MCWS: Ty Evans’ Grand Slam Lifts Florida to Record-Breaking 24-4 Win vs. LSU

Florida forced Game 3 of the 2023 Men's College World Series with a record-breaking 24-4 victory over LSU on Sunday.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

There has been no shortage of excitement in the 2023 Men's College World Series. 

Less than 24 hours after pitcher Ty Floyd tied former Arizona State pitcher Ed Bane's 1972 record with 17 strikeouts in a nine-inning game en route to a 4-3 Tigers victory, the Gators surpassed Floyd's Saturday night count but in runs on Sunday, resulting in a 24-4 win for Florida over LSU. 

The College World Series is now tied at one game apiece. 

A 2.1-inning, three-runs-allowed performance by UF starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep (10-3) to begin the contest first moved the game in LSU's favor. Infielders Gavin Dugas, Tommy White and Tre' Morgan took advantage of Waldrep's rough start by batting runners in off of the right-hander. 

But Florida right fielder Ty Evans had something to say about the circumstances when he stepped up to the plate for the second time. 

Evans scored Florida's first run of the day via a solo home run in the second inning. He returned to the batter's box in the third inning and smashed a grand slam to offer UF a badly-needed offensive spark and a 7-3 lead.  

The Gators went on to score in every inning but the fifth, and set the MCWS record for runs scored in a game along the way.

If six runs scored in the third inning alone weren't convincing enough to suggest Florida got back on track following its Game 1 defeat, the Gators put another five scores on the scoreboard in the sixth inning to widen their lead by 10 runs at that time. 

Outfielder Wyatt Langford and first baseman Jac Caglianone each slugged home runs in the sixth inning scoring stretch, including a three-run shot from the former. 

Then Caglianone produced a second home run in the eighth inning, a two-run play with Langford at second base. The deep shot was Caglianone's 33rd of the season, setting the Division 1 record for home runs in a single campaign in the BBCOR era (since 2011). 

Florida scored another four runs in the eighth inning, and as pinch-hitters were inserted in the ninth inning, the Gators added another five runs to the board. 

UF's pitching also found its rhythm following Waldrep's third-inning exit. Blake Purnell stepped in to allow zero hits or runs in 1.2 innings, and Nick Ficarrotta closed the game from there, pitching five innings and striking out two batters while allowing one score. 

Game 3 of the 2023 Men's College World Series is scheduled for Monday, June 26 at 7 p.m. ET, at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb. It will be aired on ESPN.

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