Live Updates: Florida Gators fall to LSU in Game 1 of College World Series finals
OMAHA, Neb. — Florida’s national championship hopes still are alive, but the road to a title just got a whole lot tougher.
The Gators on Saturday night lost to LSU 4-3 in 11 innings in Game 1 of the College World Series finals. It’s a best two-of-three series, meaning Florida will need to beat the Tigers on Sunday, then again Monday to claim the program’s second title.
The hero Saturday for LSU: Cade Beloso.
His solo shot in the top of the 11th broke a 3-all tie. Just an inning earlier, the Gators put runners on first and second with one out but Wyatt Langford and Jac Caglianone, arguably two of the best hitters in the college game, both flied out to end the threat.
Florida falls to 53-16. LSU also is 53-16.
Here’s a look back at how it all unfolded.
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Score: LSU 4 Florida 3
11th inning
Beloso homered to right field, RBI (0-1 S).
Thompson grounded out to p (0-1 S).
Pearson walked (3-2 BSBKBFB).
Travinski flied out to cf to left center (3-1 BBSB).
LSU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Rivera flied out to rf (3-2 KKBBB).
Riopelle struck out swinging (1-2 FKBS).
Fabian struck out looking (1-2 BSKK).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
10th inning
Travinski struck out swinging (3-2 KKBBBS).
Crews advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Crews advanced to second on a wild pitch.
White intentionally walked.
Morgan popped up to 2b (0-2 FFFF).
Dugas flied out to cf (0-1 S).
Robertson flied out to cf to left center (0-2 KSF).
Halter hit by pitch (1-0 B).
Kurland singled to pitcher (1-2 SSB); Halter advanced to second.
Langford lined out to lf (0-1 F).
Caglianone popped up to ss (1-1 KB).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
9th inning
Kling struck out swinging (2-2 BBKFS).
Thompson struck out looking (1-2 FFBK).
Pearson grounded out to p (0-0).
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Cooper to p for Floyd.
Rivera grounded out to 3b (1-1 BK).
Riopelle grounded out to 2b (0-2 SK).
Heyman walked (3-1 BBKBB).
Heyman advanced to second on a passed ball.
Fabian pinch ran for Heyman.
Schiekofer struck out swinging (2-2 BFBFFS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
8th inning
Commentary: Michael Robertson takes over for the Gators in CF. Richie Schiekofer is in RF. Langford slides over to LF.
Crews grounded out to ss (0-0).
White homered to left field, RBI (0-2 FFF).
Morgan singled to left field (2-2 BKBF).
Morgan singled to left field (2-2 BKBF).
Neely to p for Fisher.
Dugas popped up to cf (2-2 BSBSF).
Beloso struck out swinging (0-2 KSS).
LSU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Kurland struck out swinging (0-2 FFS).
Langford popped up to 2b (2-2 BBFKF).
Caglianone struck out swinging (0-2 KSS).
Commentary: LSU starter Ty Floyd has broken the College World Series record for strikeouts in nine innings with his 17th of the night.
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
7th inning
Commentary: Brandon Neely is warming up in the Gators’ bullpen.
Thompson grounded out to 3b (2-2 BKBF).
Pearson struck out swinging (0-2 KFS).
Milazzo struck out swinging (1-2 BKSS).
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Commentary: Brandon Neely was up in the bullpen in the last inning. It will be interesting to see what Kevin O’Sullivan does. Will he stick with Cade Fisher (40 pitches) or go with Neely in the 8th?
Shelnut struck out looking (0-2 FSK).
Evans struck out swinging (1-2 SBSS).
Halter struck out swinging (1-2 BKFS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
6th inning
White singled to right field (0-1 F).
Morgan reached on a fielder’s choice to first base (2-2 FBBF); White out at second 1b to ss.
Dugas singled to third base (0-0); Morgan advanced to second.
Beloso struck out swinging (2-2 KBFBS).
Jones pinch hit for Jobert.
Jones reached on a fielder’s choice to third base (1-2 BFF); Dugas advanced to second; Morgan out at third 3b unassisted.
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Caglianone struck out swinging (1-2 BSSS).
Rivera struck out swinging (0-2 KSFS).
Riopelle homered to right field, RBI (1-0 B).
5th inning
Thompson walked (3-0 BBBB).
Fisher to p for Sproat.
Commentary: That will be the last time we see Brandon Sproat pitches for the Gators. A great four-year career for the righty.
Pearson struck out swinging (1-2 KBSS).
Milazzo grounded out to 3b (0-2 KKF); Thompson advanced to second.
Crews struck out swinging (0-2 SKS).
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Evans doubled down the lf line (0-2 SF).
Commentary: Credit to Ty Evans for staying locked in and ready to hit after being benched for the last month of the season. That’s his second double of the CWS and he has two home runs as well.
Halter grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt (0-1 F); Evans advanced to third.
Kurland grounded out to 2b, RBI (1-2 SSFBFFF); Evans scored.
Langford grounded out to ss (0-2 KS).
UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
4th inning
Crews flied out to rf (2-1 BFB).
White grounded out to 3b (0-1 F).
