Florida baseball: Previewing the College World Series final vs LSU
OMAHA, Neb. — The two best teams in the best baseball conference will play for a National Championship. What could be better than the Florida baseball team facing off against the LSU Tigers for a chance to dogpile in Omaha?
Florida and LSU did not meet up in the regular season or the SEC Tournament. The Tigers spent much of the season ranked No. 1, while Florida never dropped out of the top-ten. It’s not always the case that the best team in the country wins the College World Series but it will be hard to argue that the winner of this best-of-three isn’t the best team in the country.
2023 College World Series Final Schedule
Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPN: LSU vs Florida (Home)
Sunday, 3:00 PM, ESPN: Florida vs LSU (Home)
Monday, 7:00 PM, ESPN: (if necessary) LSU vs Florida (Home)
How they got here
Florida
Gainesville Regional
Florida A&M: W 3-0
Texas Tech: L 5-4
UConn: W 8-2
Texas Tech: W 7-1
Texas Tech: W 6-0
Gainesville Super Regional
South Carolina: W 5-4, W 4-0
College World Series
Virginia: W 6-5
Oral Roberts: W 5-4
TCU: W 3-2
LSU
Baton Rouge Regional
Tulane: W 7-2
Oregon State: W 6-5
Oregon State: W 13-7
Baton Rouge Super Regional
Kentucky: W 14-0, W 8-3
College World Series
Tennessee: W 6-3
Wake Forest: L 3-2
Tennessee: W 5-0
Wake Forest: W 5-2
Wake Forest: W 2-0 (11)
Top 10
- 1
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Dan Lanning
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Bryce Underwood
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- 4Hot
5-star flip
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Second CFP Top 25
Newest CFP rankings are out
MLB Prospects all over the field
Rankings per MLB.com
1 OF Dylan Crews – LSU
2. RHP Paul Skenes – LSU
3. OF Wyatt Langford – Florida
20. RHP Hurston Waldrep – Florida
79. RHP Brandon Sproat – Florida
87. RHP Ty Floyd – LSU
98. RHP Grant Taylor – LSU
111. SS Josh Rivera – Florida
136. 1B/OF Tre’ Morgan – LSU
Florida baseball pitching rotation for the CWS Final
The Gators roll into the CWS Final with a rested and ready pitching staff. Florida has played in only three games over their week in Omaha and will go with Friday night starter Brandon Sproat for game one against LSU. Hurston Waldrep will throw in game two and Jac Caglianone is expected to be the game three starter if necessary.
Additionally, Florida’s bullpen of Ryan Slater, Brandon Neely and Cade Fisher are all rested and available for the series.
LSU pitching situation for the CWS Final
LSU is expected to turn to righthander Ty Floyd, its No. 2 starter, in Saturday’s opener. After that, it’s less clear. Lefthander Nate Ackenhausen threw a season-high 93 pitches and six scoreless innings Tuesday against Tennessee and could be in line to start Sunday on four days of rest. Lefthanders Javen Coleman and Griffin Herring could also possibly be options for that start or Monday’s if-necessary Game 3.
Projected lineups
Florida
2B Cade Kurland
CF Wyatt Langford
1B jac Caglianone
SS Josh Rivera
C BT Riopelle
DH Luke Heyman
LF Tyler Shelnut
RF Ty Evans
3B Colby Halter
SP: Brandon Sproat
LSU
CF Dylan Crews
3B Tommy White
1B Tre’ Morgan
2B Gavin Dugas
DH Cade Beloso
Rf Brayden Jobert
SS Jordan Thompson
LF Josh Pearson
C Alex Milazzo
SP: Ty Floyd
