How about an all-time Super Regional run record to kick off play in Tallahassee?
If the nine-run fifth against UCF broke the FSU order out of their malaise last week, then the 24-run, 18-hit smackdown this afternoon means the Florida State Seminoles’ lineup officially woke up.
Per FSU Sports Info, the team’s 24 runs were the most recorded in NCAA Super Regional history with the 20-run margin of victory also the highest ever in Super Regional play.
(Fun fact: Florida State held both of the previous records, with its 19-run margin of victory over Sam Houston State in 2017 and 23 runs scored vs Texas A&M in 2011. It still owns the all-time postseason run record with 37 against Ohio State.)
Facing the Big East Pitcher of the Year Ian Cook, who silenced the Duke bats last week, Florida State punished him for five runs and chased him out of the game after a 1 2⁄3 IP. Back-to-back jacks from Marco Dinges and Jamie Ferrer set the tone, but one run or more in each of the first four innings put the game on cruise control.
Florida State’s patient approach at the plate against Cooke and Garrett Coe forced the Huskies to come to the plate and led to the big innings. The Seminoles drew 15 walks, and three hit-by-pitches put runners on base and kept the line moving. It took a complete effort, 1-9, as all 13 batters reached base, counting the pinch hitters, nine recorded hits, and launched five home runs.
As the FSU bats were hotter than the Tallahassee sun, Carson Dorsey cooled off the UConn lineup. He went nine up and nine down in the first three innings and had command of his fastball and breaking pitch. His quick frames early allowed him to work into the sixth inning on a scorching day and forced the Huskie pitchers and fielders to bake out in the sun. He wore down later in his start but battled not to allow UConn back into the game.
The game started just as Link Jarrett dreamt last night.
Dorsey went 1-2-3 in the first on just ten pitches, and Cooke drilled Max Williams on the first pitch of the bottom half. Cam Smith and James Tibbs had loud outs, and Marco Dinges fell behind 0-2 before the barrage began.
The DH stepped on a fastball over the heart of the plate for an opposite-field two-run blast as the Seminoles drew first blood. While the Animals in section B shouted for Dinges, Jamie Ferrer kept the fans on their feet. He needed one pitch, drilling a 425-foot bomb that smashed off the top of the Seminole logo on the jumbo tron as Florida State went up 3-0 at the end of the first.
The momentum continued in the second, as a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out ended the top half, before the bottom of the lineup went to work. Lodise led off with his first of three hits as the SS had one of his best days at the plate. Two batters later, the lineup turned over for Max Williams, who utilized the short fence.
His fly ball kept carrying out to right, and 365 feet later, Florida State chased Cooke, led 5-0, and the rout was on. An inning later, Florida State put up another crooked number with a three spot in the third. UConn brought in their innings leader, Garrett Coe, but he could not find the plate, as FSU walked four times and went up 8-0.
How about 844′ of homers for Jaime today!
His 3rd career 2-HR game
B6 | UConn 1, FSU 11 pic.twitter.com/ZX84ufAf7O
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) June 7, 2024
Heading into the fourth, Dorsey found his first trouble. A hit batter, single, and walk loaded the bases, and a base on balls walked in the first run of the game for the Huskies. However, Jarrett trusted his lefty, and Lodise made a beautiful play in the hole to escape the jam. In the bottom half, the Seminoles got the run right back as the shortstop’s RBI single brought home Daniel Cantu, giving FSU a 9-1 advantage.
Dorsey worked around a one-out double in the fifth before finding trouble an inning later. He allowed back-to-back hits for the first time all day, putting runners on the corners. Even with the advantage, Jarrett did not mess around and brought in Joe Charles. Dorsey delivered the goods for the second game in a row, with a 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 K, and 3 BB performance on 90 pitches. Jarrett made the right decision again, trusting the JUCO transfer, and gets to run Jamie Arnold out tomorrow with a chance to go to Omaha.
The fireman walked his first batter but recorded a strikeout on his next at-bat before the head coach turned the ball over to Connor Hults with the bases loaded and two outs, facing a lefty batter coming up. On a full count, the freshman spun his breaking ball for a punch out as UConn left them loaded.
In the bottom half, the Seminoles officially broke the game open with a six-run sixth. Ferrer mashed his second home run of the day, a two-run shot that started the party. Back-to-back singles from Smith and Tibbs brought home three more runs, and FSU led 15-1 after six.
But that would not satisfy the Seminoles.
As Jarrett emptied the bench, the bats kept churning. DeAmez Ross’ three-run HR put the exclamation mark on a Florida State nine-run seventh as the Seminoles eviscerated UConn 24-1 as the train went off the tracks. Florida State scored 20 runs against Western Carolina in the second week of the season, but this was the first time all year they scored more than 20.
The game mercifully finished 24-4 after a four-hour drubbing — setting the all-time Super Regional run record.
There have been 5 teams in NCAA Division I baseball history to score 24+ runs in a postseason game.
Two have been by teams coached by Link Jarrett….both against the same opponent.
Notre Dame 26, UConn 3, 6/5/21
Florida State 24, UConn 4, 6/7/24— Rob Anderson (@_robanderson) June 7, 2024
Every time this season that the team needed an answer, this group responded emphatically, as the Seminoles continued to raise the bar in the most significant moments. Now, the Seminoles find themselves one win away from Omaha.
Hopefully, they saved enough runs for tomorrow.