LSU TIGERS CLAIM NATIONAL TITLE!!!!!!!
2023 CWS BRACKET
The 76th College World Series
June 16th – 26th, 2023
Omaha, Nebraska
CWS FINAL
#2 Seed Florida Gators (SEC) vs #5 Seed LSU Tigers (SEC)
Conference rivals LSU and Florida are set for an an all-SEC showdown for the 2023 National Championship.
It marks the 5th time the SEC will have settled the title within the family. The familiar foes begin the best-of-three series on Saturday evening in Omaha.
Florida is seeking its 2nd title in program history. LSU will be pursuing number 7.
CWS DAILY RECAPS
DAY TEN
Monday June 26th
CWS FINALS * GAME THREE
LSU Tigers 18 Florida Gators 4
LSU Claims National Championship Series 2-1
LSU began the 2023 season as the consensus #1 college baseball team in the land, they ended the post-season that very same way. The Tigers claimed their 7th National Title in program history with a lopsided win in Game Three of the CWS Finals. The night served as a bold exclamation point on a 54 win championship campaign.
It was somewhat befitting this LSU club, which had battled back through the elimination side of its bracket in Omaha, that they once more came from behind. Florida led 2-0 after an inning of play, thanks to Wyatt Langford’s two-run blast. By the time the Gators pushed another run across, LSU had all but put the game away.
A six spot in the 2nd inning proved the catalyst for the program’s seventh title. Four more in the 4th built a 10-2 advantage, which the Tigers enjoyed through the middle frames. Both teams would score in the 7th and 8th innings, before LSU put up another crooked number in the 9th, eventually setting the final at 18-4.
Ty Evans homered late for the Gators, becoming the first player in CWS history to leave the yard five times during a single edition of the tournament. Unfortunately for the SEC regular season champs, it was one of only five hits on the night for the Gainesville crew.
LSU pounded out a CWS record 24 hits, one more than Florida’s tally from the day before. Though they did not eclipse the freshly minted record for runs record, the Tigers won handily to claim the winner-take-all third game versus their conference rivals. It culminated in the trademark dogpile at Charles Schwab Field.
A run to the title which began with high drama, ended with a forceful display of power. A series which began with low scoring one run affairs, ended with the all-time runs and hits records by an individual team in a single CWS game both surpassed by the opposing sides in back to back contests. In a nod to just how dominant LSU’s final performance became, the Tigers still somehow left as many stranded as they scored. Yes, eighteen runners were left aboard alongside the eighteen runs of production which filled the line score. Six different players notched multi-hit efforts in the clincher. Nearly every member of the purple and gold was involved in one way or another.
Coach Jay Johnson called the 2023 championship campaign “the ride of a lifetime.” Johnson became the fourth Coach to lead LSU to a National Championship, joining Skip Bertman, Smoke Laval and Paul Mainieri. Just the latest chapter in the school’s storied baseball history, these Tigers will carry lucky #7 back to the Bayou.
DAY NINE
Sunday June 25th
CWS FINALS * GAME TWO
Florida 24 LSU 4
National Championship Series tied 1-1
Florida set a new record for runs scored in a CWS game, forcing a winner take all Game Three in the National Championship Series. On a rare offense friendly afternoon at Charles Schwab Field, with the wind blowing out steadily, the Gators exploded for 24 runs on 23 hits to post the new all-time mark. Twenty-eight total runs were scored on the day, setting the final at 24-4.
Ty Evans provided a pair of early home runs, in back to back innings, when the game was still in doubt. His grand slam in the 3rd highlighted a six run frame which built the Gator lead to 7-3.
LSU loaded the bases in the next half inning, only to see Tommy White ground into a double play. It was after tacking on a run to extend the tally to 8-3 one inning later that the Gators seemed to have the game in hand. The score settled in there through the midway point.
The Gators would add 5 more in the 6th, 2 in the 7th, 4 in the 8th, then post a 5-spot for good measure in the 9th. After trailing 3-1 into the 3rd, 23 unanswered Florida runs came around to score before LSU took its last licks. A single run for the Tigers in their final at bat placed the eventual tally in stone.
Evans was not the only Gator with a multi-homer effort. He was eventually joined by Jac Caglianone, who set a new high water mark for home runs in the “BBCOR” era with his 32nd and 33rd blasts of the year. Wyatt Langford also posted a big day, ending up just a triple short of the cycle. In all, ten different Gators notched hits and eleven members of Florida’s roster touched home plate along the way.
