Wake Forest vs. LSU final score, results: Cade Beloso blast helps keep Tigers' season alive

Dan Treacy

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Wake Forest vs. LSU final score, results: Cade Beloso blast helps keep Tigers' season alive image

LSU saw an early lead slip away in Monday's loss to Wake Forest, but the roles reversed with the Tigers' season on the line.

After falling behind 2-0 in the second inning, LSU quickly erupted for five runs to take control and ultimately force a winner-take-all game on Thursday night.

The big blast came off the bat of Cade Beloso, who turned a 2-2 game in the third inning into a 5-2 LSU lead with a monster home run to right field. LSU didn't score again, but that was all the Tigers needed. Jay Johnson pushed all the right buttons after starter Javen Coleman was removed, turning to four different relievers as the Tigers escaped a handful of jams without any damage.

The leadoff batter reached Wake Forest in four of the last five innings, but none scored. LSU's bullpen took care of business in critical moments, but the hero of the night was Griffin Herring. He entered for Coleman and threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings for LSU. 

MORE: Updated 2023 MLB mock draft

Johnson should be able to take a step back and worry less about mixing and matching relievers on Thursday, when he will be able to put phenom Paul Skenes on the mound for the decisive semifinal game.

Wake Forest is expected to have its own ace on the hill in Rhett Lowder. However, the Demon Deacons' prolific offense will need to start taking advantage of opportunities after scoring only eight runs across its first three games in Omaha.

The only team happier than LSU after Wednesday's game might be Florida, which suddenly won't have to face a fully rested Skenes or Lowder in the College World Series finals.

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

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

Wake Forest vs. LSU baseball score

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

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

(All times Eastern)

Final: LSU 5, Wake Forest 2

9:58 p.m. — This one is OVER. Cooper handles business after the leadoff walk and finishes off LSU pitching's seventh consecutive scoreless inning. These two teams will meet for the third time in four days tomorrow night, this time with a College World Series finals bid on the line for both.

9:56 p.m. — Cooper strikes out Kurtz for the first out of the inning. LSU has done a masterful job of preventing Wake Forest from building momentum in this game even after letting baserunners reach. 

9:54 p.m. — Lucas Costello opens the ninth with a walk. Wake Forest hasn't been able to take advantage of leadoff baserunners tonight. 

9:50 p.m. — LSU tried to score on a pickoff attempt, but Wake Forest read it perfectly and got the third out at home. We're headed to the top of the ninth with the Demon Deacons trailing by three.

9:47 p.m. — Wake Forest is trying to escape without more damage after putting two runners on. Still only one out in the bottom of the eighth. 

9:39 p.m. — Tommy White snags a bullet off the bat of Hawke to end the inning. It feels like every Wake Forest threat since the second inning has ended like that. The Demon Deacons will need a minor miracle in the ninth. 

9:35 p.m. — Suddenly, the tying run is at the plate after back-to-back two-out hits. Wake Forest hasn't taken advantage of an opportunity like this since the second inning, but they'll have to do it against Riley Cooper as the big man enters for Guidry. 

9:33 p.m. — Two quick outs for Guidry to open the bottom of the eighth. Jay Johnson keeps pushing the right buttons with his pitching staff.

9:28 p.m. — Wow. Wake Forest turns a double play, and that's three outs in about 90 seconds. The Demon Deacons keep the game somewhat within reach.

9:26 p.m. — LSU is threatening to add to its lead after an error puts Crews on base and Tommy White singles. Two on, nobody out. 

9:20 p.m. — Guidry works out of the jam, and LSU is now six outs away from forcing a decisive game tomorrow night. He's fired up. 

9:18 p.m. — Gavin Guidry comes in and strikes out Wilken. Huge moment for LSU, which is now one out away from again working around a leadoff single.

9:14 p.m. — Wake Forest is very fortunate to avoid a double play on a grounder by Kurtz. Here comes Wilken with two outs and runners on first and third. First, an LSU pitching change.

9:12 p.m. — Now Lucas Costello is hit by a pitch, bringing up Nick Kurtz with two on and nobody out. Biggest moment of the game so far for the Demon Deacons.

9:10 p.m. — For the third consecutive inning, Wake Forest has a leadoff single. Will the results be any different this time? Herring's pitch count is getting up there. He's at 76. 

9:06 p.m. — Two-out hit for Alex Milazzo, but Sullivan quickly gets the third out. Wake Forest pitching has done its job for the last three innings, but the offense hasn't returned the favor. 

8:59 p.m. — Like last inning, Herring responds to the leadoff hit with back-to-back outs. Wake Forest has only eight runs in this College World Series after such a dominant season.

8:54 p.m. — Pierce Bennett opens the inning with a single. 

8:50 p.m. — Sullivan escapes the inning without allowing a run, and now the pressure is back on Wake Forest's lineup to start clawing back before it's too late.

