An SEC team will be crowned college baseball champion for the fourth straight season and for the fifth time in six College World Series editions.
No. 2 Florida swept through its bracket in the College World Series, beating No. 7 Virginia, Oral Roberts and TCU to return to the CWS final for the first time since winning the program’s first title in 2017. The Gators will be met in the final series by No. 5 LSU, which worked its way back after a second-game loss to No. 1 Wake Forest to beat Tennessee and win a pair against the Demon Deacons to set up a rematch of that 2017 CWS final.
That College World Series clash featured plenty of star power, particularly on the Florida side, with the Gators featuring Jonathan India, Brady Singer, Alex Faedo and Jackson Kowar. This year, both sides are loaded with stars.
The Tigers feature the top two draft prospects in the 2023 class in Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes, while Florida features the No. 3 prospect in Wyatt Langford and the fourth-best college arm in Hurston Waldrep. Each team also features a top draft prospect in the 2024 class, with LSU slugger Tommy White and Florida’s two-way phenom Jac Caglianone.
MORE: Watch the College World Series live with Fubo (free trial)
On paper, LSU appears to be the better squad, with the higher team OPS (.986 to .935) and better ERA (4.30 to 4.48). It was also ranked No. 1 at one point this season, holding the top spot until ceding it to Wake Forest in mid-May.
However, Florida holds one distinct advantage: Waldrep and expected early draft pick Brandon Sproat will be on normal rest when the College World Series final begins, while Skenes would only be available on short rest possibly in a Game 2 or 3 scenario.
The Sporting News will be tracking live scores and highlights from the first game of the College World Series final. Follow for results from the matchup of LSU and Florida.
LSU vs. Florida baseball score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | F | |
| LSU | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Florida | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
College World Series live updates, highlights from Game 1
(All times Eastern)
7:42 p.m. End top second: Sproat gets Morgan to chase a changeup down and away to strand the bases loaded.
7:40 p.m.: White tries to ambush Sproat on the first pitch, but he lines it right at Colby Halter at third base, who snags it for the second out. Morgan up to bat now with the bases loaded and two down.
7:39 p.m.: Crews reaches base for the second time today as he takes a 3-2 pitch up and in to set up Tommy White with the bases loaded.
7:37 p.m.: After showing bunt several times during the at-bat, Milazzo does a nice job on a 2-2 count driving a pitch from Sproat the other way to pick up a single and give Crews a chance to bat with runners on first and second with only one out.
7:34 p.m.: A pitch misses inside to Josh Pearson, who walks on the full count to set up Alex Milazzo with a runner on first and one away.
7:32 p.m.: Sproat carves up Jordan Thompson and strikes him out on three pitches, all swinging.
7:29 p.m. End first: Rivera chases a high fastball, and the Gators strand Caglianone on second.
7:27 p.m.: The sun gives the LSU defense some troubles as Dugas thought he had a chance to catch in shallow left, but the ball drops between him and the left fielder. Caglianone makes his way over to second with Josh Rivera coming up to bat.
7:27: After getting ahead 3-0, Langford is set down swinging at a high fastball to strike out for the second out. Jac Caglianone due up.
7:24 p.m.: Kurland gives that one a ride that hangs up for a surprisingly long time, but Crews makes a leaping grab at the wall to record the first out of the frame.
7:24 p.m.: Cade Kurland will lead off facing Floyd to lead off the bottom half of the inning.
7:21 p.m. End top first: Sproat fans Brayden Jobert on a changeup to escape the inning, but he had to throw 30 pitches in the first. The Gators will bat trailing by a run.
7:19 p.m. LSU scores: Beloso slaps a single the opposite way to left field and Crews races around to score from second and give the Tigers the lead. LSU still has runners on first and second with two away. LSU leads 1-0.
Tigers roaring early!#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/jA1ajMOzTh
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 24, 2023
7:18 p.m.: Dugas walks to set up runners on first and second for Cade Beloso.
7:14 p.m.: Crews takes off during a 2-1 count, which saves a double play as Tre’ Morgan grounds out to second. Runner on second with two away for Gavin Dugas.
7:12 p.m.: Tommy White foul tips strike three for the first out of the inning
7:11 p.m.: Crews reaches base to lead off the top of the first as he was narrowly hit by a pitch up and in from Sproat.
7:10 p.m.: Sproat’s first pitch to Dylan Crews is fouled off to the right, and this game is underway.
7 p.m.: This game is minutes away from getting underway. Florida and LSU are set to battle it out for the first game in the College World Series final.
6:30 p.m.: The teams have confirmed it will be Brandon Sproat vs. Ty Floyd in Game 1 as the starters on the mound. Here’s a look at the lineups for each team.
Geaux Tigers pic.twitter.com/tSxF3UVKrs
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 24, 2023
The lineup for Game One 😤#GoGators pic.twitter.com/wFb2zXf6Cn
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 24, 2023
How to watch 2023 College World Series finals Game 1
- Start time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo
ESPN will be continuing its coverage of the 2023 College World Series through the remainder of the finals. Viewers can find the games on ESPN, ESPN+ or on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Karl Ravech will be calling play-by-play for the game, with Chris Burke and Kyle Peterson providing analysis. Kris Budden will be reporting from the field and dugouts.
College World Series schedule 2023
The College World Series has worked down to just the final two teams and only two to three games left in the season. Saturday kicks off the best-of-three series between Florida and LSU, and it will run through Sunday or Monday.
Here’s how the College World Series final is slated to take place:
Saturday, June 24: College World Series finals Game 1
| Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| LSU vs. Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
Sunday, June 25: College World Series finals Game 2
| Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| LSU vs. Florida | 3 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
Monday, June 27: College World Series finals Game 3*
| Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| LSU vs. Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
* – If necessary