LSU vs. Florida College World Series
The No. 1 overall seed drought will continue, as LSU shut down Wake Forest’s bats when it mattered most. And now we get the matchup the SEC couldn’t give us in the regular season: LSU vs. Florida College World Series in Omaha.
For LSU, getting here proved a costly endeavor, as they had to burn ace pitcher Paul Skenes in a pitcher’s duel against Wake Forest’s Rhett Lowder and won’t have him available for either of the first two games. Florida, meanwhile, comes into the best-of-3 series fully rested. Can the Tigers overcome the Gators’ pitching advantage to give Skenes a chance?
Florida Has To Finish in Two Games
The Gators have a big advantage in this series as long as they don’t have to face Skenes. Florida has Brandon Sproat and strikeout ace Hurston Waldrup well rested, given that the Gators haven’t had to play since Wednesday and didn’t have to come through the loser’s bracket. Beyond Skenes, LSU has Ty Floyd and a rotation of question marks. The Tigers have a strong bullpen, but Florida has the opportunity to bury LSU early in the game if the Gators can get to the LSU starters. If LSU steals one of the first two games, it’s going to be very difficult for Florida to beat Skenes in a winner-take-all game.
LSU’s Hitters Have to Come Up Big
Dylan Crews leads the nation in hitting and Tommy White ranks second in RBIs, which gives LSU a chance to steal a game. The Tigers haven’t exactly set the world on fire with their bats in Omaha, but the park has played long all week and they’ve faced five games against Tennessee and Wake Forest. Facing Florida’s arms isn’t going to be any easier, but it’s where LSU has an edge. The Gators have done just enough on offense to survive, and an LSU avalanche could get in the heads of Florida’s hitters.
Above all, LSU has to go in thinking split. If the Tigers force a third game with Skenes on the mound, they’ll have a big edge.