Plagued by missed opportunities to take the reins early, again, LSU left 13 base runners stranded in the contest. The Tigers utilized six pitchers, compared to half that total for the Gators. If there was good news for both teams, the lopsided nature of the contest right out of the gate meant none of the key arms were expended.
This sets up a winner-take-all showdown for the National Championship Monday evening. Starting pitchers are to be determined, as roles and responsibilities will be fleshed out on game day. The expectation would be Jac Caglianone puts his skills as a two-way player on display for Florida and Tiger Ace Paul Skenes contributes in some capacity for LSU. Beyond this, the CWS heroes are also to be determined, in the story as yet unwritten.
DAY EIGHT
Saturday June 24th
CWS FINALS * GAME ONE
LSU 4 Florida 3 (11 Innings)
Tigers lead National Championship Series 1-0
LSU starter Ty Floyd struck out 17 batters and Cade Beloso homered in the 11th inning to give the Bayou Bengals a 1-0 advantage in the National Championship Series. Though the Tigers left 17 baserunners stranded across the course of the contest, Floyd kept opposing bats quiet long enough for LSU to break through for a second consecutive extra inning victory. Beloso’s blast set the final at 4-3.
A New Orleans native, five year letterman and suddenly well known happy-go-lucky slugger, Cade Beloso, has left his mark on the ‘23 edition of the College World Series seemingly every time LSU has taken the field. He bookended this night by driving in the first and final runs for LSU.
Gavin Dugas homered to left field in the third inning, staking the Tigers to a 2-0 lead. Florida would score the next three, powering ahead for the first time. Single runs in the 3rd, 5th and 6th, capped by a BT Riopelle blast gave the Gainesville crew a short-lived 3-2 advantage. LSU Slugger Tommy White’s second timely home run in as many games, evened the score at 3-3 in the 8th.
Had the game been settled in the scheduled frames, Floyd would have matched Arizona State’s Ed Bane’s CWS high-water mark for strikeouts in a single nine inning CWS game, set in 1972. His punch out total was strong enough to tie Bane for second all-time in CWS history (Ohio State’s Steve Arlin struck out 20 Washington State Cougars in a 15 inning affair back in June of 1965). Ty Floyd’s line: 3 Runs on 5 hits, with a single walk and 17 K’s across 8 innings. His final pitch count, 122.
Riley Cooper handled the balance of the work for LSU on the mound, ultimately notching the win. While the Tigers used only the two pitchers, Florida utilized both standout bullpen performer Cade Fisher and closer Brandon Neely in support of front-line starter Brandon Sproat. The highly regarded pitching prospect lasted only 4 innings due to a rapidly rising pitch count as he worked out of jam after jam early.
The Gators turn to Hurston Waldrep, arguably the most effective starter of the ‘23 post-season, in an effort to force Game Three and keep Florida’s championship hopes alive. LSU is now one win away from the 7th CWS title in the program’s storied Omaha history.
DAY SEVEN
Thursday June 22nd
Game 13
Wake Forest vs LSU
LSU 2 Wake Forest 0 (11 Innings)
Wake Forest Eliminated
LSU wins a College World Series classic, advancing to the Finals in walk-off fashion to face the Florida Gators in an all-SEC showdown for the 2023 National Championship. The Bayou Bengals punched their ticket with a 2-0 victory in a memorable third Omaha meeting with the Deacs. Eleven innings were required, 2-0 proved the final.
Rarely does a power matchup of this caliber on this stage live up to the billing. Paul Skenes vs Rhett Lowder was as advertised. The game remained scoreless into extras, the only runs plated arriving home on Tommy White’s walk-off winner.
Paul Skenes became the SEC’s all-time single season strikeout leader, surpassing former LSU Tiger and current ESPN broadcaster Ben McDonald with nine K’s across eight strong innings. Skenes regularly touched triple digits against the twenty-eight batters he faced, allowing just two hits and walking only one. Lowder worked seven impressive frames, giving up only three hits while walking two and striking out six. He, too, set a new record in the contest, passing teammate Josh Hartle to attain Wake’s single season strikeout mark. Neither ace factored into the decision.
