for Travinski behind the plate, and Ben Nippolt took over for a struggling Thompson at short.
Little gave up another four runs in the eighth. Shelnut walked, and Evans singled to right center to threaten with no outs. Neither Halter nor Kurland could get them in, but the latter did move both over with a ground out back to Little.
Langford doubled both men in though, and then Caglianone sent a ball high in the air and let the wind carry him to a record-breaking 33rd home run on the season. Caglianone now holds the single-season record for home runs since college baseball switched to BBCOR-style bats. He’d been slumping in Omaha, but the wind finally started blowing out and got him going.
SCORE: Florida 19, LSU 3
With those runs Florida set a new program record for runs at the College World Series. The Gators have played 50 games in Omaha, which is a decent sample size to pull from.
Bot 8th
E8 | Ficarrotta shuts it down. That's six scoreless for LSU.
UF: 19 / 18 / 1
LSU: 3 / 6 / 4— Jackson Castellano (@jaxacastellano) June 25, 2023
With a massive lead, Florida stuck with Ficarrotta for another inning, and he got through the eighth relatively easily. Pearson popped up to the right side of the infield, and Paxton Kling singled pinch hitting for Crew (LSU is waiving the white flag with this move).
Merrifield lined out to left as a pinch hitter for White, Frey reached on an error at third while pinch-hitting for Morgan and Dugas ended the rally with a fielder’s choice to Halter at third.
Top 9th
BT Riopelle hits home run No. 5 on the day for the Gators 🐊
Florida ties the record for the most home runs hit in one #MCWS final game.
🎥 @NCAABaseball | @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/HHHBseCrxJ
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) June 25, 2023
Being up by 16 didn’t stop the Gators from pouring it on in the ninth.
Sully sent in a few pinch hitters to get their College World Series at-bat in, but they ended up tacking on five more runs against Sam Dutton, the new pitcher for LSU.
Riopelle homered (above), Tucker Talbott struck out in place of Luke Heyman, Shelnut singled and Matt Prevesk singled in place of Evans. Jobert let the ball go under his glove in right, allowing Shelnut to score, and Halter singled in one more.
SCORE: Florida 21, LSU 3
Dale Thomas and Michael Robertson both walked, pinch-hitting for Kurland and Langford, respectively. Deric Fabian came in for Caglianone and broke sent a single into left-center to give Florida the new record for the most runs in a College World Series game by a single team.
SCORE: Florida 24, LSU 3
@DericFabian with the RBI history-maker that breaks the @CWSOmaha record for most runs in a game 🐊 #gogators
T9: 24-3 pic.twitter.com/xJzAdQ4AQO— Cyndi Chambers (@Cyndicha) June 25, 2023
Rivera and Riopelle struck out to end the inning.
Bot 9th
Responded.
See you tomorrow, Gator Nation!#GoGators | #GatorsWin
Presented by: @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/o3ZXsJnXaC
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 25, 2023
Ficarrotta came back out to finish things off. He got Beloso to ground out to first and Jones to ground out to second, but Jobert took him yard to dead center.
SCORE: Florida 24, LSU 4
Jobert’s dinger was merely a disruption for Ficarrotta, who induced a ground ball back to him to end it with style. The ball ricocheted off Fic’s foot and right to Deric Fabian, who made the quick throw over to first and win the game.
Fic was pumped, and rightfully so. He and Purnell provided 6 2/3 innings of dominant relief and gave up just the one run to Jobert in the ninth. Now, Florida will be able to use their best and most active relief arms on Sunday to win it all.
