Tom Walter: Wake Forest 'probably should've walked' LSU's Cade Beloso before go-ahead home run

In the bottom of the third inning, Wake Forest found itself tied with LSU after giving up an RBI double. That brought Cade Beloso to the plate, and he hit a 2-0 pitch over the right field fence to put the Tigers out in front, 5-2.

That swing changed the game. But if Wake Forest coach Tom Walter could do it again, he said he’d have put Beloso on first to load the bases with one out in the inning.

“Probably should’ve walked Beloso there,” Walter told ESPN’s Kris Budden ahead of the fifth inning. “I wanted to do it 2-0 and didn’t, and it ended up costing us.”

That inning was one the only blemishes on Seth Keener’s line through his first four inning of work. Although he also walked three hitters — something Walter said needed to be fixed — he kept the high-powered LSU offense to just four hits through 4.1 innings of work and struck out four Tigers in the effort.

However, after that home run by Beloso, Keener got a groundout and a popout to end the inning. That resiliency, Walter said, was impressive.

“The free passes have really hurt us. … Really happy with how he bounced back there last inning,” Walter said.

Tom Walter explains Wake Forest’s relaxed approach before College World Series game vs. LSU

Prior to Wednesday’s game — which, with a victory, would send Wake Forest to the championship series — Walter was seen dancing with the Demon Deacons players. Throughout the tournament, the No. 1-seeded Deacons have shown their ability to play relaxed and not get caught up in the moment. Part of that routine includes the pregame dance circle, which saw Walter wind up in the middle.

It’s easy to get caught up in the moment when teams get to the College World Series. For Wake Forest, having each other’s back while also staying loose is critical on such a big stage.

“That’s what we do. That’s who we are,” Walter said. “We’re a loose bunch who really cares about each other. We’re going to fight through this thing and hopefully, we’ll be there at the end.”

If Wake Forest can hold on, it would set up a championship series matchup against Florida starting on Saturday. However, if LSU pulls off the victory, the two teams will play an if-necessary game on Thursday. The winner will advance to play against the Gators. The loser, of course, will head home.