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There was really only one scenario that could have played out today that gave the Seminoles a legitimate shot of winning the regional and it happened. Florida State (43-19) lost to Mississippi State by a score of 3-2 on Saturday afternoon ending the Seminoles’ season. Florida State was carried by their ace Drew Parrish who was phenomenal through his first 8 innings. The decision to extend him after the rain delay when he was clearly struggling with his command is a head scratching decision. Mike Martin had a great career but to end it the way it happened today is a bitter pill to swallow. Martin is in the last year of his contract and no announcement has been made of him signing a new one. While a retirement announcement has not been made signs seem to point to this being Martin’s last year.
Three up:
- Drew Parrish gave the Seminoles the start they desperately needed. The southpaw allowed no runs over the first 8 innings but a complete game was in doubt after a two and a half hour rain delay. To many’s surprise the sophomore returned for the bottom of the 9th inning where he walked the leadoff hitter before retiring the next two batters only to walk the fourth hitter of the inning. With runners on 1st and 2nd and two outs Parrish hung a pitch over the plate on a 1-2 count and it was deposited over the left field wall. He finished his day with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts on 132 pitches.
- Mistakes doomed the ‘Noles on Friday night but the team bounced back and played almost mistake free baseball on Saturday. No blunders on the base paths and only a single error in the 8th by Drew Mendoza was the only blemishes from the Florida State players.
- With only 5 hits on the day scoring opportunities were at a premium and Nick Derr manufactured a run by himself in the 3rd inning. The second baseman doubled and then took off for third base on a ball in the dirt which forced the Mississippi State to make an errant throw down the line allowing Derr to walk home for the games first run.
Three down:
- It is no surprise that that the year’s end Florida State is reliant on very few pitchers. Mike Martin has mismanaged his pitching staff for the better part of a decade and it was on full display in today’s 9th inning. With arms ready in the pen the manager stuck with a pitcher who was over 130 pitches for the day.
- Florida State hitters struck out 8 times on the day and walked 4 times. The ‘Noles were just 3-for-13 with runners on base for the day.
- Third base coach Mike Martin, Jr. was overaggressive in the first inning. With two outs and Salvatore on first base Cal Raleigh doubled down the line in left, Salvatore was just rounding third as it hit the cutoff and he was out at the plate by 20 feet.
FSU’s season has ended. It was another 40 win season and an ACC Championship for the ‘Noles but right now that rings a bit hollow. It could be a busy off-season for Florida State as Martin’s contract is up this year. Will the 74-year-old return for his 39th year at the helm or is this it? If this is it will FSU promote his son, Mike Martin Jr, to the head coaching role or look elsewhere?