LSU successfully avoided elimination in the College World Series for the second time, positioning themselves exactly where they anticipated to be. With a go-ahead three-run homer from Cade Beloso and outstanding performance from freshman pitcher Griffin Herring, who threw 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief, LSU secured a 5-2 victory over Wake Forest, forcing a second bracket final. The victor of the rematch on Thursday will advance to face Florida in the championship series. Wake Forest, aiming to rebound from their first loss in the NCAA Tournament, has not lost consecutive games this season and is determined to reach the title round in their first CWS appearance since 1955. LSU desires a rematch of the 2017 finals, which Florida won.
“We expect to be playing important baseball in June,” stated Tigers coach Jay Johnson confidently. “We play every game as if it’s important baseball in June. We approach every game with the mindset that it’s a playoff game. This mentality allows us to stay true to our character when we reach the postseason.”
The starting pitchers for the rematch have not been announced, but LSU’s Paul Skenes and Wake Forest’s Rhett Lowder, both team aces, have not been ruled out.
Wake Forest has been dominant in their first five NCAA Tournament games, scoring 75 runs and hitting 19 homers, all of which were played at home. However, they have struggled at Charles Schwab Field, only scoring 8 runs, their lowest over three games since April 2021, with only one home run. The wind blowing in for the past three days has affected their performance with a batting average of .198. Even their leading hitters, Nick Kurtz and Justin Johnson, are having a tough time, going 0 for 9 and 0 for 12 respectively.
LSU managed to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the third inning, tying the game when Dylan Crews scored on a wild pitch and taking the lead when Cade Beloso hit a three-run homer. Beloso’s homer was only the fourth given up by Seth Keener all season.
Griffin Herring, who hadn’t pitched since June 5 and had never pitched more than three innings, provided stability to the Tigers after a rough start from Javen Coleman and Blake Money. Herring entered the game with LSU trailing by two runs and managed to keep Wake Forest’s powerful offense scoreless. Herring’s exceptional performance was fueled by pure adrenaline and the electric atmosphere of the College World Series.
Gavin Guidry and Riley Cooper also played crucial roles on the mound, preventing further scoring opportunities for Wake Forest. Cooper, earning his second save in a row, recorded the final out to set up the winner-take-all bracket final.
For LSU, this is just another game in their impressive season. They have not lost a series all year and are determined to continue their winning streak into the finals.
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