Jay Johnson explains if it's easier to get past LSU's blowout loss in Game 2

Jay Johnson and the LSU Tigers has designs of being crowned national champions on Sunday, but the Florida Gators had other plans.

After Johnson’s team captured Game 1 of the College World Series finale, the pendulum swung the Gators’ way in grand fashion, as Florida defeated LSU by a score of 24-4. That’s a score you’re more likely to see on Saturdays in the fall.

Afterwards, Johnson was asked if a blowout loss like Sunday’s is easier to move on from than a close, heartbreaking one, but the Tigers skipper didn’t make any bones about it.

“It is what it is,” answered Johnson. “I mean, I’ve had a Super Regional game relatively similar to this, and then we turn the score around on the team in game three.

“It happens all the time in our league, in two-out-of-three series, which is like Super Regional College/World Series game. It’s obvious. Look at the two teams that are playing. They’re the two best teams in college baseball. And I won’t give it any thought.”

Still, Johnson certainly has some regrets, even if he believes the Tigers were prepared to play on Sunday against the Gators. While it ultimately didn’t work out in grand fashion, his confidence for Monday’s showdown remains unshaken.

“Would I have liked it to have been different? Yeah,” added the LSU skipper. “I think we were prepared to play at the beginning of the game. And then we asked Nate to get out there give us everything he could. He really emptied the tank four days ago. He didn’t quite have it the same.

“And then Gavin, let’s be honest, credit Evans for getting a swing on it. But that ball would have easily been foul had the wind not shifted, but the wind shifted. And if I could fix the wind the way I wanted to, I’d probably be doing different things, a lot of different things. But really excited about tomorrow night. And I believe the players are too.”

While Florida may have embarrassed LSU in Omaha on Sunday, the Tigers could still be the ones standing tall at the end of it all on Monday. All that matters in the end is Game 3, not how much Florida won Game 2 by.

That’s the beautiful thing about baseball, and you can bet Jay Johnson will have LSU roaring and ready to rock in Monday’s showdown.