Florida Gators set College World Series scoring record in 24-4 win over LSU to force Game 3 in finals
OMAHA, Neb. — Pitching had carried the Florida baseball team to the College World Series final but the bats made sure they would see another day in Omaha. Florida’s 24-4 win set the record for the most runs ever scored in a College World Series game. The Gators and Tigers will play one final game for the 2023 season.
LSU jumped on Hurston Waldrep early. The Gators’ starter lasted just 2.1 innings and allowed three runs while walking a season-high five.
The Gators scored 23 unanswered runs on the back of six home runs.
What went right
- Everything on offense.
- Wyatt Langford’s 28 doubles tie the Florida single-season record and tie him for the 2023 NCAA lead as well.
- Florida now leads the country with 143 home runs on the season after hitting six on Sunday.
What went wrong
- Hurston Waldrep did not bring his “A” game. The junior lasted just 2.1 innings and the Gators had to go to the bullpen early.
Gators who came up big
- Ty Evans set the school record with his third home run in the College World Series. He followed his home run in the second with a grand slam in the third.
- Blake Purnell was everything Florida needed out of the bullpen. The right-hander entered a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the third and got Tommy White to roll into an inning-ending double play.
- Wyatt Langford went 5-5 with 6 RBI.
- Jac Caglianone homered twice. His second home run was No. 33 on the season. That breaks Ivan Melendez’s single-season record (for the BBCOR bat era).
Most important stat of the game
- The top three batters in the lineup came into Sunday’s contest hitting just .154 (8-52). On Sunday they were phenomenal going 10-14 (.714) with 11 RBI, three doubles, and three home runs.
- Florida is the first team to ever homer five times in one game at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
What’s Next
The Florida Gators and LSU Tigers will meet at 7:00 pm EST on ESPN Monday for the final game of the 2023 season.
