LSU vs. Wake Forest final score, results: Pitching leads Demon Deacons to College World Series semifinals

Dan Treacy

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LSU vs. Wake Forest final score, results: Pitching leads Demon Deacons to College World Series semifinals image

There is no shortage of dangerous bats between Wake Forest and LSU, but it was pitching that prevailed on Monday night in the schools' College World Series matchup. 

Early on, it was the Tigers' Ty Floyd who got the better of the Demon Deacons. Floyd didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning and struck out 10 through the first five innings. Floyd's sixth inning, however, completely shifted the momentum toward Wake Forest. He walked the bases loaded, allowing the top-ranked team in the country to score twice and tie the game.

From there, Wake Forest's pitching staff did its job. The bullpen worked in and out of a jam in the eighth inning, and then Bennett Lee drove in Danny Corona in the bottom of the inning to give the Demon Deacons their first lead of the night.

A drama-packed game wrapped up as swiftly as possible in the ninth inning. Cam Minacci retired the Tigers in order (and avoided facing Dylan Crews) to secure a colossal 3-2 win for Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons' bullpen allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings of work.

MORE: Updated 2023 MLB mock draft

Wake Forest is headed to the College World Series semifinals and is in the driver's seat for a trip to the finals. The Demon Deacons will face the winner of Tuesday's elimination game between Tennessee and LSU, setting up a potential rematch on Wednesday night. Wake Forest would need to lose back-to-back games to be kept out of the finals.

For a program that hasn't won a national championship since 1955, some of the biggest games in the history of Wake Forest baseball still lie ahead. 

MORE: Watch the College World Series with Fubo (free trial)

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from the College World Series game between LSU and Wake Forest. Check out all of the key moments you might have missed.

LSU vs. Wake Forest baseball score

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 F
LSU 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Wake Forest 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 x 3

LSU vs. Wake Forest live updates, highlights from College World Series

(All times Eastern)

Final: Wake Forest 3, LSU 2

9:58 p.m. — This one is over! Minacci makes quick work of LSU in the 9th, avoids Dylan Crews, and closes out a massive win for Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are one win away from the finals. 

9:57 p.m. — Two quick outs by Minacci. Wake Forest is one out away.

9:52 p.m. — The inning is over, but Wake Forest is three outs away from moving on to the College World Series semifinals. 

9:48 p.m. Wake Forest 3, LSU 2 — Wake Forest takes its first lead! Lee singles to drive in Corona, who didn't get a great jump but still scored comfortably. It's 3-2. 

9:46 p.m. — Danny Corona with a one-out double for the Demon Deacons...

9:40 p.m. — Cam Minacci induces a HUGE double play. Wake Forest works out of a first and third, no out jam to keep this game tied.

9:35 p.m. — The call is confirmed: Out. That could've gone either way, but the call on the field prevails. Pitching change coming for Wake Forest.

9:33 p.m. — What a play to get the out at home! Wilken had trouble getting the ball out of his glove but gets the throw to Bennett Lee who tags Morgan out. Call is being reviewed...

9:30 p.m. — Justin Johnson can't come with a ground ball up the middle, and LSU is now threatening with runners on first and third with nobody out.

9:27 p.m. — Have a day, Tre' Morgan! After his sun-assisted triple earlier, he leads off the 8th with a double down the right field line. 

9:24 p.m. — Hurd has gotten himself into trouble twice now and gotten out of it both times. He strikes out Wilken and escapes the 7th with the tie still intact.

9:21 p.m. — Kurtz turns an 0-2 count into a walk after Hurd sails three pitches way too high. Wilken has a chance to give Wake Forest the lead with two runners on. 

9:16 p.m. — Unsuccessful sac bunt attempt for Wake Forest, as LSU catches the pop-up and records the first out without any damage. 

9:13 p.m. — Hurd walks Houston to open the inning. That's not what you want with the top of the order coming up, if you're LSU. 

9:09 p.m. — Wake Forest's bullpen works around a two-out walk by Crews, holding LSU scoreless for the fourth consecutive inning. Do the Demon Deacons have another rally in them? The top of the lineup will be up again after No. 9 hitter Marek Houston. 

8:58 p.m. — Exhale, LSU fans. Hurd strikes out Adam Cecere and preserves the tie. We've got an intense final three innings coming up. 

8:56 p.m. — Bennett Lee walks to load the bases. Wake Forest's patience at the plate has made all the difference in this inning. 

8:54 p.m. — Now a hit-by-pitch to put runners on the corners...

8:54 p.m. LSU 2, Wake Forest 2 — Hurd gets a massive double play. This game is tied, but the Tigers will take the two outs and hope to avoid Wake Forest putting up a crooked number.

8:52 p.m. LSU 2, Wake Forest 1 — Wilken hits one up the middle and puts Wake Forest on the board! It's just one run, but LSU has yet to record an out here in the sixth.

8:46 p.m. — Floyd has lost it. He walks Kurtz on five pitches and has now walked the bases loaded. Jay Johnson is coming out to make a pitching change. A dominant first five innings by Floyd could be completely upended by control issues in the sixth. Here comes Thatcher Hurd. 

8:44 p.m. — Floyd with another walk, and Wake Forest has a prime opportunity here before even putting a ball in play. LSU has two arms warming up in the bullpen as Nick Kurtz and Brock Wilken get ready to bat. 

8:42 p.m. — An errant pickoff attempt allows Tommy Hawke to move up to 2nd base. Runner in scoring position for the Demon Deacons with nobody out.

