Omaha, Nebraska. Home to one of the most electric tournaments across all sports has narrowed the teams in the chase for the trophy.
The LSU Tigers matchup against the Florida Gators in a three-game set to see who gets the glory.
The Florida Gators have reached the finals for the first time since 2017 and did so practically untouched.
They started their run in Omaha against the Virginia Cavaliers. Trailing 4-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, the Gators smashed three home runs to battle back and take down the Cavaliers 6-5.
They then faced off against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, the smallest school to make Omaha since Stony Brook in 2012. Florida jumped out to an early lead, hitting four home runs in the first three innings. The Eagles fought back strong late in the game. The rally started after outfielder Matt Hogan smacked a ball over the centerfielder’s head and ran the length of the bases like a gazelle, scoring with ease and bringing the Eagles within two.
Oral Roberts fought until the last out, having runners on the corners with two outs and down one run, but the Gators managed to close out the game 5-4 to take one step closer to the finals.
The Gators only needed one win and had two losses to do it when they went head-to-head with the TCU Horned Frogs. These two teams created a masterclass of a baseball game. The Gators held the lead for most of the game, but in the bottom of the eighth, TCU knotted the score at two a piece.
Florida responded right away with a leadoff double. Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan reached into his bag of tricks and pulled out a pinch runner. Michael Robertson was the bunny out of the hat, the quick centerfielder jogged out to second and later scored the leading run.
Robertson stayed in the game for the bottom half of the inning, and with two outs in the ninth, the ball was crushed over his head.
He raced back and made an incredible Willie Mays-esque over-the-shoulder catch. Crashing into the wall and holding onto the ball to send his team to the National Championship.
On the other side of the field, the Gators will be staring down the LSU Tigers
The Tigers singlehandedly gave the Tennessee Volunteers the boot out of the tournament. In their first game, LSU beat down Tennessee 6-3. A blowout by CWS standards.
LSU then encountered the best team in the tournament and everyone’s favorite to win the Championship, the Wake Forrest Demon Deacons.
The first skirmish didn’t go according to LSU’s plan, losing 3-2 and pushing the Tigers to the brink of elimination.
They took a step back and played the Volunteers one more time. Where they beat them down once again 5-0 to send them on their way back to Knoxville.
Locked and loaded, the Tigers marched their way back to play Wake Forrest again. Since LSU lost the first game, that meant they had to beat Wake Forrest twice to reach the finals.
LSU came out hot in the first game and tied the series at 1-1. The bats were alive, plating five and the pitching showed up, limiting the best offense in the country to only two runs.
Florida waited patiently to see who they would battle for the title.
Thursday, June 22 had one of the best baseball games ever played. These two teams did their best USA VS Japan impressions. Giving it everything they had the entire time. The game stayed tied at zero for 11 innings. Both teams doing everything to keep the feet of the opposition off home plate.
It took every single pitch of the game to decide the winner. One hanging slider was the deciding factor, as Tommy ‘Tanks’ White launched the ball deep into the left-field bleachers. LSU exploded as the whole team celebrated at home.
The Championship series starts on Saturday the 22nd and is a best-of-three series. Every game is on ESPN and the final game will be played on Monday the 26th if necessary.
