Wake Forest beat LSU 3-2 on Monday night, putting the Tigers into the loser’s bracket at the College World Series and facing a steep uphill climb to the championship round.
LSU jumped to an early 2-0 on Monday night against No. 1 seeded Wake Forest and appeared to be in control until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Tigers gave three consecutive walks and the Demon Deacons tied the game, 2-2.
It was 2-2 heading into the eighth when both LSU and Wake Forest had chances to take the lead. LSU failed take advantage of its opportunity, Wake Forest did not.
In the top of the eighth, LSU put runners on the corners with no outs and the Tigers then had runners on first and second base with one out. LSU failed to score on both occasions. LSU’s inability to push across a run at that critical juncture wound up costing the Tigers the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Wake Forest designated hitter Danny Corona wrapped a two-strike double to right field off of Thatcher Hurd and then scored the winning run on a go-ahead single.
LSU pitcher Ty Floyd was pitching his best game of the season until the wheels came off in the sixth inning.
With LSU leading 2-0, Floyd went into the inning with 10 strikeouts, tying a career high. But then he simply could not find the strike zone. Floyd walked three straight batters.
Floyd was pulled, replaced by Hurd, and Wake Forest tied the game.
Hurd did do some work to keep the game tied, though.
First, Hurd induced a double play when shortstop Jordan Thompson made a rangy grab and an acrobatic throw with the bases loaded, and Hurd then struck out Adam Cecere, stranding three Demon Deacons to end the inning.
If LSU beats Tennessee on Tuesday night, the Tigers will then have to beat Wake Forest twice to keep their season alive and advance to the CWS Finals.
(MORE TO COME – Additional stories will be posted throughout the evening on TigerRag.com)
TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | L | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSU | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 7 | ||
| WF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | X | 3 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
Top of 9th Inning – Jobert struck out looking; Thompson struck out swinging; Pearson grounded out to pitcher. GAME OVER – Wake Forest 3, LSU 2.
Wake Forest 3, LSU 2 heading to the top of the 9th. Jobert, Thompson and Pearson due up for LSU.
Bottom of 8th Inning – Johnson struck out looking; Corona doubled down the right field line with an 0-2 count; Lee singled to left field, RBI (1-2 SFFB); Corona scored; Costello struck out looking; Houston struck out looking.
1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Error. 1 LOB
Top of Eighth Inning – Morgan doubled down the right field line; Travinski reached on a fielding error by second baseman, Morgan advanced to third base; (Merrifield to pinch run for Travinski); (Wake Forest pitching mound conference) Beloso reached on a fielder’s choice to third base (2-1 BBS); Merrifield advanced to second; Morgan out at home 3b to c (going under review LSU challenged, call is confirmed); Minacci to p for Massey – Dugas grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b (0-1 K); Beloso out on the play.
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB
LSU 2, Wake Forest 2 after seven complete.
Bottom of 7th Inning – Houston walked on a full count; Hawke (time out WF to discuss) lined a bunt out to third base; Bennett popped up to second baseman in right field; Kurtz walked (3-2 SFBFBBB); Houston advanced to second; (Jay Johnson conference on the mound) Wilken struck out swinging.
Top of 7th Inning – Roland in to pitch for Hartle. Thompson struck out looking; Pearson struck out swinging; Crews walked on a full count; (Massey in to pitch for Roland) White out at first p to 2b to 1b
LSU 2, Wake Forest 2 after six complete.
Bottom of 6th Inning – Hawke walked; Bennett (Hawke advanced to second base on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt) walked; Kurtz (Jay Johnson to talk to Floyd before pitching to Kurtz) walked, third walk of inning for Floyd, bases loaded; Hurd in to replace Floyd with Wilken coming to the plate – Wilken singled up the middle on a 1-0 count, drove in Hawke from third base; Johnson grounded into double play ss to 1b (1-1 BK); Wilken out on the play; Kurtz advanced to third; Bennett scored; Corona hit by pitch; Lee walked, bases loaded with two outs; Cecere struck out swinging.
2 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 3 LOB
Top of 6th Inning – Travinski grounded out to third base; Beloso singles to right field; Dugas struck out swinging; Jobert flied out to right field on warning track.
0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors. 1 LOB
LSU 2, Wake Forest 0 after 5 complete.
Bottom of 5th Inning – Corona struck out swinging with a full count – 9th strike out for Floyd, fourth consecutive k for Floyd; Lee singled to center field; Cecere struck out swinging (10th for Floyd); Houston flied out to right field.
0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors. 1 LOB
Top of 5th Inning – Pearson struck out swinging; Crews grounded out to 2b; White singled to left field; Morgan lined out to right field.
0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors. 1 LOB.
LSU 2, Wake Forest 0 after four complete.
Bottom of 4th Inning – Bennett singles to right field; Kurtz (Bennett advanced to second on a passed ball, Travinski missed it) struck out swinging; Wilken (Wes Johnson has pitching mound conference with Floyd and entire infield before first pitch to Wilken) struck out looking with a full count; Johnson goes up 3-0 and then strikes out looking on a full count.
Floyd strikes out three in the inning and has eight punch outs so far this game.
Top of 4th Inning – Beloso grounded out to 1b unassisted; Dugas walked; Jobert struck out swinging; Thompson struck out swinging;
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors. 1 LOB
LSU 2, Wake Forest 0 after three complete.
Bottom of 3rd Inning – Cecere struck out swinging; Houston popped out to right field; Hawke lined out to left field. Three up, three down.
LSU leads 2-0 going into the bottom of third inning.
Top of 3rd Inning – Thompson struck out swinging; Pearson walked in four pitches; (Pearson steals second base) Crews struck out swinging; White singles to center field, drives in Pearson from second base, White takes second base on fielding error by Hawke in center field; Morgan tripled to left field, scored White from second base. Travinski struck out swinging.
2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error, 1 LOB.
Bottom of 2nd Inning – Johnson grounded out to shortstop; Corona struck out swinging; Lee struck out looking.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors. 0 LOB
Top of 2nd Inning – Travinski struck out swinging; Beloso walked; Dugas walked on a full-count, Beloso advanced to second base; Jobert (pitching mound conference for WF with count 1-0 on Jobert) grounded into 4-6-3 double play, Dugas out at second base.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors. 1 LOB
Bottom of 1st Inning – Hawke popped up to shortstop in left center field; Bennett walked in four pitches; Kurtz struck out looking; Wilken struck out swinging on a 97 mph fastball.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors. 1 LOB.
Top of 1st Inning – Crews struck out swinging; White grounded out to third base; Morgan grounded out to second base.
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors. 0 LOB.
WF Line Up
| Spot | Pos | # Player | Bats | Today | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | cf | 24 Tommy Hawke | L | 0-0 | .353 |
| 2 | rf | 5 Pierce Bennett | R | 0-0 | .356 |
| 3 | 1b | 8 Nick Kurtz | L | 0-0 | .364 |
| 4 | 3b | 25 Brock Wilken | R | 0-0 | .358 |
| 5 | 2b | 6 Justin Johnson | R | 0-0 | .336 |
| 6 | dh | 3 Danny Corona | L | 0-0 | .300 |
| 7 | c | 27 Bennett Lee | R | 0-0 | .301 |
| 8 | lf | 12 Adam Cecere | L | 0-0 | .290 |
| 9 | ss | 7 Marek Houston | R | 0-0 | .226 |
| 10 | p | 23 Josh Hartle | R | 0-0 | – |
LSU posts starting line up. Ty Floyd (7-0) is starting, as most expected.
Time to Ride pic.twitter.com/HnqvLvWlUl
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 19, 2023
. @LSUbaseball arrives for tonight's CWS contest against Wake Forest. #LSU @WAFB pic.twitter.com/YbqoPtxAIf
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) June 19, 2023
Tennessee defeats Stanford, 6-4, in the elimination game of Bracket 2 of the College World Series.
Tiger fans do it best#ThePowerhouse pic.twitter.com/SsMl0bOijI
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 19, 2023
Monday Night Baseball
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 19, 2023
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2023 NCAA Men’s College World Series
No. 1 National Seed Wake Forest Demon Deacons (53-10) vs. No. 5 National Seed LSU Tigers (49-15)
DATE/TIME
- Monday, June 19 @ 6 p.m. CT (ESPN)
STADIUM
- Charles Schwab Field (24,000)
RANKINGS
- LSU – No. 5 NCAA National Seed
- WF – No. 1 NCAA National Seed
RADIO
· LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates, including 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge
· Live audio at www.LSUsports.net/live
TV/ONLINE
- Monday’s game will be televised on ESPN and streamed on ESPN +
LSU SERIES RECORD VS. WAKE FOREST
• LSU leads the all-time series with Wake Forest, 3-0, as the teams met in a 2011 season-opening series in Baton Rouge, and the Tigers won all three games by scores of 15-4, 4-3 and 9-1.
LSU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
• LSU is in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th straight season and for the 35th time overall …. LSU has six national championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009), the second-most in NCAA history … the Tigers were an NCAA Tournament Top 8 National Seed for an NCAA-record six straight seasons (2012-17) … LSU is a Top 8 National Seed this season (No. 5) for the first time since the 2017 Tigers were the No. 4 National Seed … LSU has the second-highest all-time NCAA Tournament winning percentage (.707, 169-70).
• LSU is participating in its 19th College World Series, and its first since 2017, when the Tigers finished as the national runners-up to Florida … LSU is 41-27 (.603) all-time in CWS games, including a 7-3 mark in CWS championship games/series.
