In what is likely the most improbable run to Omaha over Florida State head coach Mike Martin’s 40 years, the Seminoles are back in the College World Series and will get things started on Saturday against Arkansas.
FSU comes in as winners of six straight going back to the ACC Tournament and has defeated nationally-seeded programs in each of the last four games to get to the College World Series for the second time in three years. It’s well noted that FSU has not ultimately won the big one and history doesn’t seem to be on its side coming into the weekend — or does it?
The Seminoles haven’t won their first College World Series game since 1999 and are 0-5 all-time against Arkansas with each of those losses coming in the NCAA Tournament. If one is looking to recent history however, there is a glimmer of hope that this could finally be the team that breaks through.
FSU advanced past the Athens Regional by blasting No. 4 national seed Georgia in back-to-back days. In the Baton Rouge Super Regional, the Seminoles defeated No. 13 seed LSU by 6-4 and 5-4 scores. FSU clinched the trip to Omaha on Drew Mendoza’s RBI single in the bottom of the 12th on Sunday night.
The last three teams to eliminate LSU in the NCAA Tournament have gone on to win the College World Series. Last season, it was Oregon State who defeated LSU in the Corvallis Regional by a 14-1 score and then 12-0 to eliminate the Tigers. Oregon State would ultimately defeat Arkansas for the national championship, thanks to the help of a misplayed pop-up in foul territory.
In 2017 — FSU’s last trip to Omaha — it was LSU who eliminated the Seminoles with a pair of victories over Florida State. The Tigers would reach the championship series, but fell to Florida in two games.
2016 was the last time prior to this season that LSU lost a Super Regional at home and did so in two games to Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers would win four straight elimination games in Omaha over TCU and Arizona to claim college baseball’s ultimate prize. Like FSU this season, Coastal Carolina never hosted a regional or super regional on its way to Omaha.
During this miraculous NCAA Tournament run, the Seminoles have already preserved their long-held streak of 40-win seasons. They’ll try to keep another alive by becoming the fourth straight team to eliminate LSU en route to a national championship.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.
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