Thatcher Herd provided the balance of the good work atop the mound for the Tigers, ultimately becoming the winning pitcher. Cole Roland and Michael Massey combined to keep the game even for Wake into extras. After Massey gave up a single to Dylan Crews, leading off the bottom of the 11th, Deacons closer Cam Minacci was called upon out of the pen to face the LSU designated hitter.
The SEC’s RBI leader, White had been relatively quiet in Omaha. One decisive swing helped him reach the century mark in runs driven home. It also added his name to LSU’s Omaha lore. White drove the first pitch of the at bat over the left field wall and into the memorable midwestern night, as well as, into CWS history. A Florida kid, no less, wearing purple and gold, sealing the LSU-Florida matchup for the title.
It was, somewhat ironically, Tommy White, a player with whom the “old gold and black” were uniquely familiar. It was the reigning ACC Freshman of the Year, who had transferred to Baton Rouge from one of Wake’s Tobacco Road rivals, NC ST, ultimately ending both the Deacons and his former conference’s hopes of a national championship for the #1 overall National Seed in ‘23.
Thus it remains, despite the Deacs best efforts, no tournament #1 seed has claimed the title this century. It has not happened since the current format was adopted in ‘99. There will also be no crown for the ACC, a conference seeking its first since Virginia’s magical 1186 mile run in ‘15, the only since Wake’s prior title in 1955.
So much hinged on the 8th inning. The highlight, Tre Morgan’s web gem to keep Wake off the board. It was the unquestionable defensive play of the night. Morgan came crashing on an attempted squeeze play for a scoop and flip, which cut down the potential run and kept the contest scoreless.
Wake Forest dropped its first series of the season, also experiencing a loss for the first time this year in a game started by Lowder. LSU made it three straight elimination game victories to reach the Finals.
As it turns out, it truly does “mean more.” The stage is now set for the 5th all-SEC final in the history of the June Classic. Florida is seeking its 2nd title in program history. LSU will be pursuing number 7. The best of three series begins Saturday evening in Omaha.
DAY SIX
Wednesday June 21st
Game 12
Wake Forest vs LSU
LSU 5 Wake Forest 2
Jay Johnson’s LSU Tigers powered back with five unanswered runs to force a winner-moves-on contest in Bracket 2 at the College World Series. Wake Forest jumped out front for the first time in the event, only to see their 2-0 advantage disappear quickly. Five unanswered proved more than enough for the Tigers to stay alive.
Cade Beloso’s three run blast in the 3rd inning proved the biggest blow. His swing came just after LSU worked its way on the board by scoring via a wild pitch from Wake starter Seth Keener. Beloso, the same player who had put the ball in play on which Brock Wilken cut down Tre Morgan’s bid at the plate to turn aside the Tigers hopes in the first meeting between the clubs, would not be denied his own Omaha heroics this go round. By depositing the ball into the right-field bullpen, the LSU designated hitter completed a four run frame which put the Bayou Bengals out front for good.
LSU pieced it together with five different arms, the best of which may have been Griffin Herring. The freshman handled college baseball’s largest stage with gusto, working four and two-thirds scoreless, scattering three hits and striking out six. The Deacs threatened late, as expected, but failed to come away with the timely hit. Wake Forest did not score after the two run 2nd and would ultimately leave 12 men on base along the way.
The same two teams will complete what has in essence become a three game series for the right to face Florida in the title round. The Deacs will be looking for an opportunity to play for the title for the first time since the school’s lone championship in 1955. In a search for positives, the Wake brain trust reminded everyone in the post-game press conference that this team has not lost a three game series all year. LSU, the only other club besides the Winston-Salem crew to be ranked #1 in the country at any point this season, will need a third straight elimination game win to pursue title number seven.
Game 11
Florida vs TCU
Florida 3 TCU 2
TCU Eliminated
In another one run classic, Florida eliminated TCU from the ‘23 College World Series and advanced to compete for the program’s second national championship. Cade Kurland’s ninth-inning infield single drove in the decisive run. The Gators remained perfect in this year’s event with the 3-2 victory. It marked the 7th contest decided by a single run in this edition of the June classic.
Among the more dramatic moments in CWS history, Brayden Taylor’s bid to tie it in the Frogs final at bat came up just short. At 408 feet straight away with the wind blowing in, Charles Schwab Field was just large enough to hold it. Once Florida center-fielder Michael Robertson collided with the wall in the deepest part of the park, ball in glove, the Gators’ ticket to the championship series had been punched.
Florida awaits the winner of top seed Wake Forest and conference rival LSU. The 2023 College World Series will be settled by either an all-SEC showdown or a battle of the NCAA Tournament’s top 2 national seeds. If the latter occurs it would be the first time under the current format, adopted in 1999, that the top two seeds will have squared off for the title. If the ‘23 edition provides the former, it will mark the fourth time in the last decade and a half Southeastern Conference programs will have settled it among themselves.
DAY FIVE
Tuesday June 20th
GAME 10
LSU vs Tennessee
LSU 5 Tennessee 0
Vols Eliminated
Nate Ackenhausen made his first career start for LSU, becoming the first Tiger ever to do so in the College World Series. It was a gem. While Ackenhausen had started games before, both in high school and during the junior college phase of his career, it was a new role for him as part of the Tigers staff. He rose to the occasion in a must-win contest at “the trading grounds” in Omaha. The result a 5-0 shutout of conference rival Tennessee.
The Tigers broke through offensively in the game’s opening inning. The single run came off an RBI base knock from Cade Beloso, scoring Dylan Crews. It remained 1-0 into the middle frames. The Bayou Bengals added runs in the 6th and 8th innings to set the tally at 3-0. Crews would become a factor again in the 9th, launching a two-run homer which put the finishing touches on LSU’s victory.
LSU handled Tennessee for the fourth time in five meetings this season, ending the Vols 2023 campaign in the process. Achenhausen improved to (3-0) on the year with six strong innings of four-hit ball, striking out seven along the way. Riley Cooper worked the final three frames to complete the combined shutout. This sets up a highly-anticipated rematch with #1 overall seed Wake Forest in the semi-finals.
Game 9
TCU vs Oral Roberts
TCU 6 ORU 1
Golden Eagles Eliminated
The memorable ride for 4-seed ORU came to a close in a wild rhythmless game which produced the largest margin of victory thus far in the ‘23 edition of the CWS. A four run 5th inning created the separation for TCU, as the Horned Frogs survived and advanced to face Florida in the semi-finals.
For the second straight contest the Golden Eagles found their trademark timely hit elusive. Oral Roberts left 12 in this contest, one game after stranding 13 in the one run loss to the Gators. More importantly, in the grand scheme, they left their mark on this edition of the CWS and departed Omaha as an emerging program with a ton of respect around the sport.
The day was won for TCU behind multi-hit efforts from Elijah Nunez, Cole Fontenelle and Curtis Byrne. Fontenelle has now driven home a run in all three of the Frogs CWS contests, leading the tournament in the category with six total. The Fort Worth crew used four different pitchers to limit ORU’s offensive production, including closer Luke Savage, who bounced back from Friday’s result versus the same club to notch the win.
Florida awaits TCU with a spot in the National Championship Series on the line. It will be the first meeting between the teams in this edition of the tournament. The Frogs will have to upend the NCAA Tournament’s #2 overall seed on back to back days in order to play for the schools first CWS Title.
DAY FOUR
Monday June 19th
GAME 8
LSU vs Wake Forest
Wake Forest 3 LSU 2
This was the battle for which many around the game of college baseball had been waiting. Yes, the #1 and #2 seeds in the tournament are now 2-0 and in control of their respective brackets for the first time under the current format adopted in 1999; but this one was the focal point. It had been building, seemingly all season. It was certainly circled when the bracket was released on Memorial Day.
Perhaps it was the fact that Wake Forest and LSU were the only two programs in the country to ascend to the top spot in national rankings at any point this season. Perhaps it was that the Deacs and Tigers were the only remaining unbeaten programs in the ‘23 edition of the NCAA Tournament at this point. Perhaps it was as a simple as the age old high stakes meeting of power arms vs power hitters and a desire to see what gives. Whatever the case, it lived up to the billing.
When the dust settled, another 8th inning rally from Wake Forest proved the difference. Trailing 2-0 after three and unable to solve the mystery of LSU’s starting pitcher until the 6th, the Deacs surged late, again. Ty Floyd looked strong early, racking up a season best ten strikeouts through five innings. Things unraveled in the sixth with a walk to Hawke followed by a throwing error and a pair of walks to Bennett and Kurts. Wilken singled up the middle to cut the lead in half. Pierce Bennett then scored on a double play ball which served to pull the Deacons even.
