Florida State is headed to the NCAA Super Regionals for a third straight year and a 16th time in the 19 years since the current NCAA Tournament format was put in place. The Seminoles clinched that with a 6-0 victory over Auburn in the Tallahassee Regional on Monday night.
Throughout the regional, FSU showed that grittiness and toughness that it played with all year. After dropping the opener to Tennessee Tech, the Seminoles were forced to win four games in three days to advance.
They did it with two complete games from starting pitchers and two rallies on Sunday, coming back from a 2-1 deficit against Tennessee Tech in the sixth and then a 7-6 deficit against Auburn in the ninth. The Seminoles will host Sam Houston State in the Tallahassee Super Regional, beginning on Saturday.
Throughout the four days of the Tallahassee Regional, FSU managed to spread the heroics around. There were the usual suspects like Tyler Holton, who threw a complete game gem against UCF, and Dylan Busby, who saved the season with an RBI triple in the ninth against Auburn on Sunday.
There however, were a number of players many might not have guessed would be ones to come through in the clutch. Here’s a list of five “unlikely” heroes from the Tallahassee Regional:
Will Zirzow, P
With lists, we usually go in alphabetical order, but it would seem like a disservice to list Will Zirzow anywhere but first. In the decisive game of the Tallahassee Regional on Monday night, Zirzow tossed a 2-hit shutout in a 6-0 victory over Auburn. The nine innings of work was four longer than his previous career-high and the 11 strikeouts was also a personal best. In his first appearance in 26 days, Zirzow did not walk a batter, hit one and faced just two over the minimum.
J.C. Flowers, OF
J.C. Flowers may have went just 1-for-14 in the Tallahassee Regional, but was still a key factor nonetheless. In an elimination game against Tennessee Tech on Sunday, Flowers had his only hit and drove in two runs, including the sacrifice fly in the sixth inning that put the Seminoles ahead for good. Several hours later, Flowers drove in the winning run in the 10th inning against Auburn by being hit by an 0-2 pitch with the bases loaded. In the ninth inning of the regional opener against Tennessee Tech, Flowers was able to keep the Golden Eagles’ lead at 3-1 on a single up the middle with a beautiful throw from center field to nail Ryan Flick at home plate.
Matt Henderson, 2B
Matt Henderson continued his late-season surge during the Tallahassee Regional. Over the five games, Henderson went 5-for-15 at the plate, a .333 average, while reaching base 11 times in 21 plate appearances. Henderson scored four runs during the regional and was outstanding defensively.
Drew Parrish, P
Freshman left-hander Drew Parrish picked up where he left off from the ACC Tournament in the opening game of the Tallahassee Regional. It was a crying shame that Parrish did not get the win, but he was nothing short of outstanding in the start. In 7 1/3 innings, Parrish gave up just a run on two hits while striking out a career-high 12 and walking just one. The Seminoles led 1-0 in the eighth when Parrish exited the game with a runner on base, but he would come around to score. While the freshman was left with nothing to show for his outstanding start, he did keep FSU from burning through its bullpen early in the regional. Andrew Karp start against Auburn on Sunday night had a similar effect.
Steven Wells, Jr., OF
Florida State’s best defensive option in right field, Steven Wells, Jr. made just one start during the Tallahassee Regional, but maximized his opportunity. Over the five games, Wells was 5-for-9 at the plate with three RBIs. After his RBI single in the eighth gave FSU an insurance run in the first game Sunday against Tennessee, Wells kept the Seminoles’ 10th inning alive against Auburn in the nightcap with an infield single to load the bases and keep the rally going for Flowers, who was hit to drive in the winning run. On Monday night, Wells was 2-for-2 at the plate and put the exclamation point on the victory with a solo home run in the ninth inning.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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