Cade Beloso belted a home run to right field in the top of the 11th inning to lift No. 5 LSU to a 4-3 win over second-seeded Florida in Game 1 of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Beloso, leading off the inning, homered on an 0-1 pitch from Gators right-hander Brandon Neely (2-3).
Riley Cooper (5-3) set down the Gators in order in the bottom of the 11th, including two strikeouts. Cooper gave up one hit in three innings of relief.
LSU takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Game 2 is Sunday afternoon.
LSU’s Tommy White tied the game in the eighth inning with a solo home run to left, evening the score at 3-3.
LSU starter Ty Floyd struck out 17 in eight innings. He gave up three runs on five hits and allowed just one walk.
Beloso finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs, also driving in the Tigers’ first run of the game. With two on and two out in the top of the first, Beloso singled home Dylan Crews for the 1-0 lead.
Gavin Dugas homered in the third inning to give LSU a 2-0 lead. He also went 3-for-5.
Light-hitting BT Riopelle gave the Gators a 3-2 with a solo homer in the sixth.
The Gators were held to just six hits, with no player finishing with more than one. Florida scored in the third and fifth innings on RBI groundouts.
–Field Level Media