• LSU opened its 2023 CWS appearance with a 6-3 win over Tennessee Friday night … right-hander Paul Skenes limited the Volunteers to two runs on five hits on five hits in 7.2 innings with one walk and 12 strikeouts … Skenes fired the second-highest total of strikeouts by an LSU pitcher in an CWS game, second only to Brett Laxton’s 16 strikeouts versus Wichita State in the 1993 CWS National Championship Game.
QUOTING LSU COACH JAY JOHNSON
“Wake Forest is a great team; their talent is exceptional and their style of play is really good. They have a lot of options on the mound and a really good identity at the plate. We’re really looking forward to this game.
“They have dominated from the pitcher’s mound, and they’ve hit with a lot of power. They know what they’re doing; they can execute the small game if they need to. They play extremely hard, and they definitely mirror our team in that regard.”
ABOUT THE TIGERS
· LSU enters Monday’s game with a 49-15 record, its best mark through 64 games since the 2015 Tigers were 53-11… the Tigers this season are seeking their 14th 50-win season and their first since the 2017 club finished 52-20.
· The Tigers won the NCAA Baton Rouge Super Regional with 14-0 and 8-3 victories over Kentucky … LSU won the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional with consecutive victories over Tulane and Oregon State (twice) … the Tigers were 1-2 in the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala. … LSU was the No. 3 SEC Tournament seed, its highest since the 2017 Tigers were the No. 1 seed in the event.
· The Tigers completed the 2023 regular season 42-13 overall and 19-10 in conference play … LSU recorded its most SEC regular-season wins since the 2017 club won 21 SEC games, and the Tigers posted their most overall regular-season wins since the 2015 squad ended the regular season with 46 victories.
· The Tigers, the SEC’s No. 4 seed last season, have finished in the Top 4 in the overall SEC standings in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2014 and 2015 … LSU’s second-place finish in the SEC Western Division this season is its best since the Tigers won the Western Division in 2017.
· LSU has reached the 40-win mark in back-to-back years for the first time since the 2016 and 2017 seasons … LSU finished 40-22 in last season and participated in the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional.
· LSU entered the College World Series at or near the top of several NCAA statistical categories … the Tigers are No. 1 in the nation in shutouts pitched (10); No. 1 in runs scored (594); No. 2 in on-base percentage (.437); No. 2 in slugging percentage (.570); No. 2 in home runs (135); No. 3 in strikeouts pitched per nine innings (11.7); No. 4 in hit-by-pitch (131); No. 5 in scoring average (9.3 runs per game); No. 6 in hits allowed per nine innings (7.69); and No. 6 in walks received (370).
· The LSU pitching staff has established the school single-season record for strikeouts with 709; the previous school mark was 682 set in 1997 … LSU has 135 home runs this season, the third-highest total in school history … LSU hit an NCAA-record 188 homers in 1997 and 157 homers in 1998.
· LSU’s six homers in Game 1 of the Super Regional vs. Kentucky was its most in an NCAA Tournament game since the Tigers hit seven HRs in Game 3 of the 2008 NCAA Super Regional vs. UC Irvine in Alex Box Stadium.
· LSU centerfielder Dylan Crews is No. 2 in the nation in on-base percentage (.573); No. 2 in runs scored (90); No. 3 in batting average
· (.433) and No. 4 in walks (65) … third baseman Tommy White is No. 2 in the nation in RBI (97), and he is No. 4 in the nation in RBI per game (1.64)
· LSU right-hander Paul Skenes is No. 1 in the nation in strikeouts (200), strikeouts per nine innings (15.70) and WHIP (0.78), and he is No. 2 in the nation in ERA (1.81) … he is No.3 in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.53), and No. 5 in hits allowed per nine innings (5.49) … LSU second baseman Gavin Dugas is No. 3 in the nation in hit-by-pitch (30).
· LSU is No. 1 in the Southeastern Conference in 10 offensive categories – batting average (.314), slugging percentage (.570), on-base percentage (.437), runs (594), hits (678), RBI (545), total bases (1,230), home runs (135), sacrifice flies (39) and plate appearances (2,716) … LSU is No. 2 in the SEC in HBP (131) and in triples (16).
ABOUT THE DEACONS
· Wake Forest is the NCAA No. 1 National Seed and completed the regular season as the No. 1 team in all of the college baseball polls … the Deacons are hitting .308 as a team with 130 home runs and 43 steals in 45 attempts.
· The Wake Forest pitching staff has a 2.82 cumulative ERA with 748 strikeouts in 554.2 innings … the staff is allowing a .204 cumulative opponent batting average.
· The Deacons are led at the plate by infielder/catcher Brock Wilken, who is hitting .358 with 15 doubles, one triple, 31 homers and 81 RBI … infielder Justin Johnson has hit 16 homers and collected 76 RBI, and OF/INF Nick Kurtz has recorded 24 homers and 69 RBI.
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