LSU eliminates Wake Forest from College World Series on walk-off HR in extra innings

Tommy White hit a two-run, walk-off homer in the 11th inning, giving No. 5 LSU a 2-0 win against No. 1 Wake Forest on Thursday and sending the Tigers to the championship round of the College World Series.

White, last season’s ACC freshman of the year, transferred to LSU from North Carolina State.

The blast ended a tense pitchers’ duel.

Dylan Crews led off the bottom of the 11th for LSU (52-16) with a single off Michael Massey (3-1). Camden Minacci took over on the mound, and White socked his first pitch for a home run to left field.

The Tigers advance to the best-of-three finals to meet No. 2 Florida, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday.

The Demon Deacons (54-12) had two chances to reach the finals but lost 5-2 to LSU on Wednesday before the Thursday nailbiter.

Two of the best collegiate pitchers in the nation, Wake Forest’s Rhett Lowder and LSU’s Paul Skenes, squared off on Thursday, and they didn’t disappoint.

Skenes fired eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out nine.

Lowder tossed seven shutout innings, giving up three hits and two walks while fanning six.

LSU’s Thatcher Hurd (7-3) delivered three shutout innings of one-hit ball, and he emerged as the winner.

Massey threw 2 2/3 hitless, scoreless innings for Wake Forest before allowing the leadoff hit in the 11th.

This story was originally published June 22, 2023 at 11:54 PM.