The game hinged on the eighth inning, in more ways that one. Brock Wilken, known for his power bat as the recently christened all time HR leader in the Atlantic Coast Conference set the stage with perhaps the defensive contribution of the CWS. With a runner at 3rd and no outs, the game tied 2-2 in the top of the frame, Wilken fielded a hot shot to third and cut down the potential go-ahead run at the plate. So many things had to go right on the play. Wilken fielded the ball on the foul side of the bag, double clutched with the ball “still spinning” in his glove, eluded Tre Morgan—the sliding LSU runner at home—with his throw, and provided a true hop for catcher Bennett Lee to pick out of the dirt and apply the tag just in time.
Defense translated to impact at the plate a half inning later when Lee provided the go ahead single to secure the win. The Deacons catcher had also singled earlier in the contest, turning this into his 5th multi-hit game in the post-season. His final contribution of the night cashed in Danny Corona’s one out double for the 3-2 victory.
The Demon Deacons have led for a total of one full inning in Omaha, yet find themselves 2-0 after snatching away a pair of one run victories in the bottom of the 8th against Stanford and LSU. This gives Wake control of Bracket 1. The number one team in the country now stands the only unbeaten squad in the ‘23 Tourney.
GAME 7
Tennessee vs Stanford
Tennessee 6 Stanford 4
Cardinal Eliminated
A timely double play ball ended a major Tennessee threat in the game’s opening inning. This prepared the way for Stanford to build the early advantage. Trailing 4-0 in the top of the 5th, the Volunteers plated the first four of what would become six unanswered runs the rest of the way. It was the third time this season Tennessee powered back to win after trailing by four or more runs.
Stanford appeared poised to stick around in Omaha with two runs in the first and two more in the third. The Cardinal would not score again. Primarily responsible for this, Vols newfound bullpen stalwart Chase Burns. Originally a starter in the Tennessee arsenal, Burns has come to life, and the team with him, since his mid-season move to the pen. With everything on the line for the Vols, the right-hander quieted Stanford’s bats across the final six innings. Burns allowed just two hits and struck out nine, handing out no free passes. In the NCAA Tournament Chase Burns has made four appearances, boasting a 0.56 ERA with 22 K’s in 16 innings.
The Volunteers four-run really in the fifth not only tied the game, it chased Stanford Ace and PAC 12 pitcher of the year Quinn MAtthews from the contest. Christian Moore provided the consequential base hit. Tennessee claimed the lead in the 7th on Zane Denton’s RBI groundout, then capped the decisive inning when Blake Burke scored on a wild pitch. With Chase Burns already in the game, finishing what Chase Dollander started, those two runs proved more than enough for the crew from Rocky Top.
Tennessee snapped its six game Omaha losing streak with the two run victory. The Vols await tonight’s result to find out who they will face in an elimination bracket contest tomorrow evening. Rocky Top is 3-0 in elimination games thus far in the tournament.
DAY THREE
Sunday June 18th
Happy Fathers Day!
GAME 6
Florida vs Oral Roberts
Florida 5 Oral Roberts 4
Oral Roberts loaded the bases in both the 8th and 9th innings, following up Matt Hogan’s historic at bat in the 7th, only to come up just short against a Florida squad which used the long ball early then found a way to hang on late for the ‘23 CWS’s latest one run victory. A line out into center-field in that ninth inning bases loaded scenario sealed the Gator’s 5-4 win.
Florida used a trio of home runs to establish a 5-1 advantage mid third. Ty Evans, Josh Rivera and Luke Heyman all went deep in support of starter Hurston Waldrep. Once Cade Fisher came on to close things down, even if under unusual circumstances, the starter had picked up his 10th win of the season.
Fans coming on board during the NCAA tourney would be tempted to believe Waldrep is the Gator ace. In three post-season starts he has struck out 37 across 21 innings and allowed just two runs. This included a compete game shutout of South Carolina in the Supers to send the Gators to Omaha. On this night in the Midwest, the junior right-hander pitched six innings, striking out twelve and allowing just a single run.
The highlight of the night was provided by Golden Eagle standout Matt Hogan, his was a home run of a different kind. Hogan brought Charles Schwab field to life with the first inside the parker in CWS play since the downtown era began. The most recent inside the park home fun in College World Series play belonged to Tennessee’s Chris Burke, who just happened to be on the microphone for ESPN. It was among the more memorable moments from another classic, in this case historic, Father’s Day in Omaha.