Morgan singled up the middle (1-2 KFBF).
Commentary: Pitch No. 100 for Brandon Sproat comes in the fourth inning. Cade Fisher is getting loose in the Florida bullpen.
Beloso intentionally walked.
Jobert struck out swinging (1-2 FKBS).
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
Riopelle popped up to ss (1-1 FB).
Heyman struck out swinging (2-2 KBBSFS).
Shelnut struck out swinging (1-2 FSBS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
3rd inning
Dugas homered to left field, RBI (2-1 BKB).
Beloso singled to right field (2-1 KBB).
Jobert struck out swinging (2-2 BBKFS).
Thompson reached on a fielding error by 2b (2-2 BKFFFFBF); Beloso advanced to second.
Commentary: Kurland rushed to that ball but it looked like he might have had time to field it with his glove. It would have been a tough play, he chose to try and barehand it.
Pearson grounded out to 1b unassisted (2-1 BSB); Thompson advanced to second; Beloso advanced to third.
Milazzo struck out swinging (2-2 KBSBS).
Commentary: Brandon Sproat has thrown 86 pitches through three innings.
LSU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB
Halter struck out swinging (0-2 KKS).
Kurland walked (3-2 BBKBSB).
Langford doubled to right center (3-1 BFBB); Kurland advanced to third.
Commentary: There was an audible gasp in the pressbox when Cade Kurland was held up rounding third.
Caglianone out at first 1b to ss to p, RBI (1-1 KB); Langford advanced to third; Kurland scored.
Commentary: That RBI tied the school record for most in a single season (85)
UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
2nd inning
Thompson struck out swinging (0-2 KKS).
Pearson walked (3-2 BFBBFB).
Milazzo singled to right field (2-2 BBKF); Pearson advanced to second.
Crews walked (3-2 KBSBBB); Milazzo advanced to second; Pearson advanced to third.
White lined out to 3b (0-0).
Commentary: Tommy White absolutely crushed that baseball, Colby Halter was in a great spot. Huge out for Sproat but Tre Morgan is a dangerous hitter.
Morgan struck out swinging (1-2 KBFS).
Commentary: Nasty change up from Sproat.
LSU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
Riopelle struck out swinging (2-2 BKBSS).
Heyman singled through the right side (1-1 BK).
Shelnut struck out looking (1-2 BFKK).
Heyman advanced to second on a passed ball.
Evans struck out swinging (1-2 BFSS).
Commentary: The Gators are just 3-26 with runners in scoring position thus far in the College World Series
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
1st inning
Crews hit by pitch (1-2 FBF).
White struck out swinging (1-2 KFBS).
Morgan grounded out to 2b (2-1 BFB); Crews advanced to second.
Dugas walked (3-2 BKKBFBFFFFB).
Beloso singled to left field, RBI (2-0 BB); Dugas advanced to second; Crews scored.
Jobert struck out swinging (1-2 KBSS).
Commentary: Home play umpire Ramon Armeneriz had a tight zone in the top of the first. That’s something to keep an eye on for both pitchers as we get deeper into the game.
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LSU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Kurland flied out to cf to right center (0-1 K).
Langford struck out swinging (3-2 BBBKKFS).
Caglianone doubled to left field (1-0 B).
Commentary: Jordan Thompson battled the sun on that one, falls in between him and Josh Pearson. It looks like a line drive in the scorebook though.
Rivera struck out swinging (2-2 BSSFBS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
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
Florida baseball notes
CWS FINALS PREVIEW: Playing in the program’s 13th CWS including the eighth under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan, the SEC Regular-Season Cham- pion Gators are playing in the fourth CWS final in team history after going 3-0 in Omaha for the second time ever (2011). UF began with a come-from-behind, walk-off win over No. 11 Virginia (6-5, first walk-off win in CWS in team history) before beating Oral Roberts and No. 17 TCU in one-run affairs as well. Florida takes an eight-game, postseason winning streak into the championship series vs. LSU, a rematch of the 2017 title game. The two last faced off in Gainesville during the 2022 regular season, with the Tigers winning two of three. UF is 23-19 vs. LSU in the O’Sullivan era including 5-4 at neutral sites.
HISTORIC CAMPAIGN: UF’s 53 victories are tied for the most in a single season in team history (2011).
FLOMAHA: Florida is 24-24 all-time at the College World Series, having made a nation-leading eight trips out of a possible 15 since 2008: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2023.
THE BIG PITCH: In 10 NCAA Tournament games, Florida has pitched three shutouts and held opposing teams to 23 total runs on 72 hits, equating to a 2.33 ERA and .222 batting average against in 89 innings. In that span, UF pitchers have a 3.3 strikeout-to-walk ratio, having fanned 101 against 31 free passes. Florida has now pitched eight shutouts on the season, which is tied for fourth nationally.
SEC’S FINEST: Florida won its 16th SEC Regular Season Championship in program history including the team’s sixth under O’Sullivan. After being swept on the road at South Carolina, the Gators went 11-3. That includes 9-3 in SEC play down the stretch to win UF’s sixth overall conference title in 2023. That total leads the SEC
