LSU celebrates with dogpile following College World Series title

Six years after losing to Florida in the College World Series Finals in 2017, LSU got its revenge on the Gators. The Tigers capped off an entertaining three-game series in this year’s CWS Finals with a dominant 18-4 victory on Monday to claim their seventh national championship in program history.

With emotions high following the title win, LSU players sprinted to join each other in the middle of the field for the traditional dogpile celebration. It was the culmination of a season’s worth of hard work that included many obstacles along the way, and you can watch the moment below.

Dog Pile‼️#MCWS x @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/7mGcmUjybO

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 27, 2023

After winning 4-3 in Game 1 on Saturday, the Tigers suffered an embarrassing 24-4 defeat on Sunday in which they surrendered a total of 23 hits and six home runs. That set the stage for the winner-take-all Game 3 on Monday, and they certainly came ready to play.

Just like LSU did in Game 2, Florida jumped out to an early lead. The Gators led 2-0 after the first inning. However, as it was for the Tigers on Sunday, it would be short-lived thanks to a massive defensive collapse.

LSU responded to score six runs in the second inning and take the lead for good. The Gators pitching struggled in that inning as they walked three batters and hit another by pitch before pulling starter Jac Caglianone. It was the start of what would ultimately be a long day at the mound with five different players making appearances.

After that, it was time for the Tigers defense to get to work as they forced Florida to go three up, three down in the bottom of the inning. LSU held the Gators without a hit over the next five innings before finally managing one in the seventh on a home run from Ty Evans.

But by that point, the Tigers had already increased their lead to give themselves plenty of breathing room. After two quick outs to start the fourth inning, Florida gave up a double to Brayden Jobert. That was the first of five hits for LSU in that inning, including a two-RBI home run from Josh Pearson, as it tacked on four more runs.

LSU finished with a College World Series record of 24 hits just one day after giving up 23 to Florida. Thatcher Hurd, who started the game, got the win at pitcher after striking out seven batters and allowing just two hits in six innings.

The College World Series win is the first for LSU since 2009, and the dogpile is just the start of what is sure to be a long week of celebrating. The Tigers will now head back to Baton Rouge, where they’re sure to be greeted by a crowd of fans for the first time as national champs.