8:41 p.m. — Floyd issues a leadoff walk, putting the heart of the order in line to bat for Wake Forest. 

8:37 p.m. — Brayden Jobert hits one all the way to the warning track with two outs in the sixth, but that's as far as it goes. Wake Forest gets the Tigers to put up another zero. The Demon Deacons have 12 outs to work with to make up their two-run deficit.

8:28 p.m. — Floyd gets through the fifth and is up to 10 strikeouts. Pure dominance, and he still has more in the tank after 79 pitches.

8:24 p.m. — Strikeout No. 9 for Floyd...but he allows Wake Forest's second hit with one out in the fifth. 

8:18 p.m. — It's not a strikeout this time, but Hartle gets Crews to groundout. Crews is 0-3 for the Tigers tonight.

8:12 p.m. — Floyd responds very well to the Bennett single, with three strikeouts to quickly shut down any Wake Forest threat. Floyd is up to eight strikeouts through four innings.

8:05 p.m. — Pierce Bennett comes through with Wake Forest's first hit of the night, a single to start the bottom of the fourth.

8:01 p.m. — This time, Hartle works around the walk. Pressure is on Wake Forest's offense to show some signs of life. 

7:59 p.m. — Hartle issues his fourth walk of the night. LSU hasn't hit the ball too hard, but walks and defensive lapses have hurt Wake Forest. 

7:54 p.m. — Ty Floyd makes quick work of the Demon Deacons again, and suddenly Wake Forest's offense has posted three hitless innings. 

7:47 p.m. LSU 2, Wake Forest 0 — Chaos in Omaha! Tre' Morgan drives in another run and ends up at third after the sun causes Adam Cecere to completely miss the ball in the outfield. Cecere had sunglasses on his head, but he needed them in front of his eyes for that one.

7:45 p.m. LSU 1, Wake Forest 0 — LSU strikes first! Tommy White drives in a run on a single and moves to second after the ball was misplayed in the outfield. 

7:42 p.m. — Hartle gets Crews to strike out again! That's two Ks for the LSU phenom, and Hartle is one out away from working around a walk. 

7:35 p.m. — We don't have Paul Skenes or Rhett Lowder on the hill tonight, but the pitching has been impressive. Floyd strikes out two in a 1-2-3 bottom of the second. We're scoreless through two.

7:30 p.m. — Brayden Jobert grounds into a double play, so Hartle escapes a jam of his own making and keeps LSU scoreless through two.

7:26 p.m. — Hartle has worked into some trouble in the top of the second inning, issuing back-to-back walks after a strikeout. LSU has a rally opportunity here.

7:20 p.m. — Ty Floyd strikes out Nick Kurtz and Brock Wilken, getting through the heart of the order unscathed after an early walk. Pitching is winning the day so far!

7:17 p.m. — Pierce Bennett works a four-pitch walk, bringing up Nick Kurtk for the Demon Deacons with one out.

7:12 p.m. — A 1-2-3 first inning for Josh Hartle, who gets Dylan Crews to strike out. That's all Wake Forest could've asked for out of the gate. 

7:05 p.m. — First pitch is approaching as one of these powerhouses gets ready to move one giant step closer to the College World Series finals.

6:40 p.m. — Wake Forest had a strong sendoff as well. A win tonight would put the Demon Deacons in much better position to win its first College World Series since 1955.

6:28 p.m. — LSU fans are making their presence felt in Omaha. Will it make a difference tonight?

How to watch LSU vs. Wake Forest

  • Start time: 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT)
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo

LSU vs. Wake Forest will be broadcast on ESPN. Viewers can also follow the action on ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Karl Ravech will be on the play-by-play call, with Eduardo Perez and Ben McDonald in the booth as analysts. Reporter Dani Wexelman will round out ESPN's coverage.

How to watch 2023 College World Series

  • Date: June 16-25 or 26
  • Location: Charles Schwab Field Omaha, Omaha, Neb.
  • TV channels: ESPN, ESPN2
  • Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo

ESPN will continue its coverage of the NCAA Division I baseball tournament with the 2023 College World Series. Games will be shown on ESPN and ESPN2.

Fans will also be able to stream the games on ESPN+ or on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

College World Series schedule

Monday, June 19

Game Time (ET)  Channel
Game 7: Tennessee 6, Stanford 4    
Game 8: Wake Forest vs. LSU 7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo

Tuesday, June 20

Game Time (ET)  Channel
Game 9: TCU vs. Oral Roberts 2 p.m. ESPN, Fubo
Game 10: Tennessee vs. Game 8 loser 7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo

Wednesday, June 21

Game Time (ET)  Channel
Game 11: Florida vs. Game 9 winner 2 p.m. ESPN, Fubo
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner 7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo

Thursday, June 22

Game Time (ET)  Channel
Game 11 rematch (if Game 6 winner loses) 2 p.m. ESPN or ESPN2, Fubo
Game 12 rematch (if Game 8 winner loses) 7 p.m. ESPN2, Fubo

Saturday, June 24: College World Series finals Game 1

Game Time (ET)  Channel
Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner 7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo

Sunday, June 25: College World Series finals Game 2

Game Time (ET)  Channel
Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner 3 p.m. ESPN, Fubo

Monday, June 27: College World Series finals Game 3*

Game Time (ET)  Channel
Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner 7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo

* - If necessary 

Dan Treacy

Dan Treacy Photo

Dan Treacy is a content producer for Sporting News, joining in 2022 after graduating from Boston University. He founded @allsportsnews on Instagram in 2012 and has written for Lineups and Yardbarker.