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Noles Lose To Virginia, Face Elimination

By TIM LINAFELT/Tribune correspondent

Published: May 23, 2008

JACKSONVILLE – Third-ranked Florida State appeared in good position to make a run to Sunday's title game of the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament following a victory over Wake Forest in the first round.

However, one squandered opportunity after another Friday night against Virginia led to a 5-3 loss for the Seminoles, who will face elimination today at 5 p.m. against top-ranked North Carolina. The Tar Heels also have a loss in the tournament.

"I really wish that it was a situation where it didn't bother me," FSU coach Mike Martin said of his team's performance against Virginia. "I'm disappointed, but I'm tipping my hat to a very good Virginia club that has come here and won two games against two good teams."

The Seminoles (47-10) certainly didn't do much to derail Virginia's cause, mustering only one extra-base hit against three Cavalier pitchers. FSU was a paltry 4-for-20 with runners on base, and 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position against Virginia starter Jacob Thompson and relievers Matt Packer and Michael Schwimer. The heart of FSU's lineup – Buster Posey, Jack Rye, and Dennis Guinn – was a combined 3-for-12. In Wednesday's victory over Wake Forest, the Seminoles hit four home runs, including a pair from ACC Player of the Year Posey.

FSU's few attempts at claiming momentum Friday were thwarted by Virginia rightfielder David Coleman, who came up with a pair of acrobatic catches, including a play that flipped him over the wall and into the third base-line bleachers.

"That's just this game," Posey said. "Some nights you get the breaks, and some nights you don't, and our team did a good job of battling even though we didn't get the breaks."

FSU starter Ryan Strauss (8-1), a Bloomingdale High product, allowed five hits over four innings to suffer his first loss of the season. The game was interrupted by a 53-minute weather delay in the bottom of the fifth because of Lightning.

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