TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

FSU Loses Super Regional Opener

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHAEL McGUFFEE

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 7, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - It felt close to 102 degrees Friday at Dick Howser Stadium, and both teams kept their bats hot, but it was Wichita State that scored in bunches to take a 10-7 victory Friday in the opening game of the Tallahassee Super Regional.

The Shockers (48-15) scored nine runs, including two homers, over a three-inning stretch to jump ahead 9-3 halfway through the sixth frame. FSU (52-12) hacked away at the lead, but a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth was not enough to complete the comeback.

Wichita State third baseman Conor Gillaspie helped the Shockers pull away in the sixth with a three-run shot off of Seminoles reliever Jimmy Marshall. Marshall, who relieved starter Elih Villanueva (7-3), surrendered four runs in a third of an inning.

Offensively Florida State left seven runners on base during the three-inning Wichita State rally, while the Shockers turned three batters hit by pitches and two walks into five runs.

The Seminoles got a scare in the top of the first when Wichita State's Ryan Jones slid hard into the left ankle of FSU's Tony Delmonico, who was stretching out for a ball at second base. Delmonico was helped off the field, but re-entered the game after a 15-minute delay with four stitches in his left shin.

"He sprained his ankle very, very badly also," FSU coach Mike Martin said after the game. "It will be a modern miracle if he can play today."

Delmonico finished Friday's game, going 2-for-4 and scoring a run.

Wichita State starter Rob Musgrave (12-1) picked up the win after giving up nine hits and five earned runs over 52/3 innings.

Shockers designated hitter Clinton McKeever, who has pitched in just six games this season, came on in relief and held FSU at bay into the ninth.

Dennis Guinn and Buster Posey hit home runs for FSU as the Seminoles mustered 11 hits to the Shockers' 12. Posey's 25 home runs this season leave him one behind the NCAA lead.

FSU finds itself in an elimination game again today (noon, ESPN2) after winning four straight last weekend to advance from regional play out of the losers bracket.

ARIZONA 6, MIAMI 3: Jon Gaston hit a three-run home run in the top of the 11th as Arizona (42-17) beat Miami (50-9) in the opening game of the Coral Gables Super Regional.

Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be tonight at 7:30 (ESPN). Dennis Raben's two-run home run in the fourth put the Hurricanes ahead 3-2.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Keyword: Noles for a photo gallery from Friday's game.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT