FSU baseball: Takeaways from extra-inning comeback win over Jacksonville

FSU baseball (36-10, 14-9 ACC) didn't have the best start Tuesday evening against the Jacksonville Dolphins. However, the Noles did enough to force the game into extra innings, trailing 6-4 going into the bottom of the ninth to set up Lance Trippel's walk-off hit in the bottom of the eleventh for the 7-6 win. 

Takeaways

FSU had 11 hits, but only two went for extra bases. James Tibbs and Cam Smith went 0-8 with four walks, and Jamie Ferrer didn't play until he pinch-hit late in the game. FSU was poor with runners in scoring position until the late innings, and D'Amez Ross picked a great time to hit his first home run this season. FSU batters worked nine walks against seven strikeouts in the game. Tibbs uncharacteristically struck out twice. 

FSU pitchers allowed too much damage early in the game, as Jacksonville scored its first four runs when they had two outs. It's clear Link Jarrett is preparing for the postseason as he's trying to work Ben Barrett back into action. Barrett threw 20 pitches and allowed a hit, two runs, and a walk-in .2 innings. Yoel Tejada continues to struggle with his command, but Joe Charles, Brennen Oxford, and John Abraham were great out of the bullpen.

This team doesn't quit despite having an off night from some of its best hitters and the pitching staff allowing runs early. It would have been easy to settle for a loss in a somewhat meaningless midweek game near the end of the year. However, the resolve and willingness to battle in games like that could prove pivotal in the postseason. We're beginning to see Link Jarrett provide other guys opportunities as they rest the guys that need it. He's probing to see who could impact in the postseason and next year. It sounds like Conner Whittaker is close to getting back, but Cam Leiter has more of a ways to go. If they can get at least one of those guys back by the postseason, it would be huge for the Noles. 

The Noles will be back in action this weekend as they travel to Pittsburgh for a three-game ACC series.