Florida State vs Oregon - NCAA Regional Baseball Recap

(1) Florida State 5, (3) Oregon 3 - Florida State advances to super regionals

Just a day after the first match-up between these geographically-distant teams, the top-seed Florida State Seminoles (45-17) again faced the Oregon Ducks (40-24).  Florida State needed a win to advance to the super regionals, while an Oregon win would have set up a winner-take-all game between the two teams on Monday night.  By virtue of the Seminoles’ 5-3 win, Florida State will advance without having to play the extra game. 
 
Oregon manager George Horton, who won the 2004 College World Series as the manager at Cal State Fullerton, demonstrated his desire to move runners early.  In the top of the first, after leadoff hitter K.C. Serna was hit by a pitch and the two-hitter Danny Pulfer walked, Horton called for a bunt which was successfully executed and moved the runners to second and third.  However, FSU starting pitcher John Gast retired the next two batters on a strike out and a line drive to escape the inning unscathed.  Despite escaping the inning with no runs, Gast had problems with control all night and never had his best stuff.
 
The Ducks again threatened in the second inning with a two-out rally.  Stephen Packard reached first on an infield single, followed by a Jett Hart double that put runners on second and third, but Gast again avoided a big inning for the Ducks by getting Serna to fly out to left field. 
 
The third inning represented another missed opportunity for the Ducks, who this time managed to get three runners on base on the strength of two hits and a walk. Yet, the boys from Eugene again failed to score a run.  This time, Gast was able to force J.J. Altobelli to ground into an inning-ending double play to waste a bases-loaded-with-one-out situation.
 

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The Seminoles finally managed to get some offense going in the bottom half of the third.  Florida State roughed up Oregon starter Alex Keudell for four runs on five hits, forcing Horton to call Christian Jones out of the bullpen to get the final out of the inning.  The Seminoles scored the first two runs on a Sherman Johnson two-run homer.  The third run was the result of doubles by Mike McGee and Stephen Cardullo.  Stuart Tapley knocked home the final run of the inning with a single up the middle before reliever Jones was brought in.  Jones struck out Devon Travis to end the inning.
 
The Ducks finally managed to capitalize on Gast’s struggles in the fourth, scoring three runs and forcing Gast’s early exit.  However, none of the Ducks runs were entirely Gast’s fault, as his fielders committed two errors.  All three of the runs were unearned, and the Ducks managed just one hit in the only inning in which they would cross the plate.  Daniel Bennett finished the inning for the Seminoles and earned the win in a masterful game out of the bullpen, pitching four and a third innings resulting in only one Oregon hit. 
 
The offense for this contest pretty much ended after Tyler Holt’s solo home run for the Seminoles in the bottom of the fourth.  In the final four and a half innings, both teams’ bullpens were outstanding, and baserunners emerged more as a result of errors (3) than hits (1).  Only a harmless Eddie Rodriguez single off FSU’s Bennett prevented a hitless final half of the game – for both teams. 
 
Oregon's relievers - Jones and Drew Gagnier - pitched the final five and a third innings, combining to give up only one run on one hit, Holt’s solo shot.  Florida State’s bullpen was even better, with Bennett, Geoff Parker, and Mike McGee pitching the final five and two thirds and giving up no runs and only a single.
 
The top-seeded Seminoles survived the Norwich Regional without a loss to advance to the super regional against the winner of Monday’s Louisville Regional championship game between Louisville and Vanderbilt.  If Louisville wins, the Cardinals will host the super regional.  If Vanderbilt wins, it is yet to be determined who will host the series, though it would likely be in Tallahassee.
 

By: John Cary
DFN Sports Guest Writer