A closer look at Florida State, Tennessee's opening opponent in the College World Series

It’s No. 1 Tennessee and No. 8 Florida State Friday night in the College World Series, with first pitch scheduled for 7 Eastern Time on ESPN. The Vols are in Omaha for the seventh time in program history and the third time in four years while FSU is making its 27th all-time appearance, but first since 2019. 

The Seminoles (47-15) have won five straight NCAA Tournament games. They swept through the Tallahassee Regional, beating No. 4 Stetson and No. 3 UCF twice, then swept UConn in the Super Regional over the weekend, winning 24-4 in Game 1, then punching the College World Series ticket with a 10-8 win in 12 innings in Game 2 on Saturday. 

FSU is in the College World Series for the 27th time in program history but are back in Omaha for the first time since 2019.

The Vols (55-12) beat Evansville 12-1 in Game 3 Sunday night, winning the Knoxville Super Regional after setting a single-game postseason program record with seven home runs in the win. Tennessee swept the Knoxville Regional two weeks ago and won 11-6 Friday in Game 1 against Evansville.

Tennessee led 4-1 after two innings in Game 2 Saturday, but the Aces rallied with 10 runs over a three-inning stretch and held on to win 10-8, forcing the do-or-die Game 3.

Here’s a closer look the opening opponent for the Vols in Omaha:

Florida State coach Link Jarrett

Florida State coach Link Jarrett is an unfortunately familiar name for Tennessee Baseball fans. He was the Notre Dame head coach in 2022 when the Irish upset the No. 1-seed Vols in the Knoxville Super Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, bringing a 57-9 dream season to a sudden nightmare end. 

Jarrett, in just his second season at FSU, has worked quickly with the Noles. FSU went 23-31 last season before winning 47 games this year and advancing to the College World Series for the first time since 2019.

He went 86-32 in three seasons at Notre Dame, taking the Irish to the Super Regionals in 2021 before the run to Omaha in 2022. His first season at Notre Dame, in 2020, was cancelled after 13 games due to the COVID pandemic. He won 34 games in Year 2, then 41 in Year 3 before leaving for Florida State.

Before Notre Dame, Jarrett spent seven seasons at UNC Greensboro, where he went 215-166 with one trip to the postseason.

Jarrett, a Tallahassee native, played shortstop at Florida State (1991-94) and coached at Florida State in 2003, before making stops as an assistant at Mercer, East Carolina and Auburn. 

Florida State Pitching

Jamie Arnold, the sophomore left-hander and FSU ace, has a 2.77 ERA and an 11-3 record in 17 starts this season. Opposing batters are hitting .216 against Arnold in his team-high 100.2 innings pitched this season. He has given up 39 runs (31 earned) on 82 hits. He has allowed 21 doubles and just six home runs.  

Junior lefty Carson Dorsey has a 4.67 ERA and a 7-4 record in 10 starts. He has appeared in 22 games and pitched 69.1 innings. 

Brennan Oxford and Joe Charles have both appeared a team-high 29 times out of the bullpen. Oxford has a 2.94 ERA over 52.0 innings and Charles has a 6.52 ERA in 29.0 innings. Connor Whittaker (4.75 ERA, 55.0 IP) has made nine starts and Andrew Armstrong (6.98 ERA, 38.2 IP) has started eight times. 

FSU’s pitching staff ranks 43rd nationally in ERA at 4.86 over 548.2 innings pitched. Tennessee is third in ERA at 3.83 in 568.0 innings.

Florida State Hitters

Sophomore infielder Cam Smith leads the Noles’ hitters with a .402 batting average. He has a team-high 102 hits, including 20 doubles and 16 home runs. He has 56 RBI and 79 runs scored, starting all 62 games this season. 

James Tibbs III hit a team-high 28 home runs, including the home run that lifted FSU to the Game 2 win over UConn Saturday in extra innings. He’s second on the team in batting average at .374. He leads FSU with 94 RBI and has 88 hits and 71 runs scored.

Jamie Ferrer has 19 home runs, 58 RBI and a .319 average, Marco Dinges has 66 RBI, 15 home runs, and 11 doubles while batting .321 and Max Williams has hit 13 home runs while driving in 43 runs and hitting .301.