LSU baseball star Dylan Crews channeled the spirit of basketball champion Angel Reese during the College World Series, adding a touch of swagger to the Tigers' dominant performance.
With LSU already holding a commanding 11-3 lead against Florida in the decisive Game 3, Crews ignited the crowd with a triple in the eighth inning. Sliding headfirst into third base, he rose, brushed himself off, and with a confident grin, pointed to his ring finger, acknowledging his team's impending victory.
Reese, who led the LSU women's basketball team to a national championship earlier in the year, quickly noticed Crews' gesture and expressed her approval on social media. "HEARD YOUUUU. I LOVE IT HEREEE," she tweeted, highlighting the camaraderie and shared championship mindset among LSU athletes.
LSU went on to secure an 18-4 victory, clinching their first baseball national championship since 2009. This triumph was particularly sweet after a crushing 24-4 defeat to Florida in Game 2. The Tigers demonstrated remarkable resilience, battling back from the brink of elimination multiple times throughout the tournament.
Angel Reese (left) and Dylan Crews. (Getty Images)
"We took a beating yesterday," Crews admitted after the game. "But that's baseball. You get another chance. Everyone came in today focused and determined. We knew we were going to win."
Dylan Crews during Game 3 of the College World Series. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
The 24 runs Florida scored in Game 2 were the most in a College World Series finals game since 1998. However, LSU responded with an even more impressive offensive display in Game 3, setting records for both margin of victory (14 runs) and total hits (24) in a championship game. The victory marked LSU's ninth baseball national title, placing them second only to USC (12 titles) in all-time championships.
LSU pitcher Paul Skenes, who delivered stellar performances in Games 1 and 2, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series.
Dylan Crews slides into third base during Game 3. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
"This is a dream come true," Crews shared. "Winning a national championship has been my goal since freshman year. We're bringing the trophy back to LSU. It's been a challenging journey, but we persevered. I can't wait to see another championship flag raised at our field."
