FSU baseball: Jamie Arnold shines against UCF, Noles move to regional finals unbeaten

FSU baseball (44-15) moved to the finals of the Tallahassee Regional with a 5-2 win over the UCF Knights behind an outstanding outing from Jamie Arnold. The FSU ace went seven innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, two walks, and striking out 12. Arnold was nearly unhittable and had an immaculate inning early in the game(three strikeouts on nine pitches), and had eight strikeouts through three innings. FSU scored two runs in the third and three more in the fourth inning on a Cam Smith home run and Jaime Ferrer double to take a 5-0 lead. UCF answered in the bottom frame after a UCF hitter claimed to get hit by a pitch, and a UCF hitter hit a soft ground ball down the right field line. The FSU offense was shut down after that and struggled to put the ball in play. UCF made one last push to make it a game, loading the bases with no outs against Jamie Arnold, but he induced a ground ball double play and got the final out while only allowing one run.

Brennen Oxford pitched the last two innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. FSU batters were uncharacteristically late on fastballs all night and struck out 13 times, leaving 12 runners on base. I must mention the umpires hosed FSU on three calls. One gifted UCF a run and another likely robbed FSU of an opportunity to blow the game open. An FSU runner was originally called safe and third, but the umpires reviewed it and overturned the call when there was no conclusive evidence. FSU is in a great spot with their pitching staff as they await the winner of the Stetson/UCF game Sunday afternoon. FSU has Connor Whittaker, Andrew Armstrong, Joe Charles, and a ton of other arms in the bullpen who are fresh. FSU would have to lose twice to get eliminated. Sunday's game will be at 6 p.m.