SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
And that’s Game 3 of the 66th annual NCAA Division I National College Baseball World Series, which came about after in Game 1 the No. 2 Gators lost a tough 4-3 extra inning jolt to No. 5 Louisiana State, and then answered back with a record final score in shellacking the downfallen Tigers.
And on Monday in this best-of-3 series they return for the deciding Game to settle the championship. Apparently the opening setback didn’t make a dent in the Florida thinking, but who knows what this response by it would bring.
These are two Southeastern Conference rivals that didn’t meet up this regular season, and now they clashed in two ridiculously different games, one down to the opener before LSU’s designated hitter Cade Beloso clouted a fastball into the seats in the top of the 11th frame.
And in the bottom half, it was one-two-three and out for the Gators, but the next day found them in a more aggressive mood.
Thus, the record final, 24 runs the most in this event, seven home runs, and all came after they trailed 3-0 after four innings. LSU was already celebrating as it was doing early in Game 1, as its large flow of supporters had cheers, signs, taunts, somehow with the notion it was the better team playing before this crowd packed into Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.
Suddenly the Florida bats came into play in the fourth inning, knocking out the first two LSU pitchers in piecing together five runs to take the lead it would never relinquish. In the next frame it added four, and six more in the sixth upped its lead to 15-3.
Two home runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, another in the sixth, one more in the seventh, and two more in the eighth. Its Wyatt Langford had two of the four-baggers and scored twice, Luke Heyman and Jac Pagaronia a pair into the seats, BT Ripopello a solo in the eighth, and the Tigers even allowed a final run when a ground ball got past their right-fielder in the ninth inning.
The “Gator Wave” took charge as LSU fans appeared shocked with this turnabout. In all, the crew from Baton Rouge went through six hurlers, which could invite problems Monday.
The lone run that LSU was able to push across after the third inning came on a solo home by senior Dylan Crews, its centerfielder announced this weekend as College Amateur Baseball of the Year.
His side came away with seven hits and one error. Florida had 18 safeties and played errorless ball.
What comes next, who knows, it’s just another day at the ballpark. Winner gets to hoist the championship trophy, the
Tigers for the seventh time, the Gators for the second.
Chances are there will be more Florida fans there Monday than those from LSU, but on the other hand who would have known this Game 2 score would have resulted?
