TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Explosive Noles Survive, Play For CWS Berth Today

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHAEL McGUFFEE

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 8, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State leadoff hitter Tyler Holt said he knows the team feeds off his energy. After sliding into home in the top of the first to score the first run of Saturday's Super Regional Game 2, he jumped up, pumped his fist in the air and yelled, "Let's go."

The hyped-up Seminoles (53-12) followed suit and delivered a dominant 14-4 win to even their series with Wichita State (48-16) and set the stage for today's deciding game. A win today would send Mike Martin and the Seminoles back to the College World Series for the first time in eight years, the longest drought of Martin's tenure at FSU.

"It's not just another game," Martin said. "Today is what it's all about."

The difference in the game came with the score tied at 3 in the third, when Wichita State starter Aaron Shafer (11-4) got to a 0-2 count on FSU first baseman Dennis Guinn. Four foul balls and six pitches later, Guinn singled to left to spark a five-run rally.

FSU batted around in the inning and chased the Shockers' ace after he threw 85 pitches in just 22/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season, while giving up 10 hits and a career-high eight earned runs.

"I think the scoreboard speaks for itself," Shafer said. "It was one of those times where I needed one little break or one little anything and I couldn't get it. I think I threw 400 pitches to Guinn out there on that one at-bat."

The day was quite the opposite for winning FSU lefty Matt Fairel (12-2), who pitched six straight scoreless innings after giving up three runs in the first. Fairel threw a career-high 124 pitches in eight innings, while giving up four runs on nine hits and no walks.

Freshman Ben Francis closed out the game in the ninth, striking out two of three batters and retiring the side in 12 pitches.

Jason Stidham moved from second base to make his first career start at shortstop Saturday in place of Tony Delmonico, who sprained his foot and ankle in the first game of the series and will not play again today. Tommy Oravetz filled in at second and finished 3-for-5.

Stidham and freshman Mike McGee led the offensive effort for FSU with three RBIs apiece. McGee, batting ninth, finished 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in the eighth.

Third baseman Stuart Tapley recorded two hits, including a homer, to move his multihit streak to six games.

Freshman right-hander Geoff Parker (6-2) will get the start for FSU today. Martin said he went with Parker because he was more rested than senior and Bloomingdale native Ryan Strauss (9-1).

MIAMI 14, ARIZONA 10: Yonder Alonso, Jason Hagerty and Yasmani Grandal homered and drove in three runs each to lift the top-seeded Hurricanes (51-9) to a victory against Arizona (42-18) in Coral Gables, forcing a winner-take-all game today in the super regional.

Mark Sobolewski added a homer, and Dennis Raben walked in all six of his plate appearances for UM.

Information from Tribune wires was used in this report.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT