FSU blows 4-1 lead in bottom of the ninth, loses Game 1 to Oregon State in extra innings
Florida State was 31-0 when leading after eight innings this season.
Oregon State was 0-12 when trailing after eight innings this season.
Make it 31-1 and 1-12.
After blowing a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning to Oregon State, the Seminoles now need to win Saturday night to avoid seeing their season end in Corvallis.
FSU never trailed heading into the final frame of the game, leading 4-1 with two outs, but a wild pitch and issues in the outfield saw it quickly become a 4-4 game — one that the Beavers would eventually win in extra innings.
Gage Harrleson, serving as the leadoff hitter, was walked on a 3-2 count to start things off for the Seminoles. Alex Lodise struck out swinging for the first out of the inning, the first of an eventual three straight strikeouts by the Seminoles, though Harrelson did manage to advance to second on a wild pitch during Myles Bailey’s turn at the plate.
Oregon State began the first inning with a first-pitch flyout, setting up Joey Volini — pitching on Friday rather than his usual Sunday spot — with a bit of a headstart to kick things off, as the first inning quickly wrapped following two straight groundouts from the Beavers.
To start off the second, Cal Fisher struck out on a 2-2 count. Drew Farout was walked, which was followed up by Chase Williams striking out and then James Hankerson Jr. singling for Florida State’s first hit of the game — a catalyst that would lead to the Seminoles’ first score. Hunter Carns smacked a deep double to right center, with a bounce off the wall giving Farout enough time to score with Hankerson Jr. getting tagged at the plate.
Leading 1-0 in the bottom of the second, Florida State got its first Volini strikeout of the game. That was quickly followed by a groundout scooped up by Lodise and a flyout snagged by Max Williams, making it yet another three up, three down frame for FSU.
Back at the top of the order in the third, Harrelson got a deep left-center single on a 2-2 count and was joined on base by Lodise, who hit a single of his own. Max Williams flew out to right field, allowing Harrleson to advance to third. Bailey couldn’t get anything going during his second at-bat, watching a 2-0 count turn into a 2-2 strikeout, and the Seminoles saw a prime scoring opportunity officially slip away as Fisher struck out to end the frame — the seventh strikeout for the Seminoles in just three innings.
Oregon State got its first hit off Volini to begin the bottom of the third, but the redshirt junior notched his second strikeout on the next batter. A dangerous situation popped up on a 2-2 double, with it dribbling down the left field line before being scooped up by Chase Williams, tossed to Lodise and lasered to home plate, where Carns managed to tag the would-be scoring Beaver to keep it a 1-0 lead for Florida State. Oregon State couldn’t bounce back from the deflating momentum change, leaving a batter on second on a groundout.
In similar fashion, Florida State couldn’t get anything going in the fourth after nearly breaking through in the third, going three up, three down with the eighth and ninth strikeouts for the Seminoles ending the frame.
Volini gave up a single on a 3-2 count to the first batter of the frame, bouncing back to earn a strikeout on a nine-pitch battle. The good feelings would be short-lived, as Oregon State tied things up on a deep left RBI double. Chase Williams made a great break on a left field flyout to register the second out, which took on even greater significance after Volini balked to place a runner on third — though FSU escaped after a groundout sent things to the fifth.
After Carns flew out, Harrleson was walked for the second time of the matchup before Lodise struck out once more — the 10th and final strikeout for Dax Whitney, who was pulled after tossing 90 pitches for the Beavers. Max Williams was the first Florida State pitcher to face his relief, Nelson Keljo, and went down swinging.
In the bottom of the fifth, Volini registered his fourth strikeout of the game, but a bunt put an Oregon State runner on first with a groundout advancing him to second. A second bunt placed runners on the corners for the Beavers, setting up projected top-five MLB draft pick Ava Arquette with a chance to break the game open. Volini had him at 0-2, saw the count load at 3-2 but dug deep and struck out Arqutte to strand two Beavers.
With the score locked up at 1-1, it only took two pitches before Bailey smacked his 18th home run of the season, giving the Seminoles the lead once again. Fisher singled on the next pitch, but a Farout fly out and two strikeouts cut the frame short.
Volini started off the bottom of the sixth with heat, notching his sixth strikeout, with a mile-high popout and great defense on a third-base groundout, making it yet another 1-2-3 outing.
Carns earned a leadoff single, advancing to second after a Harrleson groundout but Lodise didn’t get a chance to make anything happen when his foul ball was caught. Max Williams was once again placed in a two-out situation and this time came up clutch, knocking a deep left single that allowed Carns to score — though Williams was caught at first base after trying to take second, ending the frame at 3-1, Florida State’s largest lead of the game.
FSU opted to leave Volini in, who gave up a leadoff double that bounced off the left field wall as Chase Williams was unable to snag but showcased the same tenacity he’d put on display through the game, striking out the next two batters at which point the Seminoles made the switch to Joe Charles. The frame ended shortly after on a deep center field flyout, leaving Florida State just six outs away from securing the Super Regional-opening win. Volini’s final line was 6.2 innings pitched, seven hits, eight strikeouts and 104 pitches thrown.
Bailey flew out to start the top of the eighth, after which Oregon State made its second pitching change. Fisher struck out, and then on a 2-2 count, Farout smacked a deep center double that fell just a few feet short of a home run. Oregon State opted to intentionally walk Chase Williams, putting two on for DeLamielleur. The pinch hitter came through in a pinch, singling through the right side to score Farout before Williams was caught at third, making it a 4-1 ballgame.
The bottom frame was another three up, three down showing as Charles racked up two more strikeouts. Florida State followed that up with a 1-2-3 of its own, giving Oregon State one last shot trailing by three.
A leadoff double gave the Beavers some juice, the crowd coming back to life before Charles struck out Trent Caraway, who had hit a home run in five straight games. The next Oregon State batter ground out, with the next batter being walked to put two on with two outs. Bringing in a second consecutive pinch hitter, the Beavers got a right side single to load the bases and cut the deficit even shorter by scoring off a wild pitch. The next batter, on a 2-2 count, hit a left field single to score the tying runs and give Oregon State a chance at a walk-off win — an opportunity that wouldn’t come to fruition as a deep left field fly out sent things to extra innings.
Max Williams couldn’t get anything going as the leadoff hitter, with Bailey trying to take the lead back on his first pitch, coming just short on what would have been his second home run of the game. Fisher got on base off a line drive single, but Farout was caught out at first to give Oregon State another shot at stealing the win.
Oregon State got a leadoff double for the second consecutive inning, with a follow-up single putting runners on the corners after Lodise made a heroic snag to prevent the game-winning run. The Seminoles opted to walk the next batter, loading the bases with no outs. FSU managed to get one out, but a deep center field single gave Oregon State the game-winning run needed and officially completed its comeback.
The two teams will face off in Game 2 tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET, where a loss would end Florida State’s season.
Florida State vs. Oregon State: Schedule, how to watch Corvallis Super Regional
Game 2: Florida State vs. Oregon State
- Date: Saturday, June 7
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN2/ ESPN+
- Pitching matchup: TBA
Game 3: Florida State vs. Oregon State (If Necessary)
- Date: Sunday, June 8
- Time: TBA
- TV Channel: TBA
- Pitching matchup: TBA
Post a Comment