FSU beats UConn in extra innings, clinches spot in College World Series (2024)

“This was business; you took care of business. Next week, there could be dogpiling opportunities.”

After Florida State won the Tallahassee Regional last week, the first step in the Seminoles’ mission to return to Omaha, head coach Link Jarrett wasn’t ready to celebrate quite yet.

Six days later, 12 innings, 16 hits, five pitchers, and ten runs later, the Florida State Seminoles punched their ticket to Omaha and 40 Florida State baseball players piled on Mike Martin Field to add another chapter to Jarrett’s second season at the helm — FSU’s first College World Series appearance since 2019.

It took three more innings than they wanted to, but no one will complain. James Tibbs was the hero with an 11th-inning blast to cap off a five-hit, three-HR day. Conner Whittaker sealed the deal out of the bullpen after the receivers before him did not have it. Once more, the Seminoles made just enough plays when needed and met the moment. Multiple times, Saturday could have gotten away, but a team without much postseason experience never backed down.

Tibbs, the hero, summed up what the moment meant to him postgame, “It’s perfect.”

Even though the Seminoles came out victorious from the first inning, it was clear: today would not be like yesterday. Max Williams and James Tibbs reached base with singles, but Marco Dinges and Jamie Ferrer came up short as the Noles could not punch a run across early. In the bottom half, Alex Lodise’s error foreshadowed a difficult day for the defense. The SS did not look sharp when taking infield, and it translated to the field. A hit batter put two runners on base with nobody out before a bloop single brought a run across. Jamie Arnold battled, given the circ*mstances, but FSU trailed 2-0 after a 31-pitch frame.

Again in the second, Florida State had two runners on base, but with two outs, Williams flew out to left as the nervousness increased. In the bottom half, the poor defense continued with a two-out error from Drew Faurot on a simple throw from second, as Link Jarrett’s team looked tense.

However, in elimination games, every team needs its best players to shine. After a lead-off walk, James Tibbs tied the game with one swing. On a 3-1 count, Stephen Quigley threw a center-cut fastball that the ACC Player of the Year made no mistake with. The change in momentum settled the Seminoles down for a second, as Arnold worked around a lead-off single with a three-strikeout third, but the strange play picked up in the ensuing inning. The Noles went 1-2-3 for the first time, and the middle infield mucked up an infield single for another Huskie base runner. Arnold worked his way out of it, but with 80 pitches through four innings, he earned every out.

With the game hanging in the balance, Tibbs did it again. Ahead in the count 3-1, he took a Quigley mistake yard, giving FSU their first lead with his second two-run blast. If that was not enough, Florida State went back-to-back for the second time in two days. Marco Dinges struck out his first two times but needed one pitch to right his wrongs. He detonated a high fastball to dead center, as the fifth inning continues to be the difference maker for the Seminoles in the postseason.

Leading 5-2, FSU seemed to be starting to take over after an anxious start, but the pesky Huskies did not go away. Luke Broadhurst, a Seminole killer today, fisted a fastball just over the short fence in right on a 1-2 count that cut the advantage to one. Arnold responded with two more strikeouts in the bottom half, but the intensity built towards a crescendo.

The new wall in right giveth and taketh away, and in the top of the sixth, Williams stole one back. With two outs, he got just enough of an inside slider and belted it over the wall, giving as FSU went up 6-4. But, in the bottom half, UConn responded once again. Arnold came out with 105 pitches, which may have been the wrong decision. A lead-off double and hit batter put two on with one out, causing Jarrett to turn to Brennen Oxford. No. 16 did not have his best stuff today, but without help from his team behind him, he hung onto the rope for as long as he could.

The usually steady veteran felt the heat of the pressure and Tallahassee sun, throwing 10 of 15 balls in the sixth. He walked the bases loaded, and with two outs, Broadhurst cleared the bags with a double off the top of the wall, giving UConn the lead 7-6. The Huskie 3B went 4-4 on the day, driving in six of the—- runs his team scored.

The Seminoles went down quietly in the top of the seventh, but the manager stuck with Oxford in the bottom half; No. 8 responded with a quick 1-2-3, keeping the deficit to one and letting the Noles get back to the dugout urgently.

Not known for power, Tallahassee’s own Jaxson West came up to the plate with the 9-1-2 due up. Facing a lefty-lefty matchup, he got a hold of an inside pitch and muscled a fly ball out to right. The panhandle strength carried it over the wall, as West’s second HR of the season tied the game at seven on a 339-foot 94 MPH swing in the eighth.

But, the Noles continued to make it hard on themselves. A two-out walk from Oxford almost started a rally. Jarrett pulled him and brought in Joe Charles, who threw the ball away in an attempted pick-off move to first on his first action of the game. An intentional base on balls to Broadhurst and another free pass loaded the bases before Fireman induced a fly ball to keep the game tied, heading to the ninth.

Ferrer ripped a first-pitch single to left, and Cantu walked to put two on with nobody out. UConn head coach Jim Penders made his move, bringing on Brady Afthim. Alex Lodise squared around to bunt, and the sure-handed UConn defense finally made their first mistake as everyone advanced safely. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Faurot hit a ball to the warning track, bringing in pinch runner Jordan Williams, as FSU led 8-7.

The Noles could not cash in anymore, and with a one-run advantage, freshman Connor Hults received the ninth.

But, the lefty did not bring his best. Ahead 0-2, he let pinch hitter Matt Malcom get back into the count before tying the game with a solo shot. A base hit and a sac-bunt put a runner on second with one out. Once more, the bullpen door swung open, and Conner Whittaker, as Jarrett, pushed his chips to the middle of the table. The move paid off, as the veteran recorded two straight outs, sending the game to extras.

With the heart of each order due up, the game came down to the stars. In the top half, the 2-3-4 could not get anything going, as UConn needed one swing to win the game. Back out for his second inning, Whittaker responded. He delivered a 1-2-3 bottom half and fired up his dugout as the tenth came to a close.

Daniel Cantu walked to lead off the inning, but the 7-8-9 were retired in order as the pendulum swung back to UConn. But, for the second straight inning, Whittaker held serve, forcing the game to go to the 12th.

“That as good as I’ve seen him throw,” Link Jarrett said, point at Whittaker next to him at the podium.

With the top of the order up to bat, it was now or never for FSU. Max Williams started the party with a single he poked the other way, and Cam Smith just got under a home run.

James Tibbs did not miss his chance.

On a 1-0 count, the RF crushed his third blast of the day, this one the most consequential. After a week-long struggle, Tibbs carried his team when he needed it most. As he admired his blast, the Marietta native gave a cutthroat sign to his dugout, letting everyone know the game was done.

Of course, Whittaker needed the final three outs with a two-run 10-8 advantage. The veteran delivered the goods one final time; the Florida State dugout exploded after he earned strike three. FSU outlasted UConn in a marathon, and the celebrations proved it. As the hats came on, and the hug line ensued amongst the players, it sunk in that they achieved a feat that felt untouchable earlier this season.

As the animals in section B chanted, the Noles are on top.