Florida State vs Oregon - NCAA Regional Baseball Recap

(1) Florida State 6, (3) Oregon 4

Both of the Connecticut schools in the Norwich regional, the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University, were losers on the first day of the NCAA tournament, allowing two teams that traveled to Connecticut from across the country to advance to the winner’s bracket.  The top-seed Florida State Seminoles (44-17) survived a late rally by the Oregon Ducks (39-23) to put the Seminoles one win away from advancing to the Super Regionals. 
 
The Ducks are relative newcomers to college baseball, this season being only their second since reestablishing the baseball program after dropping it in 1982.  The Ducks, perhaps inspired by their arch-rivals’ success in baseball, made the NCAA tournament after a 12-22 first season.  The Oregon State Beavers, of course, won back-to-back College World Series titles in 2006 and 2007.
 
Despite the brand new program, the Ducks out-hit the traditional power Florida State Seminoles 14-9, but too many runners left on base sunk Oregon on this second night of the NCAA tournament. 
 
The Ducks took an early lead on a solo home run in the bottom of the first by Jack Marder off FSU starter Sean Gilmartin.  But the Ducks surrendered the lead in the top of the second without giving up a hit.  A KC Serna throwing error on a routine ground ball by Stephen Cardullo put the Seminoles’ shortstop on first base.  Catcher Eddie Rodriguez allowed Cardullo to take second on a passed ball, which Cardullo quickly capitalized on by stealing third, putting him in position to score on a Jayce Boyd sacrifice fly.  The ‘Noles took a 2-1 lead on back-to-back doubles by Sherman Johnson and Mike McGee the very next inning.

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The fourth inning was no kinder for Oregon pitcher Tyler Anderson, as the Ducks’ pitcher walked a batter before giving up a pair of two out hits, including a two RBI Rafael Lopez double.  The Seminoles then hit solo home runs in consecutive innings, as Stephen Cardullo went yard in the sixth and Sherman Johnson did the same in the seventh to give the boys from Tallahassee a 6-1 lead that lasted into the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
Gilmartin gave up a KC Serna single to start the bottom half of the eighth, and Danny Pulfer managed a bunt single two put two men on and no outs before Gilmartin got the hook.  FSU manager Mike Martin brought in reliever Geoff Parker, who did not fare well in his only inning of play.  Parker gave up three runs on three hits, though two of the hits were credited to Gilmartin, before ending the inning by striking out Andrew Mendenhall, who went two for four on the day.   
 
Mike McGee came into the game in the ninth inning to save the win for Gilmartin, but not before some drama, as he gave up a one out single to KC Serna, who was three for four on the day hitting.  A walk to Danny Pulfer put the potential game-winning run at the plate for the Ducks with only one out, but McGee got Jack Marder to harmlessly pop out, and forced a Danny Pulfer ground ball to save the win.
 
The top-seed Florida State Seminoles need one more win to advance, and will face the winner of tomorrow’s elimination game between Connecticut and Oregon.  Game 5 between UConn and Oregon will be played at 2PM, while the winner will play the Seminoles at 6:30 PM.  If the winner of game 5 beats the Seminoles tomorrow evening, the two teams would play again on Monday night to decide who will advance to the Super Regionals.

By: John Cary
DFN Sports Guest Writer