Florida got rolling early on, and clinched their first College World Series title in the school’s long history on Tuesday night.
Florida was on fire from the start of Game 2 of the College World Series, and their pace helped them clinch their first championship in school history on Tuesday night.
After clinching Game 1 on Monday night, the Gators had their chance to end it all in Game 2 and take home the title against LSU in Omaha. In the end, they pulled out a 6-1 victory, and clinched their championship with a dominant eighth inning performance.
The Gators got going almost immediately, as they started off strong early in the first inning to take advantage of the momentum from their 4-3 victory in Game 1. The team ripped three straight singles and JJ Schwarz drove in a run in the inning to put Florida up a run.
WHAT A START FOR FLORIDA!
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 28, 2017
Single, Single, Single... JJ Schwarz with the RBI to make it 1-0 Gators in the 1st! #CWS pic.twitter.com/ieZcz7moNY
If not for an impressive catch from LSU’s Greg Deichmann, the inning could’ve been a lot worse on the Tigers.
WOWOW!
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 28, 2017
Deichmann with a tremendous catch to take away an extra base hit!! #CWS pic.twitter.com/zZIaNpVdww
While LSU stopped the bleeding early in the first inning, it didn’t take long for Florida to bounce right back in the second with an RBI single from Deacon Liput to give them a 2-0 lead. It took an error from Nick Coomes of LSU to get the ball rolling in the second for the Gators, but the run was vital for Florida nonetheless.
CHOMP CHOMP!
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 28, 2017
Florida puts another run on the board with a Deacon Liput RBI single in the 2nd! #CWS pic.twitter.com/hy4Rft03HI
Meanwhile, on the mound for the Gators was Tyler Dyson, who was absolutely on fire just like his offense was at the plate for him. Through four innings, he only gave up two hits and a walk, and was in complete control.
Tyler Dyson is DEALING for the Gators!!
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 28, 2017
4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K#CWS pic.twitter.com/0E9PfO494o
It wasn’t until the seventh inning that the Tigers got on the board, as they closed the gap to a run with a Josh Smith double that drove in Zach Watson.
L-S-U!! L-S-U!! L-S-U!!
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 28, 2017
It's a ONE RUN GAME after Josh Smith doubles home Zach Watson in the 7th!! #CWS pic.twitter.com/o49cm80UTF
In the eighth inning, LSU had an incredibly close chance to tie the game, but JJ Schwarz’ clutch play cut down the tying run at the plate to keep the lead in tact for the Gators.
JJ Schwarz with a HUGE play!!
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 28, 2017
Cuts down the game-tying run at the plate, keeping it 2-1 Gators in the 8th! #CWS pic.twitter.com/3F8eXMpiOS
After all of the intense moments, it took a nice, old-fashioned hit-by-pitch to drive in a run with the bases loaded, giving the Gators a nice two-run cushion late in the game.
HBP for a 2 run lead!
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 28, 2017
Nick Horvath wears one with the bases loaded to make it 3-1 Gators! #CWS pic.twitter.com/3CBq1fUWpz
To make things just a bit easier, with the bases loaded, Florida got even more of a lead, as Liput drove in two on an RBI single to make it a 5-1 game.
Deacon DELIVERS!!
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 28, 2017
The Gators get a 2-run single from their leadoff man... 5-1 Florida in the 8th!! #CWS pic.twitter.com/mwBlOp31h6
Gators = CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/LdHmDEUOv8
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 28, 2017
The Florida Gators are the Kings of College Baseball! 👑 pic.twitter.com/kSoJVbCQDM
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 28, 2017
The game was in front of a record-setting crowd, and was a real battle through seven innings. The Gators proved their dominance to take home their first national title, and all it took was two games in two days against LSU.
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Now, Gators fans can celebrate their first national title in school history, and props to them for pulling it off as the third seed in the group.