No. 5 seed LSU advances into CWS Final in 11-inning thriller over top seeded Wake Forest
Sure, the NBA Draft was tonight, and you were lucky to have the chance to see a once-in-a generational talent in Victor Wembayana selected to the San Antonio Spurs. But that's not where the excitement was.
In fact, if you moved the clicker just one channel over to ESPN2, you were in store for something better: A win-or-go-home game with a chance at making it to the College Baseball Championship Series between the top-seeded Wake Forest and No. 5 seed LSU.
And it's fair to say it lived up to the hype and then some. This game did not disappoint one bit.
Through 7 innings, efficient pitching was the highlight. Both teams combined for just 5 hits. Then, in the top of the 8th, it seemed like momentum was finally shifting one way. With runners at the corners, Wake Forest finally had their opportunity.
Except first baseman Tre' Morgan denied them, making an incredible and eerily similar play to Derek Jeter's squeeze bunt flip against the Oakland A's in 2001 (you can see for yourself below), keeping the game tied.
Both teams remained hitless throughout the next few innings, until finally, the Tigers got it going on Wake Forest pitcher Michael Massey, as Dylan Crews hit a single.
That single Massey surrendered relieved him from his duties tonight. Massey was a bright spot for Wake Forest, throwing 2.2 innings and 38 pitches in relief.
On the very next pitch though, Tommy White launched a long ball sending LSU back to the College World Series, with a sold-out stadium erupting in the background.
The Tigers are back in the College Baseball World Series for the first time since 2017. And they've done it in thrilling fashion.
As one of the most storied franchises in college baseball history, the Tigers will be playing in their 20th CWS, looking to win their 7th championship in school history.