FSU baseball: How Noles moved past UCLA in regional opener

FSU baseball (34-23) got a quality start from Parker Messick and some timely hitting to squeeze past UCLA 5-3 in the Auburn Regional opener.

FSU got on the board first in the first inning behind a two-out double from Jaime Ferrer and an RBI single from James Tibbs.

Parker Messick dealt in the first four innings, and it looked like the Noles would cruise to a nice victory after tacking on two more runs in the top of the fifth behind a two-out two-RBI triple from Jordan Carrion.

However, Parker Messick allowed a two-out solo home run and an RBI single, with UCLA trimming the lead to 3-2.

The Noles responded nicely with a run in the top of the sixth but wasted an opportunity with a poor base running error by Brett Roberts. There was one out and Roberts took off for home plate on a hard hit ball to third base with the third baseman even with the bag to make the second out at home plate.

Wyatt Crowell relieved Messick in the sixth inning and went two innings of scoreless ball but had to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth.

UCLA tacked on another run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 4-3 on a wild pitch by Davis Hare. Hare hit the leadoff batter and allowed a single before a sac-bunt moved the runners up to second and third with one out.

Hare got out of the jam with a strikeout and a fly-out. Alex Toral gave the Noles much-needed insurance run with a solo home run in the top of the ninth for a 5-3 lead and eventual win. The Noles made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth.

Logan Lacey had a throwing error with two-outs to extend the game and bring the tying run to the plate, but Davis Hare forced a ground out to shortstop for the game inning out.

Messick went five innings, allowing two earned runs, four hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Jaime Ferrer led the Noles with two doubles. The game shouldn’t have been close with FSU baseball wasting several scoring opportunities, but we’ll take the win.

The Noles will take on the winner of the Auburn/Southeast Louisiana game winner Saturday.