GAME 5
Virginia vs TCU
TCU 4 Virginia 3
Cavaliers Eliminated
A second one-run loss in Omaha brought the University of Virginia’s 50 win season to a close. Three TCU pitchers held the Hoos to just five hits and Cole Fontenelle drove in two more CWS runs to once again lead the way offensively for the Frogs. The formula shook out to single runs in the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 8th innings. Those four runs on twelve TCU hits resulted in a Father’s Day victory to extend TCU’s stay in Omaha.
With starters Sam Stoutenborough and Connelly Early dueling across the first handful of frames, Fontanelle’s third inning RBI put the Frogs out front 2-1. His final RBI of the day ran his series total to 5 RBI’s in TCU’s first two games of the tournament. The Fort Worth crew would stay out front from there.
Virginia plated single runs in the 7th and 8th innings to pull within one. Reliever Ben Abeldt secured the final five outs for his second save of the year. Abeldt turned aside one final rally from the Hoos in the 9th, securing the save by retiring Anthony Stephan with the tying run in scoring position.
The Cavaliers season came to a close with an even 50 wins against 15 losses. The victory was a 43rd on the season for TCU. The Frogs are now 20-3 in games since April 30th. TCU will await the result of the night cap to discover its next opponent on the elimination side of the bracket.
DAY TWO
Saturday June 17th
GAME 4
Tennessee vs LSU
LSU 6 Tennessee 3
The story of this primetime SEC showdown was LSU ace Paul Skenes. A rare talent, the pitcher poised to break the premier conference’s single season strikeout record was as advertised. Skenes picked up his 200th K in the ballgame, now two shy of the standard, set by Tiger alum and current ESPN broadcaster Ben McDonald back in 1989. If LSU’s offense continues to provide the timely hits witnessed by 25,000 plus fans in Omaha on this first Saturday night of the CWS, he’ll pitch again with a chance to break the record.
Tiger second baseman Gavin Dugas homered to left field in the second inning to put the Bayou Bengals on the board. Tre Morgan added a run in the second with an RBI groundout. Two more runs came across in the sixth, followed by single runs in each of LSU’s final two trips to the plate. More often than not Brayden Jobert was the catalyst. Jobert ended the day with a double, triple and a home run, in that order, across his final three at bats.
Skenes went seven and two-thirds, limiting Tennessee to a couple of runs on just five hits. Not only did the righty regularly hit triple digits with the fastball, he kept Tennessee hitters off balance by effectively “pitching backward” according to Vols Skipper Tony Vitello. Coach Vitello’s club would not break through until the 8th, scoring all three of their runs in that frame. Skenes had four pitches working throughout the night and ultimately threw 123 pitches in his ‘23 CWS debut, notching his 13th win of the season and pitching his Tigers forward on the winner’s side of the bracket in the process.
GAME 3
Stanford vs Wake Forest
Wake Forest 3 Stanford 2
The first inning, yea even the first segment of this game, was a little shaky for the first of college baseball’s two premier pitchers scheduled to throw in succession on a high profile Saturday in Omaha. Rhett Lowder may not have had his “best stuff,” as he indicated following Wake’s first College World Series victory since 1955; but he found a way to keep his team in the game for an eighth inning breakthrough.
The Deacs only led for a few minutes of the contest, time-wise, but found the energy to push out front when it counted. After an extended “lightening delay” halted the game in the latter frames, the Winston-Salem crew turned the tables on Stanford in the game’s “second segment.” A timely intermission marked by “playing cards, listening to music and resetting” to “play loose’ in the resumption propelled the Deacons forward on the winner’s side of the bracket.
A team known for its power, on the mound and at the plate, used a little small ball to manufacture a pair of runs and steal away victory. Down 1-0 early and 2-1 since the 3rd, “Wake” they certainly did in the bottom of the 8th frame. The decisive moment arrived when Danny Corona singled up the middle scoring Brock Wilken and Nick Kurtz. It was all set up by a well executed sacrifice bunt from Justin Johnson. In the blink of an eye, the Deacons were on top.
Birthday boy, Brock Wilken had put the Deacons on the board in the 2nd inning with his 31st home run of the year. The game-tying swing pulled him even with Florida slugger Jac Caglianone atop the NCAA’s HR chart. After adding a recent chapter to its storied baseball history, Wake Forest now waits for an SEC opponent to emerge from the Tennessee-LSU showdown to follow.
