If you’re looking for one word to describe Florida State’s performance during the Tallahassee Regional, domination would probably have you covered.
FSU clinched its 39th straight 40-win season and the Tallahassee Regional on Sunday by defeating South Alabama, 18-6. The victory concluded a perfect 3-0 regional in which the Seminoles outscored opponents 43-14 over the three games.
The most impressive work for Florida State came at the plate as the Seminoles averaged better than 14 runs per game during the regional. The 43 runs came on 46 hits — eight of which were home runs. That included two blasts each from outfielder Jackson Lueck and first baseman Dylan Busby.
Six of those blasts came in Sunday’s regional-clinching victory. It was the most for FSU during a single game in more than eight years.
Pitching was a strong spot as well for FSU over the weekend. Each Seminole starter picked up a win and each worked at least five innings.
The best performance of the regional may have come from freshman Cole Sands on Sunday night as the Tallahassee native yielded just a run on two hits in five innings without walking a batter. In a 7-2 victory over Southern Mississippi the night before, Tyler Holton shook off giving up a pair of first-inning runs to earn the victory, allowing just three hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Drew Carlton allowed just one run through six innings in Friday night’s 18-6 victory over Alabama State before the Hornets put up a 5-spot in the seventh inning. The three starters combined to issue just two walks in 17 1/3 innings of work.
The FSU bullpen did have some troubles on Friday against Alabama State and Sunday against South Alabama, but those struggles came with the contest already well in doubt. Throughout the regional, the Seminoles trailed for a grand total of two innings and never past the second. FSU put up at least three runs in seven of the 25 frames it came to the plate over the weekend.
Not surprisingly, the domination was reflected in the All-Regional team as the Seminoles held eight of the 11 spots on the roster. Busby was named the Most Outstanding Player of the regional, but Lueck, Holton, catcher Cal Raleigh, second baseman Matt Henderson, shortstop Taylor Walls, third baseman John Sansone and designated hitter Quincy Nieporte were each honored at their respective positions.
The 3-game sweep of Alabama State, Southern Mississippi and South Alabama means that the Seminoles will finish 30-9 at Dick Howser Stadium in 2016 and carry positive momentum into the best-of-three Gainesville Super Regional, where they’ll face Florida, the nation’s top national seed.
FSU comes in as winners of seven of eight, but have lost five straight and nine of 11 to its arch-rivals. Florida handled FSU in straight games in last season’s Gainesville Super Regional. Dates and times will be announced after the regional round is completed on Monday.
Larry Novey/FSU athletics
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