Ty Evans just misses foul pole to break tie with grand slam vs LSU

Ty Evans just opened up the game for the Gators. In the top of the third inning, Evans cracked a grand slam to give Florida a 7-3 lead over LSU in Game 2 of the College World Series; the first-ever grand slam in the CWS Finals.

The homer is Evans’ second of the day. Both of his bombs were left-field shots, barely remaining in fair play. Evans’ second dinger was more spectacular than the first, and not just because it scored more runs.

GRAND SLAM…GATORS LEAD!!#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/DyU95bsqCj

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2023

The CWS is seeing its most windy day yet, with 21-mile-per-hour winds and gusts reaching up to 36 miles per hour. That wind undoubtedly benefitted Evans’ second homer of the game, transforming a pop fly into a game-changing hit. The homer was the highest-hit home run recorded at the CWS Finals since 2015, per ESPN.

Despite any help from the wind, Evans’ big hits aren’t luck. The 6-foot-2 sophomore boasts four home runs in the CWS, going yard against Virginia and Oral Roberts, as well; the most every by a Gator in the CWS.

“Ty [Evans] has really gotten hot for us down the stretch here,” Johnson said earlier this week.

That’s an understatement. Evans is batting .227 this season. The Florida native only recorded four home runs during the regular season. Nonetheless, Evans is connecting when it matters most. The Gators certainly are refusing to go away quietly.

“Can’t dwell on tonight. It’s in the past. We’ve been in this position before where our back’s up against the wall and we’re taking some punches and we have to throw back,” Florida catcher BT Riopelle said after Florida’s loss on Saturday. “It’s a matter of going out and attacking and playing our best baseball. If we don’t then that’s just how it rolls. We’ll do everything in our power to play our best baseball tomorrow and force a Game 3 on Monday.”

Fueled by Evans grand slam, the Gators are one step closer to forcing that coveted Game 3. As of this report, the Gators lead LSU 7-3 in the bottom of the third inning.

But, the Gators would continue to pour on the pain throughout the game forcing a deciding Game 3 along the way. Eventually, they would score as many as 24 runs, a record in the CWS, to force the all-deciding game on Monday night. Winner takes the title. Loser wonder what could have been.