DAY ONE
Friday June 16th
GAME 2
Virginia vs Florida
Florida 6 Virginia 5
Florida entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 5-3. A pair of home runs and a sacrifice fly off the Virginia bullpen resulted in a flip-the-script victory. Ty Evans led off the inning with a blast over the left field wall. It was the second straight inning the Gators had used a lead-off HR to pull within one. After Jake Berry struck out the next batter, Wyatt Langford drove a 1-0 pitch deep into the Omaha night. It cleared the left field bleachers to tie the game.
The battle was won on on a sacrifice fly to deep center from Luke Heyman. Jac Caglianone set the stage by following up the Langford’s homer with a one out single into right field. A walk and a hit batsman later, Jay Wolfolk was summoned for Virginia. On a 2-0 pitch, the Gators prevailed.
Virginia trailed 1-0 early, but took command with a four run 7th. Anthony Stephan drove home Ethan Anderson to tied the game 2-2. The Hoos claimed a 4-2 lead on a two-out double from Griff O’Ferrell which plated a pair. Florida’s answer came in the form of single runs in the 7th & 8th frames, followed by the 3-run 9th.
Both starters worked deep into the game. Florida’s talented right-hander Brandon Sproat was chased in the midst of the Hoos seventh inning rally after six solid frames. UVA ace, Nick Parker, who battled back to return to the top spot in the rotation just fifteen days after a facial injury suffered on a comebacker during the FSU series mid-season, made his 56th career start, which placed him in a tie for the top spot among active NCAA pitchers. The Coastal transfer kept his team in the game heading into the latter frames.
A window into college baseball’s unique connections, Florida’s veteran backstop BT Riopelle, who also factored nicely into the contest, was Nick Parker’s roomate and battery mate when both were freshman at Coastal Carolina.
This matchup provided visions of 2015, as the Cavs and Gators met more than once in Virginia’s memorable title run. It featured two of the premier power programs in the sport across the past decade and a half.
Friday marked the first time in College World Series history that opening day featured a pair of comeback wins from clubs trailing entering the 9th. It was also Florida’s first ever walk-off victory in Omaha.
GAME 1
Oral Roberts vs TCU
Oral Roberts 6 TCU 5
This Omaha opening classic was a 2-2 game into the bottom of the 8th as heralded Oral Roberts closer Cade Denton trotted in from the bullpen to try and calm an emerging TCU rally. College baseball’s “stopper of the year” walked off the mound having surrendered three runs. He would be greeted on that same mound one inning later as the winning pitcher after regional 4-seed, and unquestioned ‘23 NCAA Tournament Cinderella, ORU sealed its latest improbable comeback victory.
Blaze Brothers became Omaha’s first college baseball home run hero of 2023 by depositing a three run shot into the left field seats, ultimately giving the Golden Eagles the win. His memorable swing completed a four-run 9th inning surge which resulted in a 6-5 triumph.
TCU had broken the eighth inning tie with three runs on just a single hit. Cole Fontonelle drew a bases loaded walk with one away. Then Baylor transfer and Fayetteville regional MVP, Tre Richardson, was hit by a pitch, extending the Frogs lead to 4-2. The Fort Worth crew completed the frame with a Sac Fly from Kurtis Byrne for a 5-2 lead.
That is when the never-say-die Golden Eagles went to work. Innocently enough, Mac McCroskey led off the inning with a ground ball to third, reaching on infield single and advancing to second on a throwing error. Holden Breeze and Drew Stahl followed with singles of their own, cutting the lead to 5-3. A strikeout followed for the first out of the inning.
Then, with runners on 1st and 2nd, just one away, Brothers stepped in. The Eagles nine hole hitter scalded the first pitch, just foul down the third base side. On the next delivery, he blazed a trail into CWS history. Four runs, on five hits, with an error mixed in against TCU closer Luke Savage proved the recipe for victory.
Though the ultimate outcome was doubtless his focus, Jonah Cox saw his storied hitting streak come to a close at 47 games. It ended as the third longest in NCAA Division I baseball history. It marked just he second game this season that number seven was held without a base hit.
Oral Roberts set up a Sunday evening showdown with either Virginia or Florida on the winner’s side of the bracket. The Eagles have now won 24 of their most recent 25 contests.
