(photo by Eric Sorenson, @Stitch_Head)
In Omaha, Neb., No. 5 LSU set a CWS record with 24 hits in recording an 18-4 victory over No. 2 Florida to capture the program’s seventh national championship.
“The National Championship Team,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said. “I think the most gratifying part of it is they were national championship people every single day of this thing. And kind of feels like a two-year win, if that makes sense.”
Thatcher Hurd (8-3) was the starter and winner for LSU, going 6.0 innings with two hits, two runs, two walks and seven strikeouts.
“When the offense is producing like that, my job is to get them back in the dugout as quick as possible,” Hurd said. “And that feels suffocating for the other team. I just tell myself, don’t give them an inch.”
Wyatt Langford hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first as the Gators (54-17) took an early 2-0 lead.
The Tigers (54-17) would answer in the second. Jordan Thompson (2 for 6, 3 RBI) had a run-scoring single and Cade Beloso (2 for 5, 2 RBI) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to level the score at 2-2. Dylan Crews (4 for 6) walked to force in the go-ahead run. Tommy White (4 for 7, 3 RBI) added a run-scoring single, Tre’ Morgan (3 for 6) hit a sacrifice fly and Gavin Dugas delivered an RBI single as LSU took a 6-2 advantage.
“Man, it’s such a great feeling,” Crews said. “I feel like almost every box was checked off except that national championship box. And we all knew this was going to be our last game here. And to finally say that I’m a national champion, it’s the greatest feeling in the world.”
Josh Pearson had a two-run homer to highlight a four-run fourth as the Tigers extended their lead to 10-2.
Hayden Travinski walked with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh as LSU took an 11-2 lead.
Ty Evans homered in the bottom of the seventh for UF as the score moved to 11-3. It was his CWS-record fifth homer of the CWS after hitting four prior to the CWS.
“It’s one of those stories,” UF head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “it will be told next year. There will be somebody else that starts the season as a starter that kind of struggles for whatever reason. And you just tell them to stay the course, keep working hard, keep being a good teammate. And when your opportunity comes again you’ll be ready for it. That is a great example of what happened with Ty. And it’s easy to tell the story, but when you’ve got somebody on your team the other players have seen, now they can see firsthand what you’re trying to tell them.”
White had an RBI single to spark a three-run eighth as the Tigers pushed the lead to 14-3.
Cade Kurland (2 for 4, 2 R) homered in the eighth as the Gators trailed 14-4.
Brayden Jobert (4 for 7, 3 R, 3 RBI) had a two-run homer to cap a four-run ninth to make the final 18-4.
“Congratulations to LSU,” O’Sullivan said. “They certainly earned it today. A really good team that played one of their best games all year at the right time. And tip your cap to them. Offensively, we didn’t really have an answer for them on the mound today.”