8:45 p.m. — Wake Forest makes a pitching change, bringing in Sean Sullivan with a runner on second and one out in the inning.

8:39 p.m. — Herring strikes out Johnson to end the threat. Like Ackenhausen last night, Herring has been a hero for this LSU pitching staff.

8:37 p.m. — A walk to Wilken brings up Justin Johnson as the tying run with two outs. Big moment here, potentially.

8:34 p.m. — A pair of flyouts have Herring one out away from another scoreless inning. Wake Forest is making him work for it, though.

8:27 p.m. — Hawke rockets one off Herring's glove and starts the fifth with a single.

8:25 p.m. — A much smoother inning for Keener, who strikes out Crews to end it. LSU leads 5-2 through four.

8:24 p.m. — Keener sets the tone with back-to-back strikeouts to start the bottom of the fourth.

8:20 p.m. — A 1-2-3 inning for Herring, who has quickly settled things down for LSU's pitching staff. Let's see if the Tigers can add to their lead.

8:15 p.m. — The inning is over, but what an inning it was for the Tigers. LSU turns a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 lead in just two innings, and now this game is all about whether their pitching can hold up the rest of the way.

8:12 p.m. LSU 5, Wake Forest 2 — Cade Beloso hammers one to right and gives LSU a 5-2 lead! A huge three-run shot completely flips this game upside down.

8:11 p.m. Wake Forest 2, LSU 2, — Speaking of self-inflicted trouble, Wake Forest allows a run on a wild pitch after two walks. We are tied.

8:09 p.m. — LSU has loaded the bases with one out in the third...

8:01 p.m. — Herring makes quick work of Wake Forest, striking out Justin Johnson and getting a long flyout from Pierce Bennett. That's the shutdown inning LSU needed after so much self-inflicted trouble early on.

7:55 p.m. — Big play by Kurtz to get the third out and end the inning. Both Wake Forest and LSU score in the second, but both teams limit the damage.

7:53 p.m. — Wake Forest's infield saves a run by stopping a ball from getting into the outfield, but LSU has runners on first and third.

7:51 p.m. Wake Forest 2, LSU 1 — LSU cuts the deficit in half! Brayden Jobert hits a two-out double to score Cade Beloso after Beloso advanced on a wild pitch.

7:45 p.m. — Griffin Herring strikes out Kurtz, limiting the damage for LSU. Wake Forest overcame a 2-0 deficit on Monday, and now LSU has to do the same to save its season.

7:40 p.m. — We have another pitching change for LSU. This is a critical at-bat for both teams, with Nick Kurtz getting an opportunity to break the game open with runners on first and third with two outs.

7:37 p.m. Wake Forest 2, LSU 0 — Tommy Hawke hits it right up the middle and gives the Demon Deacons the lead! This was always the concern with LSU's pitching as long as their top starters were unavailable. The Tigers have to try to contain Wake Forest and get through the inning.

7:33 p.m. — Coleman's night doesn't go nearly as smoothly as Nate Ackenhausen's did last night. He walks two more batters and is lifted for Blake Money. This is a huge bases loaded, one-out opportunity for Wake Forest.

7:26 p.m. — Pierce Bennett singles for the first hit of the game. Wake Forest has had three baserunners already.

7:24 p.m. — A quick first inning for Keener as LSU goes down 1-2-3. A scoreless first inning is in the books in Omaha.

7:22 p.m. — Dylan Crews' first at-bat is a quick one, as he grounds out. 

7:18 p.m. — Coleman works around the walks and ends the inning with a flyout.

7:13 p.m. — Coleman has thrown seven consecutive balls after retiring the first two batters. Wake Forest has runners on first and second.

6:56 p.m. — About 10 minutes out from first pitch as Wake Forest tries to join Florida in the finals.

6:43 p.m. — Tonight's pitching matchup: LSU's Javen Coleman vs. Wake Forest's Seth Keener.

6:25 p.m. — Here's how Wake Forest has set its lineup for tonight's game.

6:16 p.m. — Dylan Crews homered last night and is leading off again tonight. Could this be his final collegiate game?

How to watch Wake Forest vs. LSU

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

The College World Series semifinal matchup between Wake Forest and LSU 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 Kyle Peterson in the booth as analysts. Reporter Kris Budden 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

Wednesday, June 21

Game Time (ET)  Channel
Game 11: Florida 3, TCU 2 2 p.m. ESPN, Fubo
Game 12: Wake Forest vs. LSU 7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo

Thursday, June 22

Game Time (ET)  Channel
Wake Forest vs. LSU (if Wake Forest loses Game 12) 7 p.m. ESPN2, Fubo

Saturday, June 24: College World Series finals Game 1

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

Sunday, June 25: College World Series finals Game 2

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

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

Game Time (ET)  Channel
Florida 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.