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Florida Baseball: Despite beatdown of LSU, job not done for Gators

By Benjamin Henderson

Jun 25, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators first baseman Jac Caglianone (14) celebrates with center fielder Wyatt Langford (36) and shortstop Josh Rivera (24) after hitting a two-run home run against the LSU Tigers during the eighth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators first baseman Jac Caglianone (14) celebrates with center fielder Wyatt Langford (36) and shortstop Josh Rivera (24) after hitting a two-run home run against the LSU Tigers during the eighth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports /
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When looking at the final score of Sunday’s game at the College World Series, one might expect that Florida baseball was playing an NAIA team that had no business being on the field with the Gators. mercy rules were implemented to prevent this severe of a beatdown.

But whether it was a one-run win or a record-setting 20-run win, Sunday’s 24-4 win still only counted for one win. And if the Gators want to win the national title tonight, it has to beat fifth ranked LSU one more time.

Florida Baseball: Will somebody stop the damn match

Game two was always going to be the most winnable for the Gators in this series. With LSU out of their normal starters and a bullpen that had been taxed coming out of the loser’s bracket, game two was going to be a severe test of the pitching depth for the Tigers vs the Gator bats.

24 runs later, a Men’s College World Series record, advantage Florida.

It should be noted that Florida didn’t use the front end of the bullpen either. After Hurston Waldrep was knocked out after just 2.1 innings, thanks to another wildly inconsistent strike zone from the home plate umpire, Blake Purnell came in to collect five scoreless outs.

Purnell had yet to pitch during the NCAA Tournament.

Nick Ficarrotta, who hadn’t been seen since pitching two innings against UConn during Regionals, brought Florida home with the remaining five innings, giving up just one run.

Game three should be a different animal.

Paul Skenes should make at least some form of an appearance for LSU, but will more than likely be limited on how many innings he is able to go off just three days rest. The Tigers do have the front end of their bullpen ready to go to try and pick up the remaining innings.

So 24 runs are nice, and if Florida wins today it will go down as legendary.

But the Gators still need one more win to reach immortality, and the score starts at 0-0 tonight.

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