LSU returned to the pinnacle of college baseball on Monday, defeating SEC rival Florida, 18-4, to win its 7th national championship and the 2023 College World Series.
Led by second-year head coach Jay Johnson – who became the first coach to win a title prior to his third season at an institution – LSU (54-17) overcame a 2-0 first-inning deficit by scoring six in the second and four in the fourth inning to take a commanding 10-2 lead.
LSU start Thatcher Hurd (8-3) earned his second win in the series, throwing six innings and allowing only two runs on two hits – the first two batters he faced – while striking out seven. Offensively, the Tigers amassed 24 hits, the most in any CWS game. Eleven Tigers recorded at least one hit in the contest.
The Tigers captured five national titles (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2000) under legendary head coach Skip Bertman, and added a sixth when third-year head coach Paul Mainieri won the championship series in 2009 over Texas.
Florida starting pitcher Jac Caglianone (7-4) was charged with the loss, as he allowed six runs on two hits in 1.1 innings with three walks and two strikeouts.
LSU, which avenged a 2017 CWS championship series sweep by the Gators, was led throughout the 2023 season by Golden Spikes Award winning centerfielder Dylan Crews and Dick Howser Award-winning and CWS Most Outstanding Player righthand pitcher Paul Skenes.
This duo which many project to be the top 2 selections in the upcoming Major League Baseball Draft put forth spectacular performances in the College World Series, as expected. The Tigers won 11 of 13 games in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, sweeping Regional and Super Regional opponents at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
A championship celebration will be held Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. CT at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. Details will be announced shortly.
LSU head coach Jay Johnson, along with players Cade Beloso, Dylan Crews, Thatcher Hurd, and Jordan Thompson all spoke about the win, the season, and their legacy at LSU in the postgame presser. Video is courtesy of the NCAA.