3 up, 3 down: Florida State baseball is heading to the College World Series

After seven hours waiting for the rain and lightning to clear, there was only thunder coming from the FSU bats once the first pitch was thrown.

Florida State baseball, after a 19-0 victory in Game 2 of the Super Regional against Sam Houston State, will be heading to Omaha for the College World Series.

Three up:

• Florida State had no easy task with 2017 Southland Pitcher of the year Heath Donica on the hill for Sam Houston State. The senior had a league leading 1.82 ERA in the regular season (1.91 heading into Sunday’s game) with a 9-2 record to go along with his 106 strikeouts in 108 ¹⁄₃ innings. After just two innings pitched, the Florida State offense embarrassed the Southland Conference Star. The Seminoles exploded for eight runs in those first two innings, all earned and charged to Donica. Coming into the game, the righty had only allowed more than two earned runs three times in 15 total starts. Of the six hits, five went for extra bases. Among those were Quincy Nieporte’s three-run homer and Taylor Wall’s first of two home runs. Florida State would go ahead and add one run in the third, six in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the eighth. Notable ’Noles at the plate included Walls, who went 3-3 with 2 HRs, 4 walks, 5 runs, and 4 RBI, and Quincy Nieporte, who went 2-4 with 1 HR, 1 walk, 2 runs, and 4 RBI.
• Tucked behind FSU’s offensive barrage was starting pitcher Drew Parrish’s gem. The freshman threw five shutout innings, allowing two hits, and striking out nine. In the postseason, Parrish has thrown 21 innings, surrendering two earned runs on eight hits while striking out 26. Cole Sands came on in relief and threw three innings of shutout baseball before Andrew Karp threw a scoreless ninth.
• With the win, Florida State’s improbable season continues. Once sitting at 27-18 and outside the bubble of the NCAA postseason, the ’Noles are heading to their 22nd College World Series and still looking for that elusive first NCAA championship. Over its past 13 games, FSU is 12-1 and outscoring opponents 95-40.

Three down:

• For the first time in my three years at Tomahawk Nation covering Florida State baseball, there are no downs. 19-0, people.

Florida State now heads to Omaha, Nebraska for the 2017 College World Series where it will be welcomed with a game vs. either LSU or Mississippi State.