Crimson Tide Ends Seminoles’ Season 6-5
By Patrik Nohe
Photo credit- Travis Register
Florida State’s baseball season over.
After a promising regular season and a solid showing in their conference tournament — feats that earned them a national seed in the NCAA postseason — the Seminoles were swept out of their own NCAA Regional, losing to Georgia Southern and Alabama while mustering just eight hits total for the weekend.
“We kind of put a little bit of excitement there [at the end],” said FSU head coach Mike Martin after Saturday’s loss. “It’s just one of those things about baseball, it’s never over until you get the 27th out. And our guys battled, got back in it and unfortunately we came up a little short.”
After losing 7-0 to Georgia Southern on Friday, Florida State waited until the final moments to mount any offense on Saturday — falling short with a five run ninth inning rally that ended as the tying run stood just 90 feet from home.
Coming into the inning the Seminoles were at risk of being shut-out in back to back games for the first time in a decade, not to mention they could have become the first seeded team to go scoreless in Regional play in NCAA history.
But the late rally assured Florida State it would accomplish neither of those notorious feats, the Seminoles plated five runs in the final frame but it all ended up being too little, too late as Gage West flew out to deep left-center with the tying run just 90 feet away.
The inning began when John Nogowski singled up the middle off of Alabama starter Josh Kamplain.
“That was the first time he really looked tired,” said Martin.
As Alabama lifted Kamplain for Jon Keller, Martin replaced Nogowski with a pinch-runner, Nick Graganella, at first in order to give the junior 1B a curtain call. The move would turn out to backfire.
The next batter, Jose Brizuela, reached after getting plunked, then Ben DeLuzio drew a walk to load the bases.
Keller’s day ended when he beaned FSU 2B John Sansone to bring in the ‘Noles first run, making the score 6-1.
That brought on Thomas Burrows who walked two more runs in before striking out Brett Knief for the first out of the inning.
After Casey Smit flew out to center, ACC Player of the Year DJ Stewart singled to drive in two more and cut Alabama’s lead to 6-5. Suddenly, with men on the corners and two outs Florida State had a chance to tie or even win the game with their clean-up hitter at the plate.
But John Nogowski had already exited the game.
Instead Martin was forced to pinch hit West — going lefty against lefty — and the game ended as West flew out to left-center.
“That’s the last time I play Mr. Nice Guy,” said Martin. “I wanted [John Nogowski] to receive attention because of what he has done for this program for three years — we certainly hope he comes back next year — but that was the reason he was taken out just to receive attention from the fans.”
Luke Weaver was solid, but unspectacular for the Seminoles on Saturday, keeping things tight in the early going as he scattered five hits and three runs across five innings of work. Unfortunately his start was shorter than FSU needed, his pitch count was run up early on account of several Seminole miscues and Gage Smith was forced to enter the game to start the sixth inning.
The real issue was the bats though — once again Florida State couldn’t solve its opponent’s starter.
Justin Kamplain was superb for the Tide, working 8+ innings, giving up five hits and a run while striking out three and walking four. He completely dominated an over-matched Florida State lineup.
“He was very sharp with all three of his pitches,” said Nogowski. “I didn’t see a pitch in the meat of the plate the whole game, I guess a guy like that you have to think right-center field or up the middle, he didn’t beat himself. He let his defense work for him and he stayed on the corners and he did a great job.”
Now Florida State turns its attention to the off-season. The MLB Draft is next week and a handful of players are likely to have their names called. It’s possible FSU could be decimated by players leaving, but also well within possibility that they return a very good team next year too.
But tomorrow is little solace for Seminoles fans today. Another once-promising season is in the books at Florida State.
[Box Score: Alabama 6 FSU 5]
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