LSU opened the 2023 college baseball season as the No. 1 team in the nation and spent much of it atop the consensus rankings. After a swoon, the Tigers appear poised to recapture the top spot.
A slump in mid- to late May dropped them as seventh in some rankings. But the Tigers have now beaten No. 1 Wake Forest in two straight games and taken the first game of the College World Series finals against No. 2 Florida, putting them one win away from the seventh national championship in program history.
A mix of familiar faces and new faces populated the headlines following LSU's 4-3, 11-inning win on Saturday. Cade Beloso hit his second go-ahead home run during the team's trip to Omaha, this one coming in the top of the 11th. It proved to be the game-winner. Riley Cooper slammed the door to pick up his first win of the CWS to go along with three saves. Tommy White hit a game-tying home run in the top of the eighth to keep LSU's hopes of winning Game 1 alive.
But the Tigers also wouldn't have advanced without left fielder Josh Pearson's athletic snag of a line drive by Florida's Wyatt Langford that prevented the winning run from scoring in the bottom of the 10th. And if not for Ty Floyd fanning a CWS-nine-inning record 17 batters and giving a strained LSU bullpen needed rest with eight innings of work, the Tigers could be in a more difficult spot heading into Game 2.
MORE: Watch the College World Series finals live with Fubo (free trial)
With the Gators now facing elimination for the first time in this year's NCAA baseball tournament, coach Kevin O'Sullivan is expected to hand the ball to Hurston Waldrep, an expected first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, to force a Game 3 and a start from two-way star Jac Caglianone.
Teams that have won Game 1 of the College World Series have gone on to win the title in 12 of the past 19 series, with nine lasting only two games. LSU will be looking to officially make those numbers 13 and 10 on Sunday.
Here's all the information you need to watch Sunday's game, including time and TV channel.
What channel is LSU vs. Florida on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: Fubo, ESPN+
ESPN will continue its coverage of the College World Series through the end of the final. Karl Ravech will be on play-by-play with Chris Burke and Kyle Peterson providing analysis. Kris Budden will be reporting from the dugouts and field level.
LSU vs. Florida start time
- First pitch: 3 p.m. ET
Sunday's contest between the two teams is scheduled to begin just after 3 p.m. ET from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.
LSU vs. Florida live stream
- Live stream: Fubo, ESPN+
ESPN will have coverage of the game on cable, but for those who have cut the cord, there will also be the option to stream the game on ESPN's platform, ESPN+. Fubo will also carry ESPN's broadcast; the service offers a free trial.
College World Series schedule 2023
The Tigers won the first game of the best-of-three finals. The only way the series will see a Game 3 is if the Gators knock off LSU in Game 2 on Sunday.
Saturday, June 24: College World Series finals Game 1
| Result |
|---|
| LSU 4, Florida 3 (11 inn.) |
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
