Gutsy run ends for FSU with 7-2 loss to No. 1 Tennessee in CWS semifinals
OMAHA, Neb. — The Florida State Seminoles likely needed to play their third straight flawless game and get a couple of breaks to knock off No. 1 Tennessee here Wednesday in the semifinals of the College World Series.
Neither happened.
The Seminoles were sloppy early and mounted a mild rally in the later innings, but the end result was a 7-2 defeat that ended their season in the CWS semifinals.
It was a disappointing finish to a somewhat magical season for Florida State.
One year after enduring a brutal 23-31 campaign and failing to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over 40 years, the Seminoles will end this season as one of the last four teams standing in the College World Series. They posted a 49-17 record.
Florida State went 2-2 in Omaha, losing both games to the No. 1 Volunteers and sending North Carolina and Virginia home in elimination games.
The Seminoles weren’t sharp on offense or defense Wednesday. They allowed Tennessee to score three runs in the top of the first inning on two hits, two walks and an error. And things went downhill from there.
With the Seminoles’ pitching staff depleted by having to fight out of the losers’ bracket, freshman right-hander John Abraham got the start on the mound, but he recorded just one out.
Senior left-hander Brennen Oxford came on and limited the damage for awhile, but the Seminoles could never mount enough offense to get back in the game.
Their best chance early came in the bottom of the third inning when Jaxson West led off with a single, and Max Williams followed that up with a double. But West got thrown out at home after getting a late break on Cam Smith’s chopper to shortstop, then James Tibbs grounded into an inning-ending double play.
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One inning earlier, Florida State’s Alex Lodise drew a two-out walk, and Drew Faurot reached base on a throwing error by the Vols’ second baseman. But Faurot was thrown out trying to reach second.
Oxford (3.1 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs) and junior right-hander Joe Charles were both effective in relief. Charles went 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on three hits.
Florida State scored both of its runs on back-to-back homers from first baseman Daniel Cantu and shortstop Alex Lodise in the sixth inning.
Tennessee moves on to the College World Series finals, where the Volunteers will face either Texas A&M or Florida.
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