Both berths in the College World Series championship series were up for grabs on Wednesday, with Florida facing TCU in the Bracket 1 final and Wake Forest taking on LSU in the other.
Wins by Florida and Wake Forest would send them automatically to the championship series. Wins from TCU and LSU would set up winner-take-all showdowns in both brackets on Thursday.
Below, we'll break down the day's results and highlights.
LSU def. Wake Forest, 5-2
We're getting one more game in Bracket 2.
LSU defeated Wake Forest on Wednesday, 5-2, setting up a winner-take-all matchup at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday (ESPN).
The Tigers fell into a quick 2-0 hole in the top of the second after Tommy Hawke's two-run single opened the scoring.
NCAA Baseball @NCAABaseballDeac double for 2⃣!<a href="">#MCWS</a> x 🎥 ESPN / <a href="">@WakeBaseball</a> <a href="">
But Brayden Jobert's RBI double in the bottom of the frame pulled one back, a wild pitch tied the game in the bottom of the third and Cade Beloso provided all the insurance LSU would need with a three-run blast later that inning.
NCAA Baseball @NCAABaseballTigers fightin'!<a href="">#MCWS</a> x 🎥 ESPN / <a href="">@LSUbaseball</a> <a href="">
NCAA Baseball @NCAABaseballBELLY 💣!<a href="">#MCWS</a> x 🎥 ESPN / <a href="">@LSUbaseball</a> <a href="">
Griffin Herring earned the win, pitching 4.2 innings in relief while giving up just three hits and a walk while striking out six.
Seth Keener took the loss, giving up all five runs on four hits and four walks in 4.1 innings while striking out four.
So run it back on Thursday. Florida awaits.
Florida def. TCU, 3-2
The Florida Gators are one step closer to their second national championship in baseball.
Cade Kurland's RBI single in the top of the ninth inning was the difference in Florida's 3-2 victory over TCU on Wednesday.
NCAA Baseball @NCAABaseballGators grab the lead! 🐊<a href="">#MCWS</a> x 🎥 ESPN / <a href="">@GatorsBB</a> <a href="">
Josh Rivera added a two-run blast in the top of the first to open the scoring, while Jac Caglianone, Ryan Slater, Cade Fisher and Brandon Neely combined to give up just six hits and two runs while striking out eight.
NCAA Baseball @NCAABaseball2-RUN GATOR 💣!<a href="">#MCWS</a> x 🎥 ESPN / <a href="">@GatorsBB</a> <a href="">
Michael Robertson's amazing catch in the bottom of the ninth closed the door, and highlighted some game-chancing defensive plays by the Gators:
NCAA Baseball @NCAABaseballMichael Robertson called game and <a href="">@GatorsBB</a> is headed to the champ series ‼️<br><br>Robertson breaks down the web gem to end the game.<a href="">#MCWS</a> <a href="">
NCAA Baseball @NCAABaseballPlay at the plate...GOT'EM!!<a href="">#MCWS</a> x 🎥 ESPN / <a href="">@GatorsBB</a> <a href="">
TCU starter Kole Klecker went five innings, giving up six hits and two runs, while Ben Abeldt (3.0 IP, three hits, one run, five strikeouts) took the loss.
TCU erased its early deficit on Brayden Taylor's RBI single in the bottom of the first and Anthony Silva's RBI ground-rule double in the bottom of the eighth.
NCAA Baseball @NCAABaseballWE. ARE. TIED!<a href="">#MCWS</a> x 🎥 ESPN / <a href="">@TCU_Baseball</a> <a href="">
But that simply set the stage for the heroics of Kurland and Robertson. Florida now waits for the winner of Wake Forest vs. LSU on Thursday.
