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No. 6 Seed FSU Eliminates No. 3 Seed UVa, 11-0
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May 26, 2006
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – – No. 6 seed Florida State used a seven-run third inning on its way to an 11-0 shutout of No. 3 seed Virginia Friday evening in an elimination game in the 2006 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The game was called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule. Brandon Marsh and Tom Hagan each went 2-for-4 for the Cavaliers who fell to 46-13 on the season.
“Obviously, this was a disappointing loss for us, but we’ve had such a great season already,” UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor said. “One of the best things about this game is that you can make it up the next day. We have one of the top records in the nation and know that we’re going to have a chance to make it up next weekend. We’ll be ready to play next Friday in the postseason.”
Travis Anderson led Florida State going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Buster Posey was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Michael Hyde (8-1) earned the win for FSU as he struck out four in seven scoreless innings while holding UVa to eight hits. Mike Ballard (8-3) suffered the loss for Virginia as he gave up seven runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings. He added two strikeouts.
Anderson led off the bottom of the third with a double off the right center field wall. After Tony Thomas laid down a bunt single giving the Seminoles runners on the corners with no outs, Diaz hit a two-run double to center field to make it, 2-0. Buster Posey followed with a two-run single to give FSU a 4-0 lead. Ryne Malone’s three-run home run to right center put Florida State ahead, 7-0.
The Seminoles made it, 8-0, in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single from Posey. Florida State added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Anderson hit a two-run home run to left field giving the Hoos a 10-0 lead. Shane Robinson’s RBI single down the right field line scored Thomas giving Florida State an 11-0 lead.
Virginia loaded the bases in the top of the sixth after back-to-back singles from Hagan and Wingfield and Mike Mitchell drew a walk. Greg Miclat lined out to the third base man to end the inning. The Cavaliers threatened to extend the game in the top of the seventh when Marsh singled with one out and moved to third on Tim Henry’s infield single. Hagan grounded out to end the game.
Virginia was poised to jump out on the Seminoles in the top of the first. Marsh’s sixth consecutive hit going back to the NC State game started a one-out rally. Sean Doolittle drew his 51st walk of the season. After the runners moved up to second and third on a ground out, Hyde retired Brandon Guyer.
The Cavaliers loaded the bases in the top of the second. Hagan and Wingfield hit back-to-back singles. After Beau Seabury’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners up, Mitchell lined a ball up the middle that Florida State’s Tony Thomas made a diving grab on to save runs for the Seminoles.
Virginia will now await the announcement of the 64-team NCAA Regional field on Monday. ESPN will broadcast the field live at 12:30 p.m. (EST). NCAA Regional site announcements will be made at 3:30 p.m. (EST) on ESPN News Sunday.