LSU vs. Wake Forest matchup draws impressive television audience during College World Series

Thursday night’s College World Series showdown between Wake Forest and LSU lived up to the lofty billing and then some. It was a highly anticipated affair between two of the best pitchers in college baseball history–LSU ace Paul Skenes and Wake Forest ace Rhett Lowder.

It didn’t disappoint as both pitchers shattered records before a nationally televised audience on ESPN2. The game drew an impressive audience–2.091 million viewers, according to ESPN PR. It was also the most-watched pre-finals game on ESPN platforms. The trilogy between Wake Forest and LSU had the top 3 rated pre-finals games during the College World Series on record.

Check out the tweet below from ESPN PR.

Thursday's @WakeBaseball & @LSUbaseball @NCAABaseball Semi Finals game scored another record audience –

⚾️ 2.091 million viewers (ESPN2)
⚾️ Most-watched pre-Finals game on ESPN platforms
⚾️ The trilogy between them has the top-3 pre-Finals #MCWS games on record (ESPN platforms) pic.twitter.com/KXFHfcstWD

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) June 23, 2023

The game had plenty of dramatics. There was a season-saving throw to home plate by LSU first baseman Tre’ Morgan. Then there was the walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 11th inning by Tigers’ slugger Tommy White. It lifted the Tigers to their first CWS Final since 2017.

Both pitchers performed up to expectation, allowing zero runs and firing 15 total strikeouts in 15 combined innings of work. They are two of the best pitching prospects in the upcoming 2023 MLB Draft and they certainly played like it on Thursday evening.

College baseball fans were treated to a game that was simply, one of the best in college baseball history.

For more on the game on Thursday night and a preview of the CWS championship series, check out the excellent breakdown below from On3’s Griffin McVeigh.

LSU and Wake Forest delivered an instant classic in Omaha

Tommy White is officially a hero in Baton Rouge.

In an all-time classic between LSU and Wake Forest, White hit a first pitch, no doubt home run to send the Tigers to the CWS championship series. There was euphoria in the LSU dugout, while Wake Forest’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion.

If there was one way to describe Thursday’s game, it was a pitching duel. Everyone spent the day hyping up LSU’s Paul Skenes vs. Wake Forest’s Rhett Lowder. Not only did the matchup deliver but it went further than anyone could imagine. It was something college baseball fans will not forget for a long time.

Lowder went seven innings and was pulled while his pitch count was still relatively low. Skenes was extended a little more, going into the eighth inning and surpassing 100 pitches. Neither pitcher gave up a run, before their respective head coaches turned to the bullpen.

Unfortunately for one of Skenes and Lowder, one of their teams had to be on the losing end.

White made sure it was going to be LSU walking off the field with smiles on their faces. When asked by Kris Budden what kind of pitch he was looking for, White admitted he wanted a fastball. It was in fact not a fastball, but White swung away.

It was a truly awesome moment for those who wear purple and gold. Now, it’s time to move on to the championship series.

Florida on the other side, waiting for LSU in CWS championship series

While LSU and Wake Forest were fighting for their lives on Thursday evening, Florida was sitting back and relaxing. They punched their ticket to the championship series on Wednesday, going 3-0 on their side of the bracket. All three were one-run games and they had to play through some pretty tense moments.

Now, the championship series is set. Florida will take on LSU, with Game 1 taking place on Saturday. The two teams will be back on Sunday afternoon and if a winner-take-all Game 3 is needed, it will take place on Monday.

An all-SEC championship series makes the event even more interesting. Florida and LSU have not played each other until this point of the season, avoiding each other in the regular season, and at the SEC Tournament. Commissioner Greg Sankey has to be happy with how things are going in Omaha.

The college baseball season is nearly over, as we are potentially just two games away from crowning a national champion.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh also contributed to this article.