To keep its streak of consecutive 40-win seasons alive, Florida State will have to beat UCF in the first elimination game of the Tallahassee Regional on Saturday afternoon. The Seminoles let an eighth inning lead slip away to open the regional on Friday night in a 3-1 loss to Tennessee Tech.
FSU scored the game’s first run in the sixth, but allowed the Golden Eagles to tie the game in the eighth before they went ahead with two runs in the ninth. Drew Carlton took his fourth loss of the season as FSU squandered a brilliant start by Drew Parrish. For the Seminoles to advance, they must win the next four games. FSU has not won a regional after dropping the opener since 2008.
The Good: Despite both starting pitchers entering the game with ERAs above five and each facing one of the nation’s best offenses, both were fantastic. Tennessee Tech’s Michael Wood allowed just a run on four hits in six innings while Drew Parrish yielded just a run on two hits while striking out a career-high 12 in 7 1/3 innings. Defense was also sound as neither team committed an error.
The Bad: Against a team that came in with an ERA of 5.11, Florida State’s hot offensive streak came to an end. The Seminoles managed just a run on four hits and didn’t have a runner reach base after the sixth inning.
The Ugly: Tennessee Tech did a great job on the mound, but Florida State hardly maximized its scoring opportunities. After getting the first two runners on in the fourth and sixth innings, FSU managed just one run. Dylan Busby was inexplicably picked off second in the fourth with two on, none out and a 3-2 count to clean-up hitter Quincy Nieporte. After driving in FSU’s only run in the sixth, Nieporte was caught in a rundown to end that threat.
Studs of the Game: Parrish and Wood certainly get a mention for their respective teams. Kevin Strohchein had two hits and a run scored for Tennessee Tech, but Ryan Flick delivered the big blow with the go-ahead 2-run double in the ninth inning.
Duds of the Game: Just about anyone in the FSU lineup could earn this distinction. Dylan Busby, Cal Raleigh, Drew Mendoza and Tyler Holton were all 0-for-3 at the plate. On the mound, the usually dependable Drew Carlton allowed two runs in 2/3 of an inning while giving up three hits and the lead. Chase Chambers was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts for the Golden Eagles.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
Ken Lanese/